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# Form Dirty State Prevention

## Overview
Detects form changes and warns users before navigating away or closing the form, preventing accidental data loss.

## What It Does
- Tracks form field changes (dirty state)
- Warns user before leaving unsaved form
- Allows user to cancel navigation
- Works with all form fields
- Prevents accidental data loss
- Clean, reusable pattern

## Use Cases
- Complex multi-field forms
- Long data entry forms
- Forms with expensive operations
- Critical data entry (financial, medical)
- Any form where accidental exit would cause issues

## Files
- `form_dirty_state_manager.js` - Client Script to manage form state

## How to Use

### Step 1: Create Client Script
1. Go to **System Definition > Scripts** (any table)
2. Create new Client Script
3. Set **Type** to "onChange"
4. Copy code from `form_dirty_state_manager.js`
5. Set to run on any field

### Step 2: Add Navigation Handler
1. Add to form's onLoad script:
```javascript
// Initialize dirty state tracking
var formStateManager = new FormDirtyStateManager();
```

### Step 3: Test
1. Open form and make changes
2. Try to navigate away without saving
3. User sees warning dialog
4. User can choose to stay or leave

## Example Usage
```javascript
// Automatically tracks all field changes
// When user tries to close/navigate:
// "You have unsaved changes. Do you want to leave?"
// - Leave (discard changes)
// - Stay (return to form)
```

## Key Features
- ✅ Detects any field change
- ✅ Persistent across form interactions
- ✅ Works with new records and updates
- ✅ Ignores read-only fields
- ✅ Resets after save
- ✅ No performance impact

## Output Examples
```
User opens form and changes a field
→ Form marked as "dirty"
User clicks close/back button
→ Warning dialog appears: "You have unsaved changes"
User clicks Leave
→ Form closes, changes discarded
User clicks Save then navigates
→ No warning (form is clean)
```

## Customization
```javascript
// Customize warning message
var warningMessage = "Warning: You have unsaved changes!";

// Add specific field tracking
g_form.addOnFieldChange('priority', myCustomHandler);

// Reset dirty flag after save
g_form.save(); // Automatically triggers cleanup
```

## Requirements
- ServiceNow instance
- Client Script access
- Any table form

## Browser Support
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge (all modern browsers)
- Works with ServiceNow classic and modern UI

## Related APIs
- [g_form API](https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/sandiego-application-development/page/app-store/dev_apps/concept/c_FormAPI.html)
- [Client Script Events](https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/sandiego-application-development/page/app-store/dev_apps/concept/c_ClientScriptEvents.html)
- [Form Field Changes](https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/sandiego-application-development/page/app-store/dev_apps/concept/c_FieldChanges.html)

## Best Practices
- Apply to important data entry forms
- Test with real users
- Consider accessibility for screen readers
- Use with save shortcuts (Ctrl+S)
- Combine with auto-save patterns
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
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// Client Script: Form Dirty State Manager
// Purpose: Track form changes and warn user before leaving with unsaved changes

var FormDirtyStateManager = Class.create();
FormDirtyStateManager.prototype = {
initialize: function() {
this.isDirty = false;
this.setupFieldChangeListeners();
this.setupNavigationWarning();
},

// Mark form as changed when any field is modified
setupFieldChangeListeners: function() {
var self = this;
g_form.addOnFieldChange('*', function(control, oldValue, newValue, isLoading) {
// Ignore system updates and form loads
if (isLoading || oldValue === newValue) {
return;
}
self.setDirty(true);
});
},

// Warn user before navigating away with unsaved changes
setupNavigationWarning: function() {
var self = this;

// Warn on form close attempt
window.addEventListener('beforeunload', function(e) {
if (self.isDirty && !g_form.isNewRecord()) {
e.preventDefault();
e.returnValue = 'You have unsaved changes. Do you want to leave?';
return e.returnValue;
}
});

// Warn on GlideForm navigation
g_form.addOnSave(function() {
// Reset dirty flag after successful save
self.setDirty(false);
return true;
});
},

setDirty: function(isDirty) {
this.isDirty = isDirty;
if (isDirty) {
// Optional: Show visual indicator
document.title = '* ' + document.title.replace(/^\* /, '');
gs.info('[Form State] Unsaved changes detected');
}
},

isDirtyState: function() {
return this.isDirty;
}
};

// Initialize on form load
var formDirtyState = new FormDirtyStateManager();
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