Fields
Pega Platform™ applications collect and process important case data. By defining the fields that are displayed at runtime, you can collect information from users or present case information for review. For example, when providing search criteria to book accommodations, users enter each search criteria in a separate field. The criteria return results that are displayed as read-only information.
Each field is a named, reusable UI component. Each field stores a unique value that is associated with a case. The combination of the field name and the stored value defines a data element in a case. For example, a field named Metro area and a value of Boston would make up one data element.
When you create a field, you also assign a field type. The field type identifies the type of information that is stored in the system. By assigning a field type, you ensure that users provide valid information in the field and that the system displays data in the correct format.
For example, a field named Metro area would be assigned a field type of Text and store the value Boston, as shown in the following Booking form.
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Simple field types
In Pega Platform, you can assign a simple field type to a field. The following table shows a list of simple field types and the information each type stores.
| Field Type | Type of Data | Field Example |
|---|---|---|
| Text (single-line) | Any single line of text. |
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| Text (paragraph) | A large text box that accepts multiple lines of text. |
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| Boolean | Allows users to select a check box to indicate one of two possible responses. |
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| Currency | Currency code and value are stored based on the default currency type. |
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| Date & time | UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) value normalized to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Date automatically displays in a localized format. |
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| Date only | Calendar date with a localized format. |
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| Decimal | Numbers with a fractional component. Use this field type when fractions are needed. |
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| Valid email format with an @ symbol. An email field is an action-oriented control, meaning the value stored in the field is displayed as a link. For an email, the link initiates users' default email application. |
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| Integer | Positive and negative whole numbers, including the value zero (0). |
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| Percentage | Positive and negative decimal numbers entered as a decimal and displayed as a percentage. For example, .5 displays as 50%. |
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| Phone | Digits display in a localized format. A phone field is an action-oriented control, meaning the value stored in the field displays as a link. For example, if users access the application on a mobile device, the phone number link initiates a phone call. |
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| Picklist | A list of predefined values. |
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| Time only | UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) value normalized to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). |
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| URL | Web address. A URL field is an action-oriented control, meaning the value stored in the field displays as a link. For a URL, the link initiates the user's default browser and opens the target web page. |
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| User reference |
Enter or select a user ID that exists in the system. The drop-down or search field shows a list of every operator mapped to the current application rule. |
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Tip: An integer field stores only the value that begins at the first non-zero digit. For values that do not require arithmetic calculations, use a text field type.
Fancy field types
You can also add more complicated field types, such as fancy fields. Users can add an address, and the system responds by displaying a map. The system can also display controls to attach a document or display a field to enter or select an existing user ID. The following table shows a list of fancy field types and the information each type stores.
| Field type | Type of data | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Attachment | Document or file. |
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| Location | Address input or automatic geolocation. |
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