Definitive help for v. 5.0?

[evilolive]

I'm new to SugarCRM and php, but the standard install was impressive enough to make using SugarCRM worth it. It does ALMOST everything my company needs, and the studio looks pretty extensive, so I jumped in and for the most part, i'm loving it. The problems I'm having are all related to small customizations that should be easy. I've tried searching the foruns and reading through the wiki, but I still can't manage to do these things:

- Make any changes whatsoever (or even remove) the quick create panel on the left side of the screen
- Control what fields are required - I've read about the "required = true" marker in vardefs and the required fields option in the field_array definition. But when I make these changes for a field, it's still functionally optional.
- Find out why the Date Created is sometimes wrong. Periodically (not every time, but often) when someone creates a bug, it sets the created date as 7:00pm the night before.
- Make custom fields that create relationships between to modules.

Someone please restore my faith in SugarCRM!

I'm using Version 5.0.0b (Build 3150) and an MS SQL 2005 database.

[datasponge]

HI Evilolive,

I had some similar problems, so I'll throw in my comments.

- Make any changes whatsoever (or even remove) the quick create panel on the left side of the screen

I didn't like this at first, but then realized it was the only good way to navigate to certain areas. Also you can hide it by clicking the << icon and it takes up virtually no space (I hate horizontal scrolling).

- Control what fields are required. I've read about the "required = true" marker in vardefs and the required fields option in the field_array definition. But when I make these changes for a field, it's still functionally optional.

I haven't played with this, but I have had problems with vardefs changes taking effect. Make sure you flush the vardefs cache from the Admin->Repair tool after any change to vardefs.

- Find out why the Date Created is sometimes wrong. Periodically (not every time, but often) when someone creates a bug, it sets the created date as 7:00pm the night before.

Check that your timezone is set correctly. All times are saved in Sugar as GMT, then adjusted to local time based on the user's timezone setting. So if a single user's timezone setting is incorrect, any records that user creates will be timestamped incorrectly.

- Make custom fields that create relationships between to modules.

I've done this no problem. What issues are you running into? What specific relationship are you trying to create?

Phil

[SugarDev.net]

HI Evilolive,

I had some similar problems, so I'll throw in my comments.

I didn't like this at first, but then realized it was the only good way to navigate to certain areas. Also you can hide it by clicking the << icon and it takes up virtually no space (I hate horizontal scrolling).
Phil

There is no way to remove or edit the quick create form through the UI/Studio, you'll have to dive in the code. What you describe, is the option to just remove the whole bar, menu included.

[evilolive]

Phil,
Thanks so much for your reply!

HI Evilolive,
I haven't played with this, but I have had problems with vardefs changes taking effect. Make sure you flush the vardefs cache from the Admin->Repair tool after any change to vardefs.

I'll be sure to clear the cache after any changes next time, thank you!

HI Evilolive,.
Check that your timezone is set correctly. All times are saved in Sugar as GMT, then adjusted to local time based on the user's timezone setting. So if a single user's timezone setting is incorrect, any records that user creates will be timestamped incorrectly.

I did find one lone user whose time zone was incorrect. I'll keep an eye out to see if that fixes it. I wasn't sure this was the origin of the problem though because I've had other user make the same complaint. Plus, the ones that are coming up wrong are always coming up as exactly 7pm the previous night instead of a standard offset, so I don't know.

HI Evilolive,
I've done this no problem. What issues are you running into? What specific relationship are you trying to create?
Phil

This is the one that's really causing me problems. If I'm in the bug module and use the "Contact" subpanel to select a contact, I can then go to that contact and see the corresponding bug. I want this same behavior, but through a custom field instead of having to use the subpanel after the bug is created.

I see the behavior I want when I'm using the Accounts field in the Contacts module. If I edit a contact and select something in the Accounts field, I can immediately go to that account and see the contact I just edited in the Contact subpanel. I want to be able to do the same thing between the Bug and Account module and between the Bug and Contact module.

[ptemplin7]

For what you are trying to do, I suggest you take a look at the developer part of the Wiki.

You will need to dive into the code to make these changes and make sure you are on a development box, prefereably two or more so you can cross test your errors. Custom fields and linking them to the subpanels is not for the faint of heart. Be prepared for errors and needing to tweak the coding. If you can find an easier way to do the same thing without customizeation I would suggest you try it.

Good luck and welcome to Sugar.
Paris

[datasponge]

Evilolive,

I don't have any explanation for the 7 PM, I'd say watch closely and look at who/what/when/where/how when you see a wrong time if and when it occurs.

You could also temporarily turn on slow query logging or even MySQL binary logging to catch the query that causes the wrong date, but that might be too much hassle for something infrequent.

I see the behavior I want when I'm using the Accounts field in the Contacts module. If I edit a contact and select something in the Accounts field, I can immediately go to that account and see the contact I just edited in the Contact subpanel. I want to be able to do the same thing between the Bug and Account module and between the Bug and Contact module.

Got it, but I meant, what is it that's going wrong. What do you do? What do you then see on the screen? Is there anything to click and what happens when you click on it?

Phil

[evilolive]

For what you are trying to do, I suggest you take a look at the developer part of the Wiki.

You will need to dive into the code to make these changes and make sure you are on a development box, prefereably two or more so you can cross test your errors. Custom fields and linking them to the subpanels is not for the faint of heart. Be prepared for errors and needing to tweak the coding. If you can find an easier way to do the same thing without customizeation I would suggest you try it.

Good luck and welcome to Sugar.
Paris

Thanks so much. At least now I know what's involved and I don't have to keep wondering why it won't work through the studio.