Default values not populating

When default values do not populate in Power Pages, it can hinder user experience and may be due to several issues such as incorrect field configurations, missing or incomplete form settings, or improper scripting. This guide will walk you through the troubleshooting steps to resolve this issue.

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1. Verify Default Value Settings in Entity Form

The first step is to check if the default values are correctly configured in the Entity Form. Sometimes, the default value setup may not have been properly applied.

Steps to verify:

1. Open the Entity Form:
   • Go to Portal Management and open the Entity Form where the default value should be populated.
2. Field Configuration:
   • In the Field Properties, ensure that you have configured the Default Value correctly for the field in question. In Dataverse, you can specify default values directly on fields for both text, picklist, lookup, and other field types.
3. Check Field Type:
   • Ensure that the field type is correct. For example, text fields, dropdowns (picklists), or date fields require different methods to set default values.
4. Custom Default Value (via Liquid):
   • If you are using Liquid Templates for populating default values, ensure the logic is correct. For example, check the Liquid code for syntax errors, and ensure it’s correctly fetching values.

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2. Check Prepopulate Value Settings

In Power Pages, prepopulate values allow the user to automatically see values filled in certain fields when the form loads. Sometimes, these values are not set or are configured incorrectly.

Steps to verify:

1. Prepopulate Values:
   • Check if the Prepopulate settings are correctly configured in the form. This can be set via Entity Form Fields in Portal Management.
2. Query Parameters:
   • If prepopulating values via query parameters, make sure the query parameters are being passed correctly to the form URL. For example, if the URL has a query string like ?accountid=123, ensure that the form is properly configured to read this parameter and populate it into the related field.

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3. Check for JavaScript Interference

JavaScript can sometimes override the default values, particularly if there are custom scripts running on the page.

Steps to verify:

1. Check Custom JavaScript:
   • Open your browser’s Developer Tools (F12) and check the Console for any JavaScript errors or warnings. An error might prevent the default value from being populated.
2. Inspect Custom Scripts:
   • If you have custom scripts that manipulate field values or interact with the form during the load process, temporarily disable these scripts to check if they are causing the issue.
3. Ensure No Conflicting Scripts:
   • If multiple JavaScript functions are interacting with the same field, one script might overwrite the value of the other. Make sure there is no conflict in the logic.

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4. Ensure Correct Form Field Mapping

If you’re trying to populate default values based on certain logic (e.g., user role, user profile, or related entity data), ensure that the correct field mappings are set.

Steps to verify:

1. Check Entity Field Mapping:
   • Ensure the correct field mapping is set between the Entity Form and the fields in your database. Sometimes, if the mapping is incorrect or missing, default values won’t populate.
2. Lookup Field Mappings:
   • If you’re using lookup fields, check that the related records exist and that the correct field is being used for the lookup. If the relationship is broken or data is missing, the lookup field will not be populated with a default value.

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5. Test with Default Values in a Simplified Form

In some cases, complexity in the form can cause issues with default values. To isolate the problem, try creating a simplified version of the form with only a few fields and set default values for those fields. This can help identify whether the issue lies in a specific field or configuration.

Steps to verify:

1. Create a New Simple Form:
   • Create a new form that includes only the fields with default values. Set the default values in the form and test to see if they populate correctly.
2. Eliminate Complex Logic:
   • Eliminate any complex logic, such as advanced Liquid scripts, JavaScript interactions, or field-based rules, and test with a simple default value to see if the problem persists.

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6. Check for Role-Based Access or Permissions

Sometimes, role-based permissions may affect the ability to populate default values. If the user does not have sufficient privileges to view or populate certain fields, the default values may not load.

Steps to verify:

1. Check Web Roles:
   • Ensure the Web Role assigned to the portal user has the correct permissions to read and write the data for the relevant fields.
2. Entity Permissions:
   • Verify that the Entity Permissions for the fields involved allow the user to read and populate data. In particular, if certain fields are linked to sensitive data, access restrictions may prevent default values from populating.

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7. Clear Cache and Test in Incognito Mode

Cached data or session data can sometimes interfere with the proper loading of default values in Power Pages.

Steps to verify:

1. Clear Browser Cache:
   • Clear your browser’s cache and cookies, as outdated or cached data might be causing the default values not to appear correctly.
2. Test in Incognito Mode:
   • Open the portal in Incognito Mode or Private Browsing to avoid any cached data from affecting the form’s behavior.

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8. Ensure Correct Data Type Matching

Make sure that the field type and the default value data type are compatible. For example, if a date field is expecting a date format and the default value is a string, it won’t populate correctly.

Steps to verify:

1. Check Data Types:
   • Ensure that the data type of the field and the default value are compatible. If you’re populating a text field, make sure the value is in a string format, and for date fields, the value should be in the correct date format.