Shared Property: An Introduction
The Shared property is a kind of property that can be reused in multiple objects and whose values can be updated runtime without the need to update the app.
Shared Property can be created of either Dropdown or Tree Dropdown type.
The Tree Dropdown can be used to implement Area/Path, devise categories and relevant entries under them, geographical regions and relevant territories under them etc.
After a shared property is created, the app must be updated to make it available throughout the app, under any object. However, when the values are added under the relevant shared property, there is no need to update the app. The user just needs to refresh the browser.
First the Shared property (container) is created through the App Model. Then the relevant values under the corresponding Shared Property are added using the Shared Property option. Since everything created/updated under the App Model requires App Update, therefore initially when the Shared Property is created under the App Model, user needs to update the App. The addition of values in the Shared properties does not require App Update.
The positioning of the values can be updated using the arrows.
While deleting a shared property value, the user is given the option to select a replacement value for all the record having the shared property value that the user is going to delete. This saves the user manually updating the entire corresponding dataset. If no alternate value is selected, then these values would be marked as empty.
Difference between normal Dropdown/Tree Dropdown and Shared Dropdown/Tree Dropdown
The Values of the Shared Dropdown/Tree Dropdown can be updated on runtime, without the need to update the app. i.e. The impact of the updates in these are available just by refresh.
Even when the values of the Dropdown/Tree Dropdown are updated in the App Model and the App is updated, the existing values of the records do not automatically get updated. Users need to manually select the updated version to update the records.
Difference between a template and a Shared Property
The Property Templates once created can be used throughout the organization, in any of the apps. On the contrary, the scope of the Shared Property is limited to the application under which it is created.