Any opinions on setting default values on Business Partner level?

Question

Hi All,
I do not have a question, but would like to have a good discussion on how you should preferably be setting default values on a business partner and it's assignment blocks.
In my opinion you have two main alternatives:
1. The "old fashioned" way by using the get_<attribute_name> method and doing some checks for the perticular attribute in the context node.
2. Using the Badi BADI_CRM_BP_UIU_DEFAULTS to fill fields with a default value. With some enhancements on the assignment blocks (making typed_context attribute public and, when not called yet, calling the badi) you can use the badi for all assignment blocks.
Because I discovered via debugging that in the, by many forums suggested, badi code a programm error/exception is used so that the default values are only set during creation mode, I started doubting to use the badi. Because once I had set my data declarations to the right references and the exception did not occur anymore, suddenly it always fills the values even when there are already values filled. So additional checks are needed to assure that I am in creation mode.
Although I like the use of the badi, because all my default values on the whole business partner object can be found in the same place, it is getting a bit strange to: first still enhance the view and context node class, adjust the visibility of the typed_context, call the badi and do all kind of checks to assure that you are in the right view/context node, where this all is faster and more lean and mean when done directly in the get_<attribute_name> method on a context node.
Anyone who wants to give there opinion on this?
Regards,
Martijn.

Answer 1

Cameron,
Unfortunately you cannot pass the Account and Contact name before saving the record. Post default tries to capture the name just before the record gets saved, but as the record is yet to be created, the relationship wont exist and only the respective id fields will have values. If you try using account id/ contact id it will work else just pass the time stamp in the name field which will make sure there is some value when the record is saved. later in the back end you might need WS to update the field values.