Implementing Field Notifications for Data Validation in Dynamics 365 Forms

 

Implementing Field Notifications for Data Validation in Dynamics 365 Forms

Maintaining accurate and consistent data within Dynamics 365 is essential for effective CRM management. One powerful feature to aid this is field notifications, which can be used to guide users towards entering data in the correct format. This article demonstrates how to leverage JavaScript to add a field notification for input validation, ensuring data integrity directly at the point of entry.

Use Case: Validating Time Field Input

Let's examine a practical use case where a field, designed to capture a specific time, requires the input to be a 4-digit number, representing a time in HHMM format. To enforce this, we'll create a JavaScript function that triggers a field notification if the input does not meet the criteria. This not only helps in preventing incorrect data entry but also serves as an immediate instructional guide for users, enhancing user experience and data quality.

JavaScript Function for Field Notification

Below is a generalized version of a JavaScript function named validateTimeField. This function is designed to validate the input of a time field, showing a field notification if the input is not a 4-digit number.I

function validateTimeField(executionContext, fieldName, notificationMessage)

{

    // Retrieve the form context from the execution context

    var formContext = executionContext.getFormContext();

    // Get the value of the specified field

    var fieldValue = formContext.getAttribute(fieldName).getValue();

    // Regular expression to test for a 4-digit number

    var isValid = /^\d{4}$/.test(fieldValue);

    // Retrieve the control for the specified field

    var fieldControl = formContext.getControl(fieldName);

    // Clear any previous notifications

    fieldControl.clearNotification();

    // If the field value is not valid, set a notification

    if (!isValid)

    {

        fieldControl.setNotification(notificationMessage);

    }

}

Integration into Dynamics 365 Form

To integrate this function into your Dynamics 365 form:

1. Navigate to the form editor for the entity where you want to apply this validation.
2. Add this JavaScript code to the form's web resources.
3. Create an event handler for the field that needs validation, typically on the "OnChange" event.
4. Configure the handler to call validateTimeField, passing the execution context, the logical name of the field to validate, and the desired notification message, e.g., "This field must be 4 digits long."

Conclusion

Field notifications are an unobtrusive yet effective way to enforce data validation rules directly within Dynamics 365 forms. By providing real-time feedback to users, they help prevent erroneous data entries, ensuring that the data remains reliable and useful for business operations. Implementing such validations can greatly enhance the overall data quality and user experience in your Dynamics 365 environment.