Show First Filled Registry entry

In a multi-language environment, specify whether to display data in the first language that has data if there is no data in the display language selected.

In a multi-language environment data is entered into a field in one language followed by the next, separated by a delimiter (and so on, for as many languages as required). This entry specifies whether to display data in the first language that has data if there is no data in the display language selected.

Note: This entry only has meaning when a single language is displayed. If All Languages is in effect, this entry is ignored. In general, it is recommended that this setting is enabled as it allows users to see values for empty fields, where a value has been specified in another language.

When the first filled value is displayed, it is shown in a different colour to distinguish it from values that exist for the current language. The default value for this Registry entry is false.

Consider an organisation that has data in English, German and French (the Supported Registry entry specifies the order as English, followed by German and then French). If a user has selected French as the display language, but there is no French data in a field, it is possible to specify that data from one or the other supported languages will display in its place. The data that will display depends on two things:

  1. The display order of languages.
  2. Whether there is in fact data in the language.

In this example, in the absence of any French data, English data will display if there is any; otherwise German data will display if there is any.

In the following example, two languages are specified by the Supported Registry entry (English followed by French). When All Languages is selected (from Tools>Languages>All Languages), we see that a Country has been entered in English but not in French:

If Show First Filled is set to true and French is selected as the display language, the English data will display in the field:

Back in All Languages mode, if we then add a French value:

and then select French as the display language, the French translation will now display:

Note: The Show First Filled Registry entry may be set on a system-wide, per user or group basis.

Usage

This Registry entry can be assigned to users, groups and system-wide:

Key User Group Key System
Key 1 User Group Key 1 System
Key 2 user group Key 2 Setting
Key 3 Setting Key 3 Language
Key 4 Language Key 4 Show First Filled
Key 5 Show First Filled    
Value boolean Value boolean
User user Setting Language Show First Filled boolean
Group group Setting Language Show First Filled boolean
System Setting Language Show First Filled boolean

where:

boolean

is true (data in the first language that has data is displayed if there is no data in the display language selected) or false (data is not displayed in the first language that has data if there is no data in the display language selected).

Note: If this entry is not present, a setting of false is assumed.

Example

In this example the first display language with data will display in place of the display language when there is no data in the display language:

Key Setting
Key 1 System
Key 2 Setting
Key 3 Language
Key 4 Show First Filled
Value true