Issue getting value from dynamic option set (picklist) using Javascript in CRM 2011

Question

I am upgrading a CRM 4 solution to CRM 2011 and I am having an issue with a dynamic Option Set.

I am populating the option set by calling an API from the Javascript. This returns a list of text and value options, which I then iterate through.

Firstly, I retrieve the object itself and add a static Default option to the list:

var varPicklist = Xrm.Page.getControl("list_name");

//Add a System Default option to the picklist
var opt1 = new Option();
opt1.text = "System Default";
opt1.value = 100000;
varPicklist.addOption(opt1);

I then iterate through the collection, create an object and add each one to the list:

//Populate the rest of the list
var ObjectList = xmlDoc.getElementsByTagName("LookupItem");
for (var i = 0 ; i < ObjectList.length ; i++) 
{
    var optValue
    var optText
    var ObjectListItems = ObjectList[i].childNodes;
    for (var j = 0 ; j < ObjectListItems.length ; j++)
    {
        var value = ObjectListItems[j].childNodes[0];
        if (ObjectListItems[j].nodeName == "Key")
        {
            optValue = value.nodeValue;
        }
        else if (ObjectListItems[j].nodeName == "Value")
        {
            optText = value.nodeValue;
        }
    }

var opt = new Option();
opt.text = optText;
opt.value = optValue;
varPicklist.addOption(opt);
};

As stated, this all seems to work. The Picklist gets populated with the values and doesn't error. If I stick an alert in there during this process, the correct values or labels are displayed.

However, somehow the items seem to get lost along the way. If I try to reference them in any way from elsewhere in the form, I get null back. I tried this;

Xrm.Page.getAttribute("list_name").getSelectedOption().value

...and this;

Xrm.Page.getAttribute("list_name").getValue();

Neither of which worked. I tried accessing the text as opposed to the values (just as a test) and couldn't get those either.

But when I tried the same methods with option sets which contained static options, I could access them no problem.

Any help with where I'm going wrong would be appreciated...

Answer 1

CRM picklist is a weird control . Though getAttribute and getControl are CRM supported DOM manipulator, not 100% compatible like you expect in dynamic options.

Until unless you have physical static options added in CRM picklist control customizations, you cannot use that by getAttribute .

Using getControl , only you are displaying your options, but its not original CRM picklist options to store in DB.

Add all the options as static, hide/show based on your need.

Update:

To add a new optionset value on the fly, use InsertOptionValueRequest to target the metadata service & execute the request. Read MSDN