Question: How To Create A Sugar Logic Formula For AutoIncrement Field

Question

Hello, is there a way to be able to create a Sugar Logic Formula that includes the AutoIncrement field? 
 Sample Setup: 
 
 Field #1:
 
 Text Field 
 Value: Name

Field #2:
 
 AutoIncrement Field 
 Value: 150

Field #3:
 
 Text Field 
 Sugar Logic Formula Enabled
 
 Formula: Field #1-Field #2

Value: Name-150

Problem : 
 
 It seems the Auto-Increment field isn't selectable on the Sugar Logic formula window. Are there any alternative formula I can use? Kindly advise, thank you everyone.

Jean Pierre Rojas · Accepted Answer

Auto Increment fields are set at the database layer once DB Manager has control over its iterator, so such a field only will be populated after the very record is saved into db. Having said that, even if you were able to select an auto increment field inside a sugarLogic formula, its value would be empty once SugarCRM has no control over its very value. 
 So the unique suitable approach is to implement a LogicHook after_save . 
 
 Cheers

Jean Pierre Rojas · Answer

Hi, Jean Pierre Rojas , 
 I understand why it is asked for formula - it may look confusing that such a simple task may require the development of a CRM with coding. The truth is that l earning Developer Guides and diving into PHP are not mandatory to get this simple configuring to work.

I employed Logic Builder configuring tool to setup the logic hook colleagues have mentioned here and get this Sugar behavior - it took just a few minutes. Here is a flowchart that implements the task, you may read it by following the white line (just zoom in, if necessary) Since I have access to the Logic Builder tool ( https://logicbuilder.integroscrm.com ), you may just let me know the exact names of the fields (that lasts with _c) and the name of the module fields belong to (like this https://<url>/#i_CustomA ), and I will get back with a ready-to-install zip, which Logic Builder generates in a click.

Jean Pierre Rojas · Answer

As Andr&eacute; said a logic hook is the best solution. 
 It is actually a very simple logic hook (this code is not tested or verified, so take it with a pinch of salt, but it should get you started on the right track): 
 in the module's directory create a logic hook file, let's call it NameYourClass_Logic.php

class NameYourClass_Logic {

 //before_save
 //this before_save function allows us to see if the value of the Name in Field1 has changed, in which case we want to update Field3
 //the fetched_row array contains the values of the fields before the change is made, IF this is not a new record.
 //if this is a new record then $bean->fetched_row is empty and this will not run, we take care of the new records in the after save
 //where we check if field3 is empty and set it with the newly assigned name in field1 incremental value from field2 

 function updateField3 ($bean, $event, $arguments){
 if (isset($bean->fetched_row) && $bean->fetched_row["field3"] != $bean->field3) {
 $bean->field3 = $bean->field1 . '- ' . $bean->field2;
 //do NOT save a bean in the before save, this code executes before the save so it just sets the field which will be saved
 }
 }

 //after save

 function setField3 ($bean, $event, $arguments) {
 //check if Field3 is empty, if it is already populated we don't need to do it again, this will also avoid infinite loops 
 //if you save a bean in an after save the save will trigger a before save and an after save again so you need to have a way to stop it
 //the if statement will stop this hook from executing if field3 is already populated

 if (empty($bean->field3) && !empty(field1) && !empty(field2) || ){
 $bean->field3 = $bean->field1 . '- ' . $bean->field2;
 $bean->save(); //here you have to save explicitly, this is an after-save hook
 }
 }

in the module's directory, add or edit your logic_hooks.php file to list these two logic hooks: 
 
 // Do not store anything in this file that is not part of the array or the hook version. 
//This file will be automatically rebuilt in the future. 

$hook_version = 1;
$hook_array = Array();

$hook_array['before_save'] = Array();
$hook_array['before_save'][] = Array(1,'updateField3','custom/modules/YourModule/NameYourClass_Logic.php','NameYourClass_Logic','updateField3',);

$hook_array['after_save'] = Array();
$hook_array['after_save'][] = Array(1,'setField3','custom/modules/YourModule/NameYourClass_Logic.php','NameYourClass_Logic','setField3',);

I hope this helps you get going and more interested in building your own logic hooks, if you are not already doing so :) 
 FrancescaS