Howto use an existing record as template in a create new record form

Question

hi all,
I have a table with configuration lines, Currently accessible via a report/form combination. This works fine to create, view & edit data.
However users often need to create a new record which is 90% like an existing record.
So what they want is to go to an existing record and use it as template for creating a new record (by clicking a button "create copy from"
My solution attempt
-when the button is pressed send users to the normal create form, and prefill some of the items with data from the "template record", after which everything is the same as creating a record from scratch
What did I try
- as above redirect user to the "create page" and sent the desired items values via URL Syntax. Failed since I have about 20 items and the button settings won't allow me to add more then 10 (besides it not a pretty sight)
- Instead of sending via URL I've tried only sending the record id for the template and have a "before header process" load the item values in session state. Failed since the page items are all (load form source each time) since they are database columns
Constraints for the solution
- No, I can't go first inserting a copy of the record and then display it in edit mode since the remaining 10% of the record can not to be copied because of table constraints. They have serious constraints, which needs user input.
- (and no I can't first insert dummy data, that's a poor man's solution)
- I'd like to reuse the current create/edit form since it contains quite some business rules and constraints. So dubbing the page will put me up with a double load of maintenance in case of future changes in business rules
I'd appreciate any good clues in solving this requirement
best regards,
Geert

Answer 1

Hi Shunt,
Not entirely what I wanted accomplished but it held the key.
Removing the PK wouldn't trigger the DML to respond differently on it's own, since the DML decides the database action based on the request.
I have the create/edit page working on with a "COPY" request
This way I can call the page both from the report as the form page.
When called with COPY request the page is loaded as normal edit except
- I hide the delete and apply changes button
- I show the create button
When the create button is pressed a computation removes the PK
Since the create button is pressed instead of apply_changes it will indeed perform an insert
Thanx again for the hint
Sometimes you need an new perspective
Geert