Implementing combo fields

Combo Fields are text fields displaying with combo box functionality: as text is entered in a field, text previously entered in the field containing matching characters is displayed and can be selected to enable rapid and consistent field completion.

Team Member and Employment Record objects have Text Fields To Combo Box Field Sets enabling you to display text fields as Combo Fields in the HR Manager's Portal.

Using the Closed ComboBox option on the user record enables you to control which users can add field content for use by others. You can set up Users in one of two ways:

  1. Text entered by a user in a combo field is available to other users completing that field on other records.

  2. Text entered by a user in a combo field is not stored for future use. For users set up in this way, you can choose to display available text options for the field in a picklist.

To set the Closed ComboBox option:

  1. Make the field visible. It is hidden by default.

    1. Go to the User page layout: 

      In Salesforce Lightning Experience, go to Setup > Object Manager, and select the User object. Select User Page Layouts.

      In Salesforce Classic interface, go to Setup > App Setup > Customize > Users > Page Layouts.

    2. Select Edit next to the User Page Layout you want to change.

    3. Drag the Closed ComboBox field into the Additional Information section of the page layout.

    4. Select Properties for the Additional Information section—not for the Closed ComboBox itself—and check the boxes to Display Section Header On both Detail Page and Edit Page.

    5. Select OK to close the Section Properties dialog.

    6. Select Save to save the changed layout.

  2. Display the User's page:

    1. Go to the Users page: 

      In Salesforce Lightning Experience, go to Setup > Administration > Users > Users.

      In Salesforce Classic interface, go to Setup > Administration Setup > Manage Users > Users.

    2. Select Edit next to the User you want to change.

      Sage People displays the User Edit page.

  3. Scroll down to the Additional Information section to find the Closed ComboBox checkbox.

    • If checked, text entered by the user in a Combo Field is not stored for future use. Combo Fields also in the Text Fields To Picklists Field Set on the Team Member or Employment Record objects display as picklists with fixed lists of selectable field content.

    • If unchecked, text entered by the user in a Combo Field is made available to other users when completing that field on other records. Fields are displayed as Combo Fields even if they are also in the Text Fields To Picklists Field Set.

  4. Select Save to save and close the User record.

You can now add fields to the Text Fields To Combo Box and Text Fields To Picklists Field Sets on the Team Member and Employment Record objects. See also Set up combo box support for People Management Workflow.