Use validations

This topic provides an overview of validations.

In this topic:

Overview

Validations determine the acceptable input values for user-defined fields, such as object type or request type fields. Validations also determine the possible results that a workflow step can return. Validations are used for the following functions:

• Field component type. Users can create fields for several entities, including object types, request types, request header types, and user data. Validations determine the field component type (for example, text field or list) and define possible field values.

• Workflow step results. Validations determine the possible results of exiting a workflow step. For example, the validation WF - Standard Execution Results contains the possible execution step results of Succeeded or Failed.

Every PPM installation includes predefined system validations, which you can use as you configure your system. If no system validation meets your requirements, you can use the Validation Workbench to create your own validation. For details, see Configure validations.

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Validations and special characters

You cannot type the question mark character (?) in the validation Name field. The PPM Workbench prevents users from typing this character in the field.

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Validation component types

You can only use certain component types in a workflow step source validation. Table 5-1. Component types summarizes the field component types available.

Table 5-1. Component types

Component Type	Use In Workflow?	Description, Example, and Configuration instructions
Text field	Yes	Text entry fields displayed on a single line. You can configure text fields to display the data in a specific format. For example, you can configure a text field to accept and format a hyphenated nine-digit social security number or a ten-digit phone number. Configure text field validations.
Drop-down list	Yes	Field that displays a list of values. Configuring static list validations. Configure dynamic list validations.
Radio buttons (Yes/No)	No	Field that accepts binary input. There is nothing to configure for this component type.
Auto-complete list	Yes	Field that lets you open a dialog box that lists choices. Note: By default, an auto-complete dialog is opened without any filter and all possible results are displayed. If the set of results is large, it may take some time for the auto-complete dialog to open. You can enable the AUTO_COMPLETE_LONG_TYPE_CULLTEXT_REQUIRED parameter (by setting the parameter to true) to open the auto-complete dialog without any results. This allows the user to enter a filter to limit the results displayed. If no filter is desired, the user may select Find to list all results. Configuring static list validations. Configure dynamic list validations.
Text area	No	Text entry field that can include multiple lines. Configure text area validations.
Date field	No	Field that lets you specify date format. Configure date field validations.
Web address (URL)	No	Text entry field for specifying a URL. Clicking U opens a browser window to the specified Web address. Access validations through packages and requests.
File chooser	No	Used only in object types. Requires that two fields be defined with the tokens P_FILE_LOCATION and P_SUB_PATH. Access validations through packages and requests. Configure file and directory chooser validations
Directory chooser	No	Used only in object types. Requires a parameter field defined with the token P_FILE_LOCATION. Configure file and directory chooser validations.
Attachment	No	Field used to locate and attach files. Access validations through packages and requests
Password field	No	Field used to capture passwords. There is nothing to configure for this component type.
Table component	No	Used to specify multiple records in a single component. The table component can be configured to include multiple columns of varied data types. This component supports rules for populating elements within the table and provides functionality for capturing column totals. You can only add fields of this component type to the Request Details page. Limitation: The maximum entry number allowed for fields of this component type is 500. Configure table component
Staffing profile, financial data table, link	No	Field that you can add to the request type to enable access to view, edit or create staffing profiles or financial data tables associated with a request, project, or work plan. Access validations through packages and requests
Check Box	No	Field that lets you select multiple values. You can only add fields of this component type to the Request Details page. Note: This option is available only when the feature toggle Enable Checkbox List Validation is turned on. Configuring static list validations Configure dynamic list validations

Special Note for Link and Web Address (URL) Component Types

When you use <!--HTML--> for Link and Web Address (URL) component types, make sure not to use <a></a> tags as they are not allowed. Link and Web Address (URL) components are <a></a> tags in Web UI, you cannot embed <a></a> tags within <a></a> tags.

<!--HTML--> is designed for advanced users and you should use tags that affects font and color only. For example, the script below is valid:

<!--HTML--><font color='red'>PPM</font>

<!--HTML--><b>PPM</b>

The script below is not allowed for Link and URL:

<!--HTML--><a href='http://hp.com'>HP</a>

Note that link description is also not allowed.

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