Formula fields in onOffice are not updating (bulk update workaround)

You have created a field with a formula in onOffice (e.g. a link field containing the form URL including the Estate ID), but the formula does not calculate automatically in the existing records — the field remains empty even though the formula is correct.


Background

Formulas in onOffice fields are only calculated when the respective record is saved. If you create or change the formula afterwards, the existing records remain unaffected — the formula only takes effect when someone opens and saves the record.

However, with 500+ records, it is unrealistic to open and save each one individually.


Solution: Bulk update as a recompute trigger

onOffice has a function that saves all records once without actually changing anything — thereby recalculating all formula fields:

Step by step

  1. In onOffice → Property module (or Addresses, depending on where the formula field is located)
  2. Optional: Activate Filter if only a subset of records is to be affected (e.g. only active properties)
  3. Action → Mass Update Properties
  4. Last tab: “Property Data”
  5. Do not change anything — do not tick any values, do not adjust any fields
  6. Display at the bottom: “Records currently affected: X”
  7. Click “Update”

→ onOffice processes all records once. With 50 records, this takes a few seconds; with 1,000, several minutes.

Beforehand: Check formula field configuration

To ensure the formula is actually calculated, two checkboxes must be ticked in the field’s administration:

  • “Overwrite units”
  • “Overwrite master object”

Without these checkmarks, onOffice will skip some records.


When is this trick useful?

  • A new link field in the onOffice form has been created for a propform form (see Template Gallery → Quick Start)
  • Formula changed (e.g. propform domain changed) and all links need to be regenerated
  • Recalculate calculation fields using formulas (e.g. dynamic commission calculation)

Limitation: Retrieving the UUID of a linked address from a property

An onOffice limitation in formula fields: you cannot access the UUID of a linked address from the property form (and vice versa).

propform solution: Instead of creating the address link in a formula field within the property, use the “Automatically load related records” function in propform — see Link records → Auto-load.


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