Field variable default value vs. Field Visualization Picklist default item
Fields can have a default value and the picklist for a field can have a default item. If not careful it is possible for these two values to be out of sync with each other.
For example, If you run the below form in debug mode and look at the value of #EMPSEX at the "message" command it's value is blank unless the radio button has been selected. This may appear incorrect as the field picklist has a default item but is in fact correct behavior.
What happens is the form on start up initializes the field so #EMPSEX to its default value. In this case no default value has been specified so the field variable value is blank. However, for the visualization Blank is not a valid value so the visualization initialises as per the rules of the picklist (to the value of the default item in this case)
What we have created is a case where the field default value and the field picklist default items value are out of sync. To resolve this #EMPSEX should be defined with a default value of 'M'. Field and Visualization will then be in sync and the field value will match the visualized appearance
To avoid confusion it is recommended that a field default value be set to the value of the default item in the fields picklist.
Form Source
FUNCTION OPTIONS(*DIRECT)
BEGIN_COM ROLE(*EXTENDS #PRIM_FORM) CLIENTHEIGHT(306) CLIENTWIDTH(492) LEFT(326) TOP(162)
DEFINE_COM CLASS(#EMPSEX.Visual) NAME(#EMPSEX) DISPLAYPOSITION(1) LEFT(40) PARENT(#COM_OWNER) TABPOSITION(1) TOP(40)
DEFINE_COM CLASS(#PRIM_PHBN) NAME(#PHBN_1) CAPTION('Save') DISPLAYPOSITION(2) LEFT(53) PARENT(#COM_OWNER) TABPOSITION(2) TOP(192)
EVTROUTINE handling(#com_owner.Initialize)
SET #com_owner caption(*component_desc)
ENDROUTINE
EVTROUTINE HANDLING(#PHBN_1.Click)
message 'Field Sex has a Value?'
ENDROUTINE
END_COM
Field Source ( EMPSEX Alpha(1) )
BEGIN_COM ROLE(*EXTENDS #PRIM_OBJT)
BEGIN_COM ROLE(*Visual #PRIM_EVEF) NAME(#VisualEdit) HEIGHT(19) USEPICKLIST(False) WIDTH(178)
END_COM
* Define Picklist Visualization
BEGIN_COM ROLE(*Visual #PRIM_EVPL) NAME(#PICKLIST) DEFAULTVISUAL(True) HEIGHT(44) MARGINLEFT(50) WIDTH(167)
End_Com
* Define the Picklist
BEGIN_COM ROLE(*picklist) NAME(#LIST)
DEFINE_COM CLASS(#PRIM_PKIT) NAME(#ITEM1) CAPTION('Male') DEFAULT(True) PARENT(#LIST) VALUE('M')
DEFINE_COM CLASS(#PRIM_PKIT) NAME(#ITEM2) CAPTION('Female') PARENT(#LIST) VALUE('F')
End_Com
BEGIN_COM ROLE(*Visual #PRIM_EVPL) NAME(#Dropdown) APPEARANCE(DropDownList) HEIGHT(69) WIDTH(209)
END_COM
END_COM