Manage Entity Fields 

In your Oro applications, you can manage the already existing and newly added entity fields. Specifically, you can edit and delete them, as well as import fields in bulk. To make sure that the new or updated fields are successfully added to entities, you update the schema.

Edit Custom Entity Fields 

Warning

If the Show on Form value has been set to No when creating the field, you cannot create or update its values from the Oro application. This is only reasonable for the field values uploaded to the system during synchronization.

To edit a custom entity field:

  1. Navigate to System > Entities > Entities Management.

  2. On the All Entities page, click the required entity to select it.

  3. On the page of the selected entity, click Fields.

    A list of custom entity fields displayed in the field section

  4. In the Fields section, click the required field.

  5. Update the field, as described in the Create Entity Fields topic.

  6. Click Save.

Note

Alternatively, you can edit an entity field from the page of the selected entity by clicking the Edit icon at the right end of the corresponding row.

Delete Custom Entity Fields 

To delete a custom entity field:

  1. Navigate to System > Entities > Entities Management.

  2. On the All Entities page, click the required entity to select it.

  3. On the page of the selected entity, click Fields.

  4. In the Fields section, choose the required entity field and click the Delete icon at the right end of the corresponding row.

  5. In the Deletion Confirmation dialog box, click Yes.

  6. Update the schema (if the storage type for the field is set to Table Column).

Warning

Schema changes are permanent and cannot be easily rolled back. We recommend that developers back up data before any database schema change if changes have to be rolled back.

Import Fields 

To simplify creation of entity fields, you can import a .csv file with a list of properties and their fields.

Important

You can only import data saved in the .csv (comma separated values) format.

  1. Navigate to System > Entities > Entity Management.

  2. In the grid on the All Entities page, click the required entity.

  3. On the page of the entity, click Import File on the top right.

    A popup dialog that opens when clicking the import file button

Hint

You may receive the following warning message which notifies you about the limits for the number of fields that can be imported, which can effect the future export of entities.

The number of fields stored as columns in the X table (the fields that are relations or that have ever been marked as “A”, “B”, “C”) is approaching the limit after which it will no longer be possible to export Y with the standard X export. Remaining number of attributes - approximately Z.

Keep in mind that the maximum number of columns in the row must fit in a single 8192-byte heap page. For example, if all the columns are simple fields, such as integer values, then the quantity of columns can reach 1,600. The number of fields or attributes in the exporting entity must be within the bespoke limit; otherwise, this may impose a restriction on export functionality.

Once 90% of the limit is reached, you will receive a flash message with the related warning.

Reaching 100% of the limit triggers a warning message on a potential inactive export when clicking the Export button.

  1. In the dialog that opens, you can:

    • Download Import Template — Enables you to download a .csv file with sample data.

    • Validate — Enables you to check the file for errors before uploading it. Validation results are sent to your email. If there are any records with errors, you can fix them in the .csv file before importing to the application.

    • Upload the file — Click Choose File to select the .csv file you prepared, and click Submit.

  2. Update the schema to apply the changes if the storage type for the field is set to Table Column.

Update Schema 

Every time you create or delete entity fields with the storage type set to Table Column, you need to update the schema (i.e. the internal structure) to apply your changes. This has to be done so that the system knows how the existing fields are interconnected and where to find them in the database.

Important

Schema update is not required for entity fields with the Serialized field storage type.

  1. Click Update Schema on the page of the selected entity.

  2. In the Schema update confirmation dialog box, click Yes, Proceed. Keep in mind that schema update may take some time to finish.

    An interactive message that appears once the schema is updated

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