De-referenced table not visible in first add

[tmigliorini]

Good evening to all, new user here!

I got a table with a List (Ref) virtual column with a FILTER() as app formula.
For each record of my table, I got 1/N record in the referenced table.
These records are child of my parent record, and REF in child table is marked as “Part of”.

When i first add a record in my parent table, of course there are still no record in the child table (linked to my parent record), but in the form field my List (Ref) field is not visible, so I can’t add any child record from there.

I tried setting Show? formula as =TRUE as found searching there but with no success.

How can I get past this issue?
Thank you!

[Marc_Dillon]

The ability to add new child records like that is strictly part of the REF_ROWS() functionality. You cannot get the same thing with FILTER().

The system should have auto-generated a “Related…” REF_ROWS() VC for you, when you set the column in the child Table to Ref. Use that.

[Steve]

More here:

Auto-fill parent ref in child from inline table? Questions

After some experimentation, I’ve found that if REF_ROWS() is the entirety of the column’s App formula expression, the Add button in the related inline view will auto-fill the column referenced in the REF_ROWS() expression in the new row. To retain this magic, the REF_ROWS() results cannot be modified in any way, such as by list addition or subtraction, or with SORT() or ORDERBY(). Magic: REF_ROWS(...) (REF_ROWS(...)) Not magic: REF_ROWS(...) + LIST(...) REF_ROWS(...) - LIST(...) SORT(REF_R…

[tmigliorini]

Thank you both for you reply!
The issue is that I have 2 different record from the parent table for the same child table.

2 child record share all but a single data (dummy 1/2).

I tried to simplify the formula (REF_ROWS…) fetching from a filtered slice, but this does not still work.

There is a way to achieve what I need?

Thank you

[Marc_Dillon]

tmigliorini:

The issue is that I have 2 different record from the parent table for the same child table.

Each child has multiple parents? Unfortunately, only one Ref column per Table can be marked as isPartOf, and thus be accessible from the Parent’s Form.

[tmigliorini]

I try to explain better

TABLE 1 (Parent)
TABLE 2 (Child)

TABLE 1
COLUMN A = KEY
COLUMN B = REF() on TABLE 2 on a filtered slice where, in COLUMN B of TABLE 2, i have only value “X”
COLUMN C = REF() on TABLE 2 on a filtered slice where, in COLUMN B of TABLE 2, i have only value “Y”

TABLE 2
COLUMN A = KEY
COLUMN B = dummy X or Y

What I would like to see in TABLE 1 form:

COLUMN A
(KEY)

COLUMN B
(Add in TABLE 2 and see only X record)

COLUMN C
(Add in TABLE 2 and see only Y record)

Is this possible?

Thank you

[Marc_Dillon]

You should provide some screenshots of your column definitions, because that doesn’t really make sense.

“REF()” is not an expression in Appsheet. You’re either talking about a Virtual column with a REF_ROWS() expression, or a column of Ref Type. I do not know which you are referring to.

In a Parent-Child relationship, the Child Table has the Ref type column, and the Parent Table has the REF_ROWS() VC.

I do not know what “dummy x or y” means either.

[tmigliorini]

Of coure I am simpifying formulas.
I will try to be more clear:

TABLE 1 (Parent)
TABLE 2 (Child)

TABLE 1
RECORD 1:
COLUMN A = KEY= “1”
COLUMN B = REF_ROWS(“TABLE 2 SLICE X”,“COLUMN A”)
COLUMN C = REF_ROWS(“TABLE 2 SLICE Y”,“COLUMN A”)

TABLE 2
RECORD 1:
COLUMN A = REF from TABLE 1 RECORD 1 = “1”
COLUMN B = “X”
COLUMN C (virtual key)= CONCATENATE([COLUMN A],[COLUMN B]) = “1X”

RECORD 2:
COLUMN A = REF from TABLE 1 RECORD 1 = “1”
COLUMN B = “Y”
COLUMN C (virtual key)= CONCATENATE([COLUMN A],[COLUMN B]) = “1Y”

TABLE 2 SLICE X
Slice on TABLE 2 with [COLUMN B]=“X” condition

TABLE 2 SLICE Y
Slice on TABLE 2 with [COLUMN B]=“Y” condition

What I would like to see in TABLE 1 form:

COLUMN A
(KEY)

COLUMN B
(Add in TABLE 2 and see only [COLUMN B]=“X” record)
I will see there only “1X” record from TABLE 2

COLUMN C
(Add in TABLE 2 and see only [COLUMN B]=“Y” record)
I will see there only “1Y” record from TABLE 2

Thank you

[Marc_Dillon · Accepted solution]

AFAIK there is no way to add Child records from the Parent’s Form, through a REF_ROWS() column based on a Slice.

[tmigliorini]

Thank you, I will solve with a complex workaround