# How do I? **URL:** https://www.five.org/c/how-do-i/6.md [Latest](https://www.five.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://www.five.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://www.five.org/tags.md) --- ## [About the How do I? category](https://www.five.org/t/about-the-how-do-i-category/14)
**Author:** [@dominic](https://www.five.org/u/dominic)\ **Replies:** 0
This category is the right place if you have a question about how to build an application with Five. --- ## [Server Function Appears to Repeatedly Execute Without Cause](https://www.five.org/t/server-function-appears-to-repeatedly-execute-without-cause/735)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/server-function-appears-to-repeatedly-execute-without-cause/735 "2026-10-25T21:19:40Z")
I’m experiencing a problem with a server function that appears to be executed repeatedly at approximately 60-second intervals, even though the client invokes it only once. This application previously completed the same … --- ## [Cannot create a Dependent Field with a Lookup on Dependent Tables](https://www.five.org/t/cannot-create-a-dependent-field-with-a-lookup-on-dependent-tables/617)
**Author:** [@JeanXXIV](https://www.five.org/u/JeanXXIV)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2026, 10:03pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/cannot-create-a-dependent-field-with-a-lookup-on-dependent-tables/617 "2026-10-21T22:03:33Z")
Hello everyone! I have an issue described in the title. In a simple scenario, I am able to create a dependent field with a lookup as shown in this first schema. When I create or edit a new Task, the lookup list of the … --- ## [How to automatically update the parent form?](https://www.five.org/t/how-to-automatically-update-the-parent-form/585)
**Author:** [@JeanXXIV](https://www.five.org/u/JeanXXIV)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2026, 12:50am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/how-to-automatically-update-the-parent-form/585 "2026-10-21T00:50:27Z")
Hello everyone. My application creates invoices. After careful consideration, I realized that some calculated fields should be stored in my Invoice table (e.g. total amount, taxes. etc.) For example, I have a Invoice tab… --- ## [Report Pagination Issue](https://www.five.org/t/report-pagination-issue/734)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/report-pagination-issue/734 "2026-10-20T23:32:14Z")
My Interest Group Rosters are having issues when I render the report. The Group Footer has an element to force a page break after. This is working fine, except I don’t want it at the end of the final group, because a bl… --- ## [Make my Application Production Ready](https://www.five.org/t/make-my-application-production-ready/728)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2026, 10:38pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/make-my-application-production-ready/728 "2026-10-18T22:38:25Z")
My understanding of the Production switch of my application is that if switched on, the application will be guaranteed to stay “live” so it will be available to me and my users, without timing out. I believe this works e… --- ## [Customize DataView Displays](https://www.five.org/t/customize-dataview-displays/731)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2026, 1:02am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/customize-dataview-displays/731 "2026-10-18T01:02:57Z")
Is there a way to customize column widths for DataViews in the design window rather than needing users to grab and slide the column borders? Sometimes it is difficult to fit everything into the screen. If we could give … --- ## [Need Clarity on Users and Roles](https://www.five.org/t/need-clarity-on-users-and-roles/724)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/need-clarity-on-users-and-roles/724 "2026-10-15T18:26:36Z")
I’ve read the documentation on Users and Roles, but these seem to be related to Five users and roles, not my application’s users and roles. My aim is to have user roles in my application, which allows them to see certai… --- ## [Disable View Record Link in Form List](https://www.five.org/t/disable-view-record-link-in-form-list/729)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2026, 1:53am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/disable-view-record-link-in-form-list/729 "2026-10-12T01:53:22Z")
I have an InterestGroups form whose list displays GroupName and Portfolio. PortfolioKey has Display Type \_Lookup, Reference Form Portfolios, and Include In List If = true. In the newest version of Five, the list now aut… --- ## [Please Explain New Features](https://www.five.org/t/please-explain-new-features/730)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/please-explain-new-features/730 "2026-10-05T21:40:20Z")
In this screen shot, there seems to be new functionality that is not yet documented. Can you please explain them, particularly Import Database to Development, Backup Development and Restart Pod from Development? Tha… --- ## [Report Not Formatting Properly in Version 3](https://www.five.org/t/report-not-formatting-properly-in-version-3/720)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2026, 8:49pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/report-not-formatting-properly-in-version-3/720 "2026-09-20T20:49:12Z")
I have a report called GroupSchedule: When I run it on client, it does this: Note the report now goes to a new page when it didn’t do this before. Otherwise, it is fine. When I run it through the emailing system, … --- ## [Need to Automate Exporting Table or Query to Excel or CSV](https://www.five.org/t/need-to-automate-exporting-table-or-query-to-excel-or-csv/635)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2026, 5:18am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/need-to-automate-exporting-table-or-query-to-excel-or-csv/635 "2026-09-16T05:18:21Z")
I’ve perused the documentation, looking for how to export a table or query result to Excel or CSV file. I found how to do this manually by using the Export button. Now I need to do this programatically from a menu item … --- ## [Import Data from Another Application](https://www.five.org/t/import-data-from-another-application/644)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/import-data-from-another-application/644 "2026-09-15T01:45:53Z")
This is a request for advice rather than a technical question. I have a working Access application, and am in the process of developing this in Five. I already have all required tables, but when it comes time to import … --- ## [Problem Returning to Form After Adding Record](https://www.five.org/t/problem-returning-to-form-after-adding-record/561)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2026, 1:35am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/problem-returning-to-form-after-adding-record/561 "2026-09-15T01:35:26Z")
My StudyGroups form has a page for Members in the group, powered by a DataView. I can click the AddMember action button to add a new member to the list of members in the group. This runs the AddGroupMember function: fun… --- ## [How to set a single record as default value on a lookup query](https://www.five.org/t/how-to-set-a-single-record-as-default-value-on-a-lookup-query/721)
**Author:** [@JeanXXIV](https://www.five.org/u/JeanXXIV)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2026, 1:56am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/how-to-set-a-single-record-as-default-value-on-a-lookup-query/721 "2026-09-14T01:56:04Z")
Hello, On a form field, when using a \_LookupQuery with a query as a datasource, I noticed that when the result of the query is a single record, this record appears as the default value in the field. This is very practic… --- ## [Lookup Field in DataView](https://www.five.org/t/lookup-field-in-dataview/642)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/lookup-field-in-dataview/642 "2026-09-02T20:56:42Z")
I use DataViews extensively in my forms. In the Generate Emails form, there is a page with a dataview to select members. entries look like: Adams, John Blow, Joe Mittelman, Ron ... Is it possible to have a search bar a… --- ## [Big Problem with Libraries tab](https://www.five.org/t/big-problem-with-libraries-tab/648)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2026, 1:48am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/big-problem-with-libraries-tab/648 "2026-09-02T01:48:05Z")
There is an issue with the Libraries tab as displayed by my function. here is a screen shot: If I enter full-screen mode, I can see one extra library name, but still not all of them. This form desperately needs a ver… --- ## [Report Names Generated on Server Issue](https://www.five.org/t/report-names-generated-on-server-issue/625)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2026, 1:46am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/report-names-generated-on-server-issue/625 "2026-09-02T01:46:38Z")
I’m having an issue with returning the reportResult object from server and interpreting its name. I generated 2 different reports and had them emailed to myself. The attachment names were Roster\_4145ae112a1aaa67fda89c1e7… --- ## [Trying to set a Screen Field on a Data View from an async function](https://www.five.org/t/trying-to-set-a-screen-field-on-a-data-view-from-an-async-function/654)
**Author:** [@JeanXXIV](https://www.five.org/u/JeanXXIV)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2026, 9:06pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/trying-to-set-a-screen-field-on-a-data-view-from-an-async-function/654 "2026-09-01T21:06:50Z")
Hello! I am trying to set a Screen Field named ‘Total’ on a Data View using data returned from a server-side function, but without success. It seems that updating a Screen Field on a Data View from an asynchronous call… --- ## [Email "no-reply" address](https://www.five.org/t/email-no-reply-address/641)
**Author:** [@JeanXXIV](https://www.five.org/u/JeanXXIV)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/email-no-reply-address/641 "2026-08-27T01:51:33Z")
Hi Five Team, In my application, users send emails (Mail Merges) using my own SMTP server. I configure the context in a JavaScript function like this: const messageContext = {}; messageContext.SMTPSubject = courrielDa… --- ## [How to refresh the record list after a "soft delete"?](https://www.five.org/t/how-to-refresh-the-record-list-after-a-soft-delete/640)
**Author:** [@JeanXXIV](https://www.five.org/u/JeanXXIV)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2026, 2:28pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/how-to-refresh-the-record-list-after-a-soft-delete/640 "2026-08-26T14:28:08Z")
Hello, I have implemented a “soft delete” functionality by adding a IsDeleted field to my table. In y form, I added a condition to the Data Filter to only show records where ‘IsDeleted = 0’. I created a custom button t… --- ## [How to sort a Data View column by numeric value when using a custom Currency Display Type?](https://www.five.org/t/how-to-sort-a-data-view-column-by-numeric-value-when-using-a-custom-currency-display-type/646)
**Author:** [@JeanXXIV](https://www.five.org/u/JeanXXIV)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2026, 1:16am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/how-to-sort-a-data-view-column-by-numeric-value-when-using-a-custom-currency-display-type/646 "2026-08-26T01:16:47Z")
Hello, I have created a custom currency display type that follows the Canadian French formatting rules (e.g., 1 234,56 $). In my underlying query, this column is a calculated field and its Data Type is explicitly se… --- ## [Deleting Test Data from Tables](https://www.five.org/t/deleting-test-data-from-tables/655)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/deleting-test-data-from-tables/655 "2026-08-12T20:43:34Z")
I’m trying to figure out how to clear all of my data from all tables so I can import data from my live Access application. There are so many foreign key relationships, it keeps telling me I can’t truncate a table where … --- ## [Problem Processing Large Reports on Server](https://www.five.org/t/problem-processing-large-reports-on-server/650)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2026, 5:20am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/problem-processing-large-reports-on-server/650 "2026-07-06T05:20:00Z")
In my Brandeis Conejo application report generation on the server seems to have issues with large reports. The report generation consists of several phases: Stage report data. runs the report queries and writes the re… --- ## [Get Lookup Text from Lookup Field](https://www.five.org/t/get-lookup-text-from-lookup-field/651)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2026, 12:25am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/get-lookup-text-from-lookup-field/651 "2026-07-01T00:25:19Z")
My InterestGroup form has a concept of “Portfolio”. Every group has a portfolio, either A, B, C or D. These are the friendly names. in the Portfolios table, each one has a PortfoliosKey which is a GUID, and the Portfolio… --- ## [Server Timeout Sending Large Email Attachment](https://www.five.org/t/server-timeout-sending-large-email-attachment/623)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2026, 10:43pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/server-timeout-sending-large-email-attachment/623 "2026-06-17T22:43:50Z")
My GenerateEmails form is working. I can successfully send an email with a report attached. When I accidentally tried to send a somewhat large report, it thought for a while then came back with a server timeout message. … --- ## [Refreshing Form After Save](https://www.five.org/t/refreshing-form-after-save/631)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 26, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/refreshing-form-after-save/631 "2026-05-26T23:43:46Z")
I have a new table and form, both called Settings. This is to replace setting some variables in code in my InitialSetup function. Table fields are SettingName, SettingType and SettingValue. SettingType is a combo on the… --- ## [Triggering an event on record selection in a Data View without losing column sorting](https://www.five.org/t/triggering-an-event-on-record-selection-in-a-data-view-without-losing-column-sorting/647)
**Author:** [@JeanXXIV](https://www.five.org/u/JeanXXIV)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 2:20am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/triggering-an-event-on-record-selection-in-a-data-view-without-losing-column-sorting/647 "2026-05-23T02:20:57Z")
Hello, Is there a way to trigger an event when a user clicks on any column or row of a Data View? Previously, I attached a function to the On Click event of a specific data field. It worked, but my problem is that any … --- ## [Changing Table Name Globally](https://www.five.org/t/changing-table-name-globally/643)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2026, 4:23am UTC](https://www.five.org/t/changing-table-name-globally/643 "2026-05-12T04:23:30Z")
I have a requirement to change a table name from StudyGroups to Groups. While this seems simple at first look, there are a LOT of things to change, such as function code, libraries, queries, etc. I also have to change n… --- ## [Email Reports to Specific People](https://www.five.org/t/email-reports-to-specific-people/626)
**Author:** [@RMittelman](https://www.five.org/u/RMittelman)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2026, 9:54pm UTC](https://www.five.org/t/email-reports-to-specific-people/626 "2026-05-11T21:54:13Z")
My GenerateEmails form allows me to send GENERIC emails, emails to specified study group leaders (LEADERS) or to board members (BOARD). The capitalized words are keys from my EmailTypes form/table. GENERIC works fine. I… [Next page](https://www.five.org/c/how-do-i/6.md?page=1)