Using custom objects to create a regular dropdown list

If you need to add more than 200 options to a dropdown list for records, you can create a custom object and then select the custom object that you created as the data type for the dropdown list.

Note
The limit for the number of options that you can add to dropdown lists is 200. If you need more options, you can create a custom object. The limit for the number of options for custom objects is 1,000 . 

Best practice is to avoid dropdowns with too many options because it is difficult for users to choose an option. Even when you use typeahead, the user must know the name or the first few letters of the name of the option to choose it.

You can restrict the number of options that are displayed by creating a dependent dropdown. See Tutorial: Creating dependency dropdown lists.

Figure: A dependent dropdown that uses custom objects to populate the options in the list.

Scenario

In this scenario, you want to add the employee's department to their users record. 

To do this, you complete the following actions:

• Create an object that contains a list of the departments in your organization.
• Add a field to the People's page that references the departments' object.

Creating the object

1. Click Configuration > Data Model > Objects.
2. Click Create new object .
3. Type Department as the name of the object.
4. Type the description.
5. Click Save.

Result

You created an object so that you can create a list of the departments in your organization.

If you use a custom object that was created by another user, you must grant read and write privileges to your role for the object that was created.

Granting role permissions

Adding the records

Repeat this procedure until you have added a record for each department in your organization.

1. Click Data Model > Objects.
2. Search for the Department object.
3. Click the Total Records value.
4. Click Add .
5. Type the name of the department, such as Human Resources.
6. Click Create.

Tip
Save time when you add multiple records. When you save a record, click Save & New instead of Save.

Adding a field that references the object 

1. Use search to find the Users object.
2. Click Users.
3. Click Add .
4. Type Departments as the name of the field.
5. As the data type, select the departments' object.
6. Make your changes.
7. Click Create.

Tip
Reduce the noise and performance workload! Only select Add Updates to History for auditing purposes or for triggering workflows. This will eliminate the unnecessary processing of data and have a positive impact on the performance of your Oomnitza instance.

Result

When a record is added or edited on the People page, the department that the employee belongs to can be selected.