entity\clearAttribute(ATTRIBUTE) - Formula function

[Davide Alghi]

Hi all,
I'm trying to understand the logic of function entity\clearAttribute(ATTRIBUTE) in Formula (Before Save Custom Script).

I tried to empty the industry field of the Account entity type.

With

industry = '';

or

entity\setAttribute('industry', '');

it works: the field industry is emptied.

But if I use entity\clearAttribute('industry') the field industry is unchanged.

Analyzing the implementation code of entity\clearAttribute(ATTRIBUTE), I see that it is like an PHP array unset() (valuesContainer), so I understand why it does not empty the industry field.

I'm trying to understand the logic of the function: maybe to prevent the user from modifying a specific field?

BR

[yuri]

Hi,

It unsets an attribute. It just removes the value from the memory (from the entity object). A cleared attribute is not synced with database. It does not set the attribute to null.

It was a replicate of the internal clear method. Often used before serving values to a user to hide unwanted fields. Better never use it in formula.

[yuri]

Empty strings are rarely used in Espo. Use null instead.

[Davide Alghi]

Hi Yuri, tnx.

this clarify my question

It was a replicate of the internal clear method. Often used before serving values to a user to hide unwanted fields. Better never use it in formula.