Q: What causes sys_id Showing in Reference Field Display Instead of Name?

setValue() called without display value parameter — Check Client Scripts or UI Actions using g_form.setValue() on reference fields. Look in sys_script_client table and search for setValue calls with only two parameters instead of three. Referenced record's display field is empty or null — Navigate to the referenced record directly and check if the field defined as the display field (usually 'name' or 'number') has a value. Check the Dictionary Entry for the reference field to see which field is used for display. Business Rule using setValue without display value — Check Business Rules that modify the reference field using gr.setValue() or gr.field_name = value. Look in sys_script table for rules that run on the table containing the reference field. Dictionary display field misconfigured — Go to System Definition > Dictionary and find the reference field entry. Check the 'Display' field - it should point to a field that exists and contains data on the referenced table. ACL restrictions on display field — Check if Access Control Rules are preventing read access to the display field on the referenced table. Look in sys_security_acl table for rules affecting the display field.

Question 1

What causes sys_id Showing in Reference Field Display Instead of Name?

Accepted Answer

setValue() called without display value parameterhigh likelihood

Check Client Scripts or UI Actions using g_form.setValue() on reference fields. Look in sys_script_client table and search for setValue calls with only two parameters instead of three.

Referenced record's display field is empty or nullhigh likelihood

Navigate to the referenced record directly and check if the field defined as the display field (usually 'name' or 'number') has a value. Check the Dictionary Entry for the reference field to see which field is used for display.

Business Rule using setValue without display valuemedium likelihood

Check Business Rules that modify the reference field using gr.setValue() or gr.field_name = value. Look in sys_script table for rules that run on the table containing the reference field.

Dictionary display field misconfiguredmedium likelihood

Go to System Definition > Dictionary and find the reference field entry. Check the 'Display' field - it should point to a field that exists and contains data on the referenced table.

ACL restrictions on display fieldlow likelihood

Check if Access Control Rules are preventing read access to the display field on the referenced table. Look in sys_security_acl table for rules affecting the display field.

Question 2

How do you fix sys_id Showing in Reference Field Display Instead of Name?

Accepted Answer

How to fix it Navigate to System Definition > Client Scripts and search for scripts affecting your table. Look for g_form.setValue() calls on your reference field that only have two parameters. Change g_form.setValue('field_name', sysId) to g_form.setValue('field_name', sysId, displayValue). If you don't have the display value, use a GlideAjax call to retrieve it before setting the field. Navigate to System Definition > Dictionary and search for your reference field. Open the Dictionary Entry and check the Display field to see which field from the referenced table is used for display. Navigate to the referenced table and open a few records that are showing sys_ids. Check if the display field (from step 6) has values populated on these records. If the display field is empty, populate it with appropriate values or change the Dictionary Display field to point to a field that has data. Navigate to System Definition > Business Rules and search for rules on your table. Look for Business Rules that set your reference field using current.field_name = value or gr.setValue(). If found, modify the Business Rule to also set the display value using current.field_name.setDisplayValue(displayValue).

Question 3

How do you prevent sys_id Showing in Reference Field Display Instead of Name?

Accepted Answer

Always use the three-parameter version of g_form.setValue() when setting reference fields: g_form.setValue(field, sysId, displayValue). When creating Business Rules that set reference fields, use current.field_name.setDisplayValue() immediately after setting the sys_id value. Validate that display fields on reference tables have mandatory=true or default values to prevent empty display names. Use Reference Field Previews in Studio when creating new reference fields to verify the display configuration before deployment. Set up Data Policies or Business Rules to ensure display fields are always populated when records are created on referenced tables.

sys_id Showing in Reference Field Display Instead of Name

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