Lookup and Modified methods for FormReferenceGroup fields in D365

Let's say we need to keep in Purchase line a manufacturer code for a particular product. So each Product/Manufacturer code combination is unique.

Three tables are referenced via RecId fields.

So once Manufacturer code field is placed in the form, we end up with a FormReferenceGroup.

We can easily override its lookup method by subscribing to the relevant event on it.

 [FormControlEventHandler(formControlStr(PurchTable, avrEcoResManufacturerProduct_avrEcoResManufacturerProductRecId), FormControlEventType::Lookup)]
    public static void avrEcoResManufacturerProduct_avrEcoResManufacturerProductRecId_OnLookup(FormControl sender, FormControlEventArgs e)
    {
        PurchLine                           purchLine = sender.formRun().dataSource(formDataSourceStr(PurchTable, PurchLine)).cursor() as PurchLine;
        FormControlCancelableSuperEventArgs cancelableArgs = e as FormControlCancelableSuperEventArgs;
        
        avrEcoResManufacturerProduct::lookupByItem(sender, purchLine.itemId);
        
        cancelableArgs.CancelSuperCall();
    }

public client static Common lookupByItem(FormReferenceControl _formReferenceControl, ItemId _itemId)
    {
        SysReferenceTableLookup sysReferenceTableLookup;
        Query                   query;
        QueryBuildDataSource    avrEcoResMan;

        sysReferenceTableLookup = SysReferenceTableLookup::newParameters(tableNum(avrEcoResManufacturerProduct), _formReferenceControl);
        sysReferenceTableLookup.addLookupfield(fieldNum(avrEcoResManufacturerProduct, EcoResManufacturerRecId));
        sysReferenceTableLookup.addLookupfield(fieldNum(avrEcoResManufacturerProduct, EcoResManufacturerPartNbr));

        query = new Query();
        avrEcoResMan = query.addDataSource(tableNum(avrEcoResManufacturerProduct));
        avrEcoResMan.addRange(fieldNum(avrEcoResManufacturerProduct, EcoResProductRecId)).value(SysQuery::value(InventTable::find(_itemId).Product));

        sysReferenceTableLookup.parmQuery(query);

        return sysReferenceTableLookup.performFormLookup() as avrEcoResManufacturerProduct;
    }

But what if the user wants to create new values in appropriate tables if them do not exist yet?

We can catch the modified event in order to create new values before failing the validation.
However, given that its content may be changed, it is impossible to get access to its fields at design time.

We can do it during run-time by means of getting sought field form controls by their names and overloading then their Modified() methods. (see the similar trick for AX 2012 https://alexvoy.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-set-properties-for-reference.html)

The code you need to add.

[ExtensionOf(formStr(PurchTable))]
final class avrPurchTableForm_PurchTableManuf_Extension
{
    private const  str          avrFieldNameDisplayProductNumber    = 'EcoResManufacturerPartNbr';
    private const  str          avrFieldNameEcoResManufacturerName  = 'EcoResManufacturerName';
    private FormStringControl   avrFSCDisplayProductNumber;
    private FormStringControl   avrFSCEcoResManufacturerName;
    
    // the only way to change the standard modified method for a control inside of a dynamically populated reference group
    // is to get it by its name looping all form controls of this group during run-time. then to overload it
    [FormEventHandler(formStr(PurchTable), FormEventType::Initialized)]
    public void PurchTable_OnInitialized(xFormRun sender, FormEventArgs e)
    {
        FormDesign                      formDesign = sender.design();
        FormReferenceGroupControl       formReferenceGroupControl;
        formReferenceGroupControl = formDesign.controlName(formControlStr(PurchTable, avrEcoResManufacturerProduct_avrEcoResManufacturerProductRecId)) as formReferenceGroupControl;
        this.registerManufacturerNameOverload(formReferenceGroupControl);
    }

    private void registerManufacturerNameOverload(FormReferenceGroupControl _formReferenceGroupControl )
    {
        int                                 i;
        Object                              childControl;
        FormStringControl                   formStringControl;

        for (i = 1; i <= _formReferenceGroupControl.controlCount(); i++) // FilterCategory is of FormReferenceGroupControl type
        {
            childControl = _formReferenceGroupControl.controlNum( i );
            formStringControl = childControl as formStringControl;
            if(formStringControl.DataFieldName() == avrFieldNameEcoResManufacturerName)
            {
                avrFSCEcoResManufacturerName = formStringControl;
                formStringControl.registerOverrideMethod(methodStr(formStringControl, modified), formMethodStr(PurchTable, avrEcoResManufacturerName_modified_overload),
                    this);
            }
            if(formStringControl.DataFieldName() == avrFieldNameDisplayProductNumber)
            {
                avrFSCDisplayProductNumber = formStringControl;
                formStringControl.registerOverrideMethod(methodStr(formStringControl, modified), formMethodStr(PurchTable, avrDisplayProductNumber_modified_overload),
                this);
            }
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// We have to allow the user to insert any value, even though such a value is not found in the referenced table;
    /// then we will ask whether this new value must be created in the table and set this new value for the current record
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name = "_sender">EcoResManufacturerName</param>
    public void avrEcoResManufacturerName_modified_overload(FormStringControl _sender)
    {
        avrEcoResManufacturer avrEcoResManufacturer = avrEcoResManufacturer::findOrCreateByName(_sender.text());
        _sender.modified();
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// We have to allow the user to insert any value, even though such a value is not found in the referenced table;
    /// then we will ask whether this new value must be created in the table and set this new value for the current record
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name = "_sender">EcoResManufacturerName</param>
    public void avrDisplayProductNumber_modified_overload(FormStringControl _sender)
    {
        Common          comm = _sender.dataSourceObject().cursor();
        PurchLine       purchLine   =  _sender.parentControl().dataSourceObject().cursor() as PurchLine;

        avrEcoResManufacturerProduct avrEcoResManufacturerProduct = avrEcoResManufacturerProduct::findOrCreateEcoResManufacturerProduct(
                                                                                                        purchLine.itemId, 
                                                                                                        avrFSCEcoResManufacturerName.text(),
                                                                                                        _sender.text());
        _sender.modified();
    }

}

Table methods

public static avrEcoResManufacturer findOrCreateByName(avrEcoResManufacturerName       _manufacturerName)
    {
        avrEcoResManufacturer           avrEcoResManufacturer = avrEcoResManufacturer::findByName(_manufacturerName);
        if(!avrEcoResManufacturer)
        {
            if(Box::confirm("Do you want to creare new manufacturer?", strFmt(avrEcoResManufacturer::txtNotExist(), _manufacturerName)))
            {
                try
                {
                    avrEcoResManufacturer.EcoResManufacturerName = _manufacturerName;
                    if(avrEcoResManufacturer.validateWrite())
                    {
                        avrEcoResManufacturer.insert();
                    }
                }
                catch
                {
                    Error("Failed to create new manufacturer");
                }
            }
        }
        return avrEcoResManufacturer;
    }

public static avrEcoResManufacturerProduct findOrCreateEcoResManufacturerProduct(ItemId                         _itemId,
                                                                                    avrEcoResManufacturerName       _manufacturerName,
                                                                                    avrEcoResManufacturerPartNbr    _manufacturerPartNbr)
    {
        avrEcoResManufacturerProduct    avrEcoResManufacturerProduct;
        avrEcoResManufacturer           avrEcoResManufacturer;
        InventTable                     inventTable = InventTable::find(_itemId);
        // item and part number are given and exist
        if(inventTable.Product && _manufacturerPartNbr)
        {
            // such a manufacturer exists, so just try to find it for given combination
            avrEcoResManufacturer           = avrEcoResManufacturer::findOrCreateByName(_manufacturerName);
            avrEcoResManufacturerProduct    = avrEcoResManufacturerProduct::find(inventTable.Product, avrEcoResManufacturer.RecId);
            if(!avrEcoResManufacturerProduct)
            {
                if(Box::confirm("Do you want to create new part number", strFmt(avrEcoResManufacturerProduct::txtNotExist(), _manufacturerPartNbr)))
                {
                    try
                    {
                        avrEcoResManufacturerProduct.EcoResProductRecId         = inventTable.Product;
                        avrEcoResManufacturerProduct.EcoResManufacturerRecId    = avrEcoResManufacturer.RecId;
                        avrEcoResManufacturerProduct.EcoResManufacturerPartNbr  = _manufacturerPartNbr;
                        avrEcoResManufacturerProduct.EcoResManufacturerDefault  = NoYes::Yes;
                        if(avrEcoResManufacturerProduct.validateWrite())
                        {
                            avrEcoResManufacturerProduct.insert();
                        }
                    }
                    catch
                    {
                        Error("Failed to create new part number");
                    }
                }
            }
        }
        return avrEcoResManufacturerProduct;
    }