Appointment Types for Appointments; Task Types for Tasks

Question

In the current implementation that I administer, the Type field's Picklist within the Activity Object is populated with values for both Appointments and Tasks regardless of whether a user clicks on New Task or New Appointment. Obviously, this often leads to errors.
After modifying the Type and Subtype Picklists (Type cascades to Subtype), I tried to create a workflow that automatically defaults Type based on the value in the Activity.Activity field ("Appointment","Task"). As it turns out, the workflows didn't fire because that field remains NULL until you save the record.
Anyone have another way of doing this?

Answer 1

PureAgression, I think I understand what you are trying to do so I've got 2 suggestions:
I have a document that allows you copy an opportunity using a weblink field (you've probably read that forum posting) why not use that same concept and have them create a new task or appointment using a weblink and have the type pass via the URL?
Use dynamic page layouts so that when they create a task or appt the fields don't appear until they select the type field.
Hope this helps.
Alex