How to: Set default values for required column in a SharePoint 2016 newform.aspx using javascript

Question

I have a simple list with a single line of text column. I have a JS function that reads data from other list an set default value for this column in the new form. I simply use.

$(“select[Title=’Fieldname’]”).val(‘Value’);

All works well, if I change my column type and set "Require that this column contains information" to true, the code no longer works. Anyone knows why and how I can get around this issue?

Answer 1

When you make the the field required it changes the title attribute of field element . So the selector you are using does not return any element.

You can see the title of the field by inspecting respective textbox/select element on new form in developer tool.

Try using below selectors:

Using Title property:

$("select[title='Fieldname Required Field']").val("Value");

Here Fieldname is display name of field.

Using Id property:

Using Id for element selector is bit tricky in SharePoint as it appends unnecessary string in id attribute by default.

$("select[id^='Fieldname']").val("Value");

^ denotes that id starts with your Fieldname(Internal name of field).