Configuring Material Tables in Forms and Boards
📋 Configuring Material Tables in Forms and Boards
Overview
When you add a material table to a form or board in Ontraccr, you can control exactly which data fields are visible, editable, or used for calculations. This gives you complete flexibility over how materials are displayed and interacted with — whether for quoting, logging, or inventory tracking.
This guide explains how to configure material table fields and customize the user experience.
🧩 What Is a Material Table Field?
A material table is a special table field that pulls data from your Materials Database. It allows users to:
- Select materials or assemblies from your database
- View associated details like cost, price, or units
- Enter quantities or notes
- Trigger workflow actions (e.g., cost updates, inventory changes)
🛠 How to Add One
- In the form or board builder, add a new table field.
- Set the data type to Materials.
- Choose which columns to include.
✅ Columns You Can Include
You can select from a wide range of fields from your material records:
- Name
- Description
- Part Number
- Material Cost / Price
- Labor Cost / Price
- Quantity / Unit
- Supplier
- Cost Code
- Allocated or Available Quantities (for inventory tracking)
📌 Tip: Only include what’s relevant to the end user (e.g., hide internal cost fields from clients).
🎛 Column Behavior Options
For each column, you can define:
| Setting | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Visible | Show or hide the column in the table |
| Editable | Allow user to enter or change the value |
| Calculated | Auto-calculate totals based on quantity x price |
| Required | Prevent submission if field is empty |
📌 Use Case: Make "Quantity" editable but keep "Unit Cost" read-only for accurate pricing.
🔁 Integration with Workflows
Once the material table is configured:
- The data can feed into:
- Update Material blocks (for inventory)
- Update Cost / Budget blocks (for job costing)
- Users interact with the exact columns you’ve defined.
🧠 Real Use Cases
- Estimating form: Show name, price, and unit — editable quantities only.
- Purchase order form: Editable cost and quantity fields — add to inventory on submit.
- Daily log: Technician selects items used — quantity deducted from stock automatically.
✅ Summary
Customizing the material table ensures that users interact with your materials in a way that aligns with:
- Your operational process
- Your financial tracking
- Your quoting or fulfillment requirements