How To: Enforce Unique Names on NetSuite Custom Records

This article is relevant if you wish to have NetSuite custom records enforce a unique name or id.

Background

Often times, as we create innovations on the NetSuite platform, we want to specify that the “name” field be unique.  We know that NetSuite maintains a unique identifier, the ‘internalid’ in the application.  But this identifier is an integer and may not reflect our need for a unique string. 

The “Name” field is important.  When other records link to the custom record, the Name field is presented to the user.  For example, consider a case where you want to maintain a unique list of  automobile license plate numbers.  NetSuite’s built-in custom Numbering manager is not going to work because the identifiers for license plate numbers are produced independent of NetSuite.

Use SuiteScript to Enforce a Uniqueness

Below is a code pattern that can be deployed to the Before Submit User Event on any custom record to enforce uniqueness.

/**

 * Module Description
 *
 * Version			Date			Author
 * 1.00				20150303		Marty Zigman
 *
 * Purpose: General utility to force the "name" of a NetSuite custom record type to be unique
 *
 */

function beforesubmit_customrecord_unique_name(type) {
	var func = " beforesubmit_customrecord_unique_name";
	nlapiLogExecution('DEBUG', func + 'Loading with type' , type);

	if (type == 'delete'){
		return;
	};

	var rectype = nlapiGetRecordType();
        var newrec = nlapiGetNewRecord();
        var recid = newrec.getId();
        var recname = newrec.getFieldValue('name') ;

	nlapiLogExecution('DEBUG', func + 'rectype | newrec.name | newrec.getId' , rectype + ' | ' + recname + ' | ' + recid);

	//we always expect a name value but better check
	if (!recname){
		return;
	} else {
		recname = recname.trim();
	};

	var filters = new Array();
	filters[0] = new nlobjSearchFilter('name', null, 'is', recname);

	//do not return our current record; it's okay to update ourself with the same value
	if (recid) {
		filters[1] = new nlobjSearchFilter('internalid', null, 'noneof', recid);
	};

	var rec = nlapiSearchRecord(rectype, null, filters, null);
	if (rec) {
		if (rec.length > 0) {
			var errmsg = 'Insert/Update Error: Duplicate record found named: \'' +  recname + '\' at internal id: ' + rec[0].getId();
			nlapiLogExecution('ERROR', func + 'duplicate' , errmsg);
			throw nlapiCreateError(func, errmsg);
		};
	};
	return;
};

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Marty Zigman

Holding all three official certifications, Marty is regarded as the top NetSuite expert and leads a team of senior professionals at Prolecto Resources, Inc. He is a former Deloitte & Touche CPA and has held CTO roles. For over 30 years, Marty has produced leadership in ERP, CRM and eCommerce business systems. Contact Marty to set up a conversation.

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