Modifying fields

If you modify the display properties of a field, the modifications apply only to the current form view. If you modify any other field properties, the modifications apply to all form views.

You can copy all field types except attachment fields. Most properties of the copy are the same as the original with these exceptions:

• If you copy a field to the same view or to a different view of the original form, the only field properties that change are the ID and Name.
• If you copy a field to a different form, all the field's properties (including the ID) remain the same. To use the field in shared workflow (for example, in an active link), you must modify the workflow to include the form to which the field was copied.

Regardless of the form or form view to which you copy a field, menus attached to a field are copied with the field and do not need to be reattached.

When you delete a field, it is removed from all form views. When you save a form from which you have deleted a field, the field is deleted from the form in the database, and the field and its associated data for each request are also deleted from the database and space is freed. The operation might take several minutes to complete. Because your database might be unavailable while the deletion is occurring, users might not be able to access the server and might receive time-out messages. To minimize user inconvenience, perform deletions during off-peak hours. 

To disable data fields without removing them or their associated data from the database, see Making-data-fields-non-operational.

To modify a field

1. Open the appropriate form.
2. Select the appropriate field.
3. In the Properties tab, modify the field properties as needed.
    See Field-Properties.
4. If necessary, drag the field to another position in the form, and adjust its size.
    See Arranging-fields-in-a-form-view.
5. Right-click the form, and select Save.

To copy a field

1. Open the form from which you want to copy a field.
2. Right-click the field, and select Copy.
   You can also select and copy multiple fields.
3. Open the form to which you want to copy the field.
4. Right-click the form, and select Paste.
   The new field appears on the form. If the form has multiple views, these conditions apply:
   • If your form preferences are set to add that type of field to all form views, the field is added to all form views. For more information about form preferences, see Setting-form-properties.
   • If your form preferences are not set to add that type of field to all form views, the field is added only to the current form view. To add the field to a different form view, too, select the view, and select Form > Add/Remove Fields On View. See Including-and-excluding-fields-from-form-views.
   • If you copy the field to a different view on the same form, a dialog box appears with this prompt: "Do you wish to add existing fields to this view or create new fields?" Select one of these options, and then click OK:
   • Create New Fields—Creates a copy of the field, and adds it to the view. The copied field has the same properties as the original field except for the ID and Name.
   • Add to View—Adds the selected field to the view. No fields are created. The added field has the same properties as the original field. For another way to perform this operation, see Views.
5. Select the newly pasted field.
6. In the Properties tab, modify the field properties as necessary.
   See Field-Properties.
7. Select the field, drag it to a position in the form, and adjust its size.
   See Arranging-fields-in-a-form-view.
8. Right-click the form, and select Save.

To delete field

1. Open the appropriate form.
2. Right-click the field, and select Delete.
   You cannot delete core fields. See Core-fields.
3. In the confirmation box, click Yes to delete a single field, or click Yes To All to delete multiple fields.

4. Right-click the form, and select Save.

   When you delete a panel field, the data fields on the panel are not deleted; they are only removed from the view. See Including-and-excluding-fields-from-form-views.