Managing Lists
Manager Contents
User Contents

The CATSWeb Manager - Lists pages allow arbitrary lists to be added, edited, and deleted. Lists may then be linked to Field Definitions to present the user with a preset selection list. System lists (e.g. the Signature Type list) may also be managed here. You can choose to limit who can modify the List and its List Items by specifying ownership.

In the Lists list, click Add to add a new list, or click on the list to launch the CATSWeb Manager List Edit page. The List section of this page allows properties of the list (name, description, etc.) to be edited, or the entire list may be deleted. The List Items section of the page shows the current entries in the list and allows new entries to be made by clicking Add. The List Items may be edited or deleted by clicking them to access the CATSWeb Manager Edit List Item page.

Quick Tip - Deleting Lists

NOTE: The "Bind to List" of a form field definition will be set to a blank list name when a selected list is deleted.

You can copy the list items from one list to another by using the Copy List Items form at the top of the Manage Lists page. If you are copying the list items to a new list, you must first add the new list to your system. To copy the list items, select a source list in the List (from) pull-down list, and then select a destination list in the List (to) pull-down list. You can select to augment the destination list (add to the existing items) or replace the current items in the destination list with the items from the source list. If you select the "Replace" Copy Method, the current items in the destination list (if any exist) will be deleted.

List Items consist of the following fields:

  • List Item - The item in the list (255 characters max).
  • Sequence - When the list is displayed to the user, it is sorted first by the sequence number (lowest first), then alphabetically. If you desire the list to display in a particular order, enter a sequence number for each List Item. Missing numbers in the sequence are allowed and actually recommended, since you can then insert new entries into the sequence later. For example, you may wish to enter sequence numbers in multiples of 10 or 100. Sequence numbers must be integers. If you desire the list to display alphabetically, leave the sequence number blank or set it to zero.

    A mixed sequence can also be achieved. For example, assume that you have one item that you wish to always appear at the top of the list, and you want the remaining items to sort alphabetically following it. To achieve this, assign the always-on-top item a sequence number of -10 (for example). Then enter the remaining entries and leave the sequence field blank for each of them (which sets the sequence to zero). The list will now display as desired.

    If you later wish to insert another always-on-top entry, assign it another negative sequence number. Assigning it the sequence number -10 will cause it display on top along with the previous always-on-top entry, and the two will be positioned in alphabetical order (among themselves). Assigning the new entry a value of -8 will cause it to appear just after the first always-on-top entry, regardless of their alphabetical order.

  • Selector - This optional field is used in Selected List Data Links . When the value of the selector field matches the value of the session parameter specified for the data link, the item is selected into the list. In normal lists this field can be left blank.
  • Extra Data - Optional extra data for special applications. In normal lists this field can be left blank.