Problems with trigger formula updates: rec.field = value and table.updateRecord fail

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Hey y´all,

I’m encountering some unexpected errors when trying to use trigger formulas to modify a record on docs.getgrist.com as well as on the grist app version. I’ve managed to reproduce this with a minimal test case

GOAL:
pretty simple: I want a trigger formula to uncheck a checkbox in the same row when that checkbox is ticked.

  1. Table: Table1 (a new, empty table)
  2. Column A: Named MyCheckbox
    Type: Checkbox
    Behavior: Data Column
  3. Column B: Named MyTrigger
    Type: Text (or Any)
    Behavior: Trigger formula
    Trigger formula settings: “Apply on changes to:” MyCheckbox

Attempt 1: Using rec.FieldName = Value

I used the following code in the MyTrigger formula column:

Test 1: Using rec.FieldName = Value

if $MyCheckbox:
rec.MyCheckbox = False # This is line 2 of the code block if the comment is ignored
return “Checkbox was ON and reset”
else:
return “Checkbox is OFF”

Observed Behavior (Attempt 1): When I check the MyCheckbox, the MyTrigger cell displays: SyntaxError: You can't assign a value to a column with=. If you mean to check for equality, use==instead. (usercode, line 2) (Note: The line number reported was line 2 when the code above was pasted without the initial comment line. The error points to the rec.MyCheckbox = False line.)

The else part of the formula (returning “Checkbox is OFF”) works correctly if the checkbox is not checked.

Attempt 2: Using table.updateRecord()

I then tried using table.updateRecord() as an alternative:

Test 2: Using table.updateRecord with keyword arguments

if $MyCheckbox:
table.updateRecord(rec, MyCheckbox = False) # Corrected column name here
return “Checkbox was ON and updateRecord (keyword) attempted”
else:
return “Checkbox is OFF”

Observed Behavior (Attempt 2): When I check MyCheckbox, the MyTrigger cell displays: AttributeError: 'UserTable' object has no attribute 'updateRecord'

The else part also works correctly here.

Summary: It seems that standard methods for modifying the current record’s fields from within a trigger formula are not working as expected on https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&source=gmail&q=docs.getgrist.com in my testing. The rec.FieldName = Value syntax results in a SyntaxError, and the table.updateRecord() method results in an AttributeError suggesting the method isn’t available on the table object provided to the trigger formula.

Question: Is this behavior expected, a known issue, or a potential bug? Am I perhaps misunderstanding a fundamental aspect of how assignments or record updates are intended to work within trigger formulas in this context on https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&source=gmail&q=docs.getgrist.com? Not sure and working on it for hours. :slight_smile:

Browser: Microsoft Edge
Version 136.0.3240.76 (Official build) (64-bit)
Win 10 Pro

Thanks for your help and any insights you can provide!!

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