VTExperts Advanced Custom Fields allows vTiger users to create a Second Assigned To Field and filter records based on additional user assignments. In this article, we will explain how to configure the Second Assigned To Field Filter in vTiger List View and overcome the limitations of the standard vTiger search functionality.

•  HTML Description: With this feature, users gain access to a rich text description field, empowering them to format text, upload images, and incorporate bullet points for improved content presentation.
• Assigned To: This picklist field comes pre-populated with the user list, perfectly mirroring the standard ‘Assigned To’ functionality. Moreover, it facilitates workflow emails to groups assigned to specific tasks.
• Upload Field: Offering versatility, this field type allows users to seamlessly store any file or image, complete with thumbnail previews for image files.

Limitation of Second “Assigned to” field filtering in vTiger CRM

The “Assigned to” field created via advanced custom fields can be used in multiple ways, but when it comes to list searches it does not support it. It is not supported due to limitations in the Vtiger’s core. The core code of Vtiger CRM is very strictly structured, allowing only the standard Assigned To field and no provision to create any additional Assigned To field. That is why the when user searches in list view using the custom “Assigned to” field filter, no results or false results are shown.
In the following image, a custom assigned to field is added by the label “Assigned to # 2”, whereas in the list view filter it is not showing the correct results

To overcome this limitation, VTExperts Advanced Custom Fields users can configure a Second Assigned To Field Filter in vTiger List View. This workaround allows users to search records using the additional Assigned To field by syncing it with a searchable filter field through workflows.

The potential solution is to create an additional field, such as the “Assigned to 2 Filter” field. It will be a picklist-type field containing all the user’s full names. Then, set up a workflow to update this new filter field “Assigned to filter filed” using values from “Assigned to # 2” field.

However, implementing this solution requires several database changes to function properly

Step 1: Create a new Field

Go to the module layout and create a new filed.

1. Make sure the type of the field is “Picklist” type field
2. Label it as “Assigned to # 2 Filter”
3. Add all the existing user’s full name as picklist values

Add the newly created field to the list view, for now, it will not show anything

Step 2: Change the UI type for the field created i.e. Assigned to #2 Filter (temporarily)

Now, you have to access the database to change the data type of the field that we created i.e. “Assigned to # 2 filter” field

1. Go to your database viewer
2. Go Vtiger fields table (Make it editable)
3. Search “Assigned to #2 Filter” field. Currently, its UI type is “16”, that is picklist type. We will change it to “1” temporarily, that is a text type field

“Assigned to #2 Filter” is no longer a picklist type field

Step 3: Create Workflow to Update Second Assigned To Filter

Go the to workflows and configure a workflow for the module under discussion, i.e., tickets in this example

1. For condition: add condition that “Assigned to #2” is changed
2. In actions: Select “Update field” action. Select field “Assigned to #2 Filter” field and now the system will allow to map information on it, instead of choosing the pre-defined picklist values
   
   To map the full name of the assigned number two, we’ll use an expression. We will be using Concat function and for the fields we will use the First name of “Assigned to #2” and Last name of “Assigned to #2”
   
   The whole expression will look like this
   

   concat((wcf_acf_atf_1506: (Users) first_name)," (wcf_acf_atf_1506: (Users) last_name))

3. Save the workflow

Step 4: Revert the UI type for the field (Assigned to #2 Filter)

In next step, we will revert the “Assigned to #2 Filter” field type from text to picklist via database as we did in the second step

Step 5: Search Using Second Assigned To Field Filter

On the list view of the module, now the “Assigned to #2 Filter” field is reverted back to the picklist type filed

Now, once you search for a specific user in the “Assigned to #2 Filter” field, it will also show the “Assigned to #2” field records for the same user

Additional Resources

Check Extension: Here
Extension Documentation: Here
Extension Demo: Here