How to Create and Use Masterdata Objects in NextTables

You will learn

Masterdata objects add business context (key and text) to fields in a NextTables table. You can use masterdata objects to power value help (searchable dropdown suggestions) during data entry, and optionally validate entries against an approved masterdata list.

Prerequisites

• Admin access, or the Manage masterdata permission at site level.
• Access to a data source and table that contains masterdata (the table can be read-only or write-enabled).

Step-by-Step Instructions

1) Open the masterdata administration area

1. Click the avatar menu (your profile picture) in NextTables.
2. Click Administration.
3. In the left sidebar, click masterdata.

2) Create a new masterdata object

1. In the top-right corner, click Create masterdata object.
2. Enter a name in Name.
   • Use an identifying name that will be easy to recognize when connecting fields later (for example, Company Code (Key-Text)).
3. Select a Data source.
   • The data source can be write-enabled or read-only.
4. In the next step, select the table to connect.
   • The table can be write-enabled or read-only.
5. Select the Key column.
   • Choose exactly one column that contains the stable identifier users will enter (for example, COMPANYCODE_ID).
6. Choose exactly one column that contains the user-friendly description (for example, COMPANYCODE_NAME).

5) Configure search and validation options

1. Set Minimum characters to search.
   • Use 3 (or higher) for very large masterdata tables to reduce the size of search results.
   • Use 0 for smaller masterdata tables to show an immediate dropdown list when users open the value help.
2. Configure Strict mode.
   • Turn Strict mode on to validate user entries against the masterdata list.
   • With strict mode enabled, users can only submit values that exist in the masterdata object.

6) Create the masterdata object

1. Click Create.
2. Confirm the new masterdata object appears in the masterdata overview list.

How to use a masterdata object in a table

You can connect a masterdata object to a field either during table creation or after the table exists.

Option A: Connect masterdata during table creation

1. Start the table creation flow.
2. In the field configuration step, set Masterdata object to the masterdata object you created.
3. Optionally, change the default display template to (key) text, text (key), text, or (key)

Option B: Connect masterdata to an existing field

1. Open the table.
2. Open the field settings from the grid header (edit field).
3. At the top, switch from "Basic" to "Masterdata" and select the masterdata object you created.
4. Optionally, change the default display template to (key) text, text (key), text, or (key)

What you should see after connecting masterdata

• The table shows the text value next to the key (key-text context).
• When users edit the field, the value help opens as a searchable dropdown.
• If strict mode is enabled, NextTables validates that entered values exist in the masterdata object.

Troubleshooting / FAQs

Q: The dropdown shows no values. What should I check?

A: Confirm the connected table contains rows, and confirm the selected Key column and Text column contain values (not null). Then re-open the value help and type at least the Minimum characters to search.

Q: Users can type any value even though strict mode is enabled. Why?

A: Confirm strict mode is enabled on the correct masterdata object, and confirm the field is connected to that masterdata object (not a different one).

Q: Can I use multiple columns as the key (compound key)?

A: Not yet. NextTables currently supports a single key column and a single text column per masterdata object. Compound keys are planned for a future update.