Adding a read-only STRING attribute without a default value

[Legacy User]

I have always wanted to be able to create read-only attributes without a default (please vote:Ability to create READ ONLY attributes without the need to have a default value)

 

It is possible with STRING attributes using that little trick.

 

1) CA PPM gives this error when you're trying to create this attribute without a default value

 

 

2) The trick is to type "null" (lowercase) as default value, then save

 

 

3) CA PPM accepts it, and "null" is not the default value, but it is NULL 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, this doesn't work for NUMBERS and DATES.

 

Hope this helps,

[Prashank Singh]

Thanks for sharing this is really a very neat trick for deafult values.

[Deactivated User]

Thanks,

This using the nonprintable space ASCII 255 has been the trick used.

[Andrew M]

You can also do this through XOG for any type

xog out the object, send back in just the attribute in question with editable="false"

 

 

Example for custom attribute on the project

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<NikuDataBus xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="../xsd/nikuxog_contentPack.xsd" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<Header version="15.3" objectType="contentPack" externalSource="NIKU" action="write"/>
<contentPack update="true">
<objects>
<object update="true" source="niku.com" raiseEvents="true" periodStartAttribute="odf_period_start" periodEndAttribute="odf_period_end"
partitionModelCode="niku" pageLayoutAttribute="page_layout" pageInstanceType="SRM_PROJECTS" fiscalPeriodTypeAttribute="odf_period_type" entityCodeAttribute="entity" code="project">
<customAttribute code="myattribute" virtual="false" unique="false" required="false" private="false" presenceRequired="false"
partitionMode="PARTITION_AND_ANSTRS_DESDNTS" partitionCode="NIKU.ROOT" multiValued="false" lookupType="my_lookup"
extendedType="lookup" editable="false" dataType="string" dataSize="30" custom="true" currencyConnected="false"
constant="false" column="myattribute" active="true">
</customAttribute>
</object>
</objects>
</contentPack>
</NikuDataBus>

[Legacy User]

That's a pretty good idea. Didn't think of it. And i suppose it works for every kind of attribute type?

[Andrew M]

I expect so. Not tried for everything i.e. TSV

[Giriraj Gupta]

Hello, It's a good trick but it will not work in case of Lookup field. correct?