> > I wonder were I should have read and understood this in the first place. >
I think it could be better spelled out, but the section in the DAL chapter on Record Representation<http://web2py.com/books/default/chapter/29/6#Record-representation>mentions that reference fields get a default IS_IN_DB validator (though doesn't mention the default "represent" attribute). That section also explains usage of the "represent" attribute. And of course the Database Validators<http://web2py.com/books/default/chapter/29/7#Database-validators>section of the Forms chapter explains usage of the IS_IN_DB validator. Anthony
