System Keys
System keys are a method by which Pergamon is able to uniquely identify a lookup item or group, regardless of what text has been assigned for display.
For example, if Pergamon requires to load all of the lookup items associated with 'Reader Locations' it can do so by asking for all '!BLOCATION' system key items - regardless of whether the actual plain-text description of the group is 'Reader Location', 'Client Location, 'Borrower Location' or a dozen other descriptions that may have been modified to suit the local needs of the user.
Typically, System Keys (or SysKeys) are 10 digit alpha-numeric keys that can be assigned by the user or centrally by Esferico. In most cases however, system keys do not need to be assigned locally unless a customised script has been created that directly requires access to a specific lookup group.
If system keys are used, it is essential that users do not prefix their key with the exclamation mark (!) as this marks the group as a centrally assigned system based group (created by Esferico) that must always be present within the application. As a result, as soon as the key is saved into the database, the lookup editor will prevent all further attempts to modify the key. Once set therefore, no modification is permitted.
