Automapping
- Christopher Rushing (Unlicensed)
Contents
Overview
One of the strengths of the IT Audit Machine is how it can simplify the task of data entry across multiple forms within the same framework or even between frameworks which share similar data points. One of the ways in which ITAM accomplishes this is through automapping.
What is Automapping?
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Automapping syncs data across fields within the same entity which have been assigned the same template code. By enabling this feature and consistently using the same code across form fields which contain the same data, you can not only save time on data entry, but can also keep your information up to date across multiple forms in a more streamlined and manageable manner.
Using Automapping
Enabling or Disabling Automapping
Automapping is enabled and disabled via the form properties. When editing the form, click on the Form Properties tab located at the top of the tool box on the right of the form editing screen. Then click on the show more options link to expose the additional form options. Scroll down to the Advanced Options section near the bottom and check the Enable Auto-Mapping checkbox to enable the feature. Remove the check from that checkbox to disable the feature.
 |  Automapping Property
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Enabling this option will enable automapping for the whole form. Once it is enabled, all fields within that form which have a template code which matches other enabled forms within the same entity will have their data synced.
When a form itself is disabled or put into audit mode, automapping will be disabled for that form. When the form is reenabled or taken out of audit mode, syncing will once again be enabled for that form.
Adding a linked Template Code
To enable a particular field to participate in automapping, it first must have a template code. Template codes are part of a fields properties, located in the tool box, toward the bottom of the field property tab of most field types. A template code can be any alphanumeric code, including dashes. By entering a code into this field which is the same as the code on another field on a different form within the same entity, the two fields will become associated and will automatically sync up when data is changed on one of the forms.
To avoid accidental syncing, you should choose a code which is complex enough to not be duplicated accidentally, yet still meaningful and simple enough to be tracked and used as needed.
Automapping is a simple, yet powerful feature of the IT Audit Machine. As we have seen it is simple to enable and use, yet it can pay rich dividends in simplification and management of your data entry and updates across the forms in your entity.
Now that we have covered the basic ways in which a form can be configured, it is time to take a look at how to build the form out to meet your goals. We will do this by using the Form Builder which is what we will cover next.
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