Updating to support possible value searching

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/values/QPossibleValueTranslator.java

@@ -111,7 +111,35 @@ public class QPossibleValueTranslator
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
-    **
+    ** Translate a list of ids to a list of possible values (e.g., w/ rendered values)
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public List<QPossibleValue<?>> buildTranslatedPossibleValueList(QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource, List<Serializable> ids)
+   {
+      if(ids == null)
+      {
+         return (null);
+      }
+
+      if(ids.isEmpty())
+      {
+         return (new ArrayList<>());
+      }
+
+      List<QPossibleValue<?>> rs = new ArrayList<>();
+      primePvsCache(possibleValueSource.getTableName(), List.of(possibleValueSource), ids);
+      for(Serializable id : ids)
+      {
+         String translated = translatePossibleValue(possibleValueSource, id);
+         rs.add(new QPossibleValue<>(id, translated));
+      }
+
+      return (rs);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** For a given field and (raw/id) value, get the translated (string) value.
     *******************************************************************************/
    String translatePossibleValue(QFieldMetaData field, Serializable value)
    {
@@ -122,6 +150,16 @@ public class QPossibleValueTranslator
          return (null);
       }
 
+      return translatePossibleValue(possibleValueSource, value);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** For a given PossibleValueSource and (raw/id) value, get the translated (string) value.
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   String translatePossibleValue(QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource, Serializable value)
+   {
       String resultValue = null;
       if(possibleValueSource.getType().equals(QPossibleValueSourceType.ENUM))
       {
@@ -129,15 +167,15 @@ public class QPossibleValueTranslator
       }
       else if(possibleValueSource.getType().equals(QPossibleValueSourceType.TABLE))
       {
-         resultValue = translatePossibleValueTable(field, value, possibleValueSource);
+         resultValue = translatePossibleValueTable(value, possibleValueSource);
       }
       else if(possibleValueSource.getType().equals(QPossibleValueSourceType.CUSTOM))
       {
-         resultValue = translatePossibleValueCustom(field, value, possibleValueSource);
+         resultValue = translatePossibleValueCustom(value, possibleValueSource);
       }
       else
       {
-         LOG.error("Unrecognized possibleValueSourceType [" + possibleValueSource.getType() + "] in PVS named [" + possibleValueSource.getName() + "] on field [" + field.getName() + "]");
+         LOG.error("Unrecognized possibleValueSourceType [" + possibleValueSource.getType() + "] in PVS named [" + possibleValueSource.getName() + "]");
       }
 
       if(resultValue == null)
@@ -151,7 +189,7 @@ public class QPossibleValueTranslator
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
-    **
+    ** do translation for an enum-type PVS
     *******************************************************************************/
    private String translatePossibleValueEnum(Serializable value, QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource)
    {
@@ -169,9 +207,9 @@ public class QPossibleValueTranslator
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
-    **
+    ** do translation for a table-type PVS
     *******************************************************************************/
-   private String translatePossibleValueTable(QFieldMetaData field, Serializable value, QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource)
+   String translatePossibleValueTable(Serializable value, QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource)
    {
       /////////////////////////////////
       // null input gets null output //
@@ -197,9 +235,9 @@ public class QPossibleValueTranslator
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
-    **
+    ** do translation for a custom-type PVS
     *******************************************************************************/
-   private String translatePossibleValueCustom(QFieldMetaData field, Serializable value, QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource)
+   private String translatePossibleValueCustom(Serializable value, QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource)
    {
       try
       {
@@ -208,7 +246,7 @@ public class QPossibleValueTranslator
       }
       catch(Exception e)
       {
-         LOG.warn("Error sending [" + value + "] for field [" + field + "] through custom code for PVS [" + field.getPossibleValueSourceName() + "]", e);
+         LOG.warn("Error sending [" + value + "] for through custom code for PVS [" + possibleValueSource.getName() + "]", e);
       }
 
       return (null);

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/values/SearchPossibleValueSourceAction.java

@@ -0,0 +1,244 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2022.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.values;
+
+
+import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Objects;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.QueryAction;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QCriteriaOperator;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QFilterCriteria;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QQueryFilter;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QueryInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QueryOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.values.SearchPossibleValueSourceInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.values.SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldType;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues.QPossibleValue;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues.QPossibleValueSource;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues.QPossibleValueSourceType;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.StringUtils;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.ValueUtils;
+import org.apache.commons.lang.NotImplementedException;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Class responsible for looking up possible-values for fields/records and
+ ** make them into display values.
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class SearchPossibleValueSourceAction
+{
+   private static final Logger LOG = LogManager.getLogger(SearchPossibleValueSourceAction.class);
+
+   private QPossibleValueTranslator possibleValueTranslator;
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput execute(SearchPossibleValueSourceInput input) throws QException
+   {
+      QInstance            qInstance           = input.getInstance();
+      QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource = qInstance.getPossibleValueSource(input.getPossibleValueSourceName());
+      if(possibleValueSource == null)
+      {
+         throw new QException("Missing possible value source named [" + input.getPossibleValueSourceName() + "]");
+      }
+
+      possibleValueTranslator = new QPossibleValueTranslator(input.getInstance(), input.getSession());
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = null;
+      if(possibleValueSource.getType().equals(QPossibleValueSourceType.ENUM))
+      {
+         output = searchPossibleValueEnum(input, possibleValueSource);
+      }
+      else if(possibleValueSource.getType().equals(QPossibleValueSourceType.TABLE))
+      {
+         output = searchPossibleValueTable(input, possibleValueSource);
+      }
+      else if(possibleValueSource.getType().equals(QPossibleValueSourceType.CUSTOM))
+      {
+         output = searchPossibleValueCustom(input, possibleValueSource);
+      }
+      else
+      {
+         LOG.error("Unrecognized possibleValueSourceType [" + possibleValueSource.getType() + "] in PVS named [" + possibleValueSource.getName() + "]");
+      }
+
+      return (output);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput searchPossibleValueEnum(SearchPossibleValueSourceInput input, QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource)
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output      = new SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput();
+      List<Serializable>              matchingIds = new ArrayList<>();
+
+      for(QPossibleValue<?> possibleValue : possibleValueSource.getEnumValues())
+      {
+         boolean match = false;
+
+         if(input.getIdList() != null)
+         {
+            if(input.getIdList().contains(possibleValue.getId()))
+            {
+               match = true;
+            }
+         }
+         else
+         {
+            if(StringUtils.hasContent(input.getSearchTerm()))
+            {
+               match = (Objects.equals(ValueUtils.getValueAsString(possibleValue.getId()).toLowerCase(), input.getSearchTerm().toLowerCase())
+                  || possibleValue.getLabel().toLowerCase().startsWith(input.getSearchTerm().toLowerCase()));
+            }
+            else
+            {
+               match = true;
+            }
+         }
+
+         if(match)
+         {
+            matchingIds.add((Serializable) possibleValue.getId());
+         }
+
+         // todo - skip & limit?
+         // todo - default filter
+      }
+
+      List<QPossibleValue<?>> qPossibleValues = possibleValueTranslator.buildTranslatedPossibleValueList(possibleValueSource, matchingIds);
+      output.setResults(qPossibleValues);
+
+      return (output);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput searchPossibleValueTable(SearchPossibleValueSourceInput input, QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource) throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = new SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput();
+
+      QueryInput queryInput = new QueryInput(input.getInstance());
+      queryInput.setSession(input.getSession());
+      queryInput.setTableName(possibleValueSource.getTableName());
+
+      QTableMetaData table = input.getInstance().getTable(possibleValueSource.getTableName());
+
+      QQueryFilter queryFilter = new QQueryFilter();
+      queryFilter.setBooleanOperator(QQueryFilter.BooleanOperator.OR);
+      queryInput.setFilter(queryFilter);
+
+      if(input.getIdList() != null)
+      {
+         queryFilter.addCriteria(new QFilterCriteria(table.getPrimaryKeyField(), QCriteriaOperator.IN, input.getIdList()));
+      }
+      else
+      {
+         if(StringUtils.hasContent(input.getSearchTerm()))
+         {
+            for(String valueField : possibleValueSource.getSearchFields())
+            {
+               QFieldMetaData field = table.getField(valueField);
+               if(field.getType().equals(QFieldType.STRING))
+               {
+                  queryFilter.addCriteria(new QFilterCriteria(valueField, QCriteriaOperator.STARTS_WITH, List.of(input.getSearchTerm())));
+               }
+               else if(field.getType().equals(QFieldType.DATE) || field.getType().equals(QFieldType.DATE_TIME))
+               {
+                  LOG.debug("Not querying PVS [" + possibleValueSource.getName() + "] on date field [" + field.getName() + "]");
+                  // todo - what? queryFilter.addCriteria(new QFilterCriteria(valueField, QCriteriaOperator.STARTS_WITH, List.of(input.getSearchTerm())));
+               }
+               else
+               {
+                  try
+                  {
+                     Integer valueAsInteger = ValueUtils.getValueAsInteger(input.getSearchTerm());
+                     if(valueAsInteger != null)
+                     {
+                        queryFilter.addCriteria(new QFilterCriteria(valueField, QCriteriaOperator.EQUALS, List.of(valueAsInteger)));
+                     }
+                  }
+                  catch(Exception e)
+                  {
+                     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+                     // write a FALSE criteria if the value isn't a number //
+                     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+                     queryFilter.addCriteria(new QFilterCriteria(valueField, QCriteriaOperator.IN, List.of()));
+                  }
+               }
+            }
+         }
+      }
+
+      queryFilter.setOrderBys(possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields());
+
+      // todo - default filter
+
+      // todo - skip & limit as params
+      queryInput.setLimit(250);
+
+      QueryOutput             queryOutput     = new QueryAction().execute(queryInput);
+      List<Serializable>      ids             = queryOutput.getRecords().stream().map(r -> r.getValue(table.getPrimaryKeyField())).toList();
+      List<QPossibleValue<?>> qPossibleValues = possibleValueTranslator.buildTranslatedPossibleValueList(possibleValueSource, ids);
+      output.setResults(qPossibleValues);
+
+      return (output);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput searchPossibleValueCustom(SearchPossibleValueSourceInput input, QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource)
+   {
+      try
+      {
+         // QCustomPossibleValueProvider customPossibleValueProvider = QCodeLoader.getCustomPossibleValueProvider(possibleValueSource);
+         // return (formatPossibleValue(possibleValueSource, customPossibleValueProvider.getPossibleValue(value)));
+      }
+      catch(Exception e)
+      {
+         // LOG.warn("Error sending [" + value + "] for field [" + field + "] through custom code for PVS [" + field.getPossibleValueSourceName() + "]", e);
+      }
+
+      throw new NotImplementedException("Not impleemnted");
+      // return (null);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceEnricher.java

@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ public class QInstanceEnricher
       {
          qInstance.getReports().values().forEach(this::enrichReport);
       }
+
+      if(qInstance.getPossibleValueSources() != null)
+      {
+         qInstance.getPossibleValueSources().values().forEach(this::enrichPossibleValueSource);
+      }
    }
 
 
@@ -748,4 +753,50 @@ public class QInstanceEnricher
       }
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private void enrichPossibleValueSource(QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource)
+   {
+      if(QPossibleValueSourceType.TABLE.equals(possibleValueSource.getType()))
+      {
+         if(CollectionUtils.nullSafeIsEmpty(possibleValueSource.getSearchFields()))
+         {
+            QTableMetaData table = qInstance.getTable(possibleValueSource.getTableName());
+            if(table != null)
+            {
+               if(table.getPrimaryKeyField() != null)
+               {
+                  possibleValueSource.withSearchField(table.getPrimaryKeyField());
+               }
+
+               for(String recordLabelField : CollectionUtils.nonNullList(table.getRecordLabelFields()))
+               {
+                  possibleValueSource.withSearchField(recordLabelField);
+               }
+            }
+         }
+
+         if(CollectionUtils.nullSafeIsEmpty(possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields()))
+         {
+            QTableMetaData table = qInstance.getTable(possibleValueSource.getTableName());
+            if(table != null)
+            {
+               for(String recordLabelField : CollectionUtils.nonNullList(table.getRecordLabelFields()))
+               {
+                  possibleValueSource.withOrderByField(recordLabelField);
+               }
+
+               if(table.getPrimaryKeyField() != null)
+               {
+                  possibleValueSource.withOrderByField(table.getPrimaryKeyField());
+               }
+            }
+         }
+
+      }
+   }
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.customizers.TableCustomizers;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.values.QCustomPossibleValueProvider;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QInstanceValidationException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QFilterOrderBy;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeType;
@@ -715,6 +716,8 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
                   case ENUM ->
                   {
                      assertCondition(!StringUtils.hasContent(possibleValueSource.getTableName()), "enum-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have a tableName.");
+                     assertCondition(!CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getSearchFields()), "enum-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have searchFields.");
+                     assertCondition(!CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields()), "enum-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have orderByFields.");
                      assertCondition(possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference() == null, "enum-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have a customCodeReference.");
 
                      assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getEnumValues()), "enum-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " is missing enum values");
@@ -724,15 +727,44 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
                      assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeIsEmpty(possibleValueSource.getEnumValues()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have enum values.");
                      assertCondition(possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference() == null, "table-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have a customCodeReference.");
 
+                     QTableMetaData tableMetaData = null;
                      if(assertCondition(StringUtils.hasContent(possibleValueSource.getTableName()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " is missing a tableName."))
                      {
-                        assertCondition(qInstance.getTable(possibleValueSource.getTableName()) != null, "Unrecognized table " + possibleValueSource.getTableName() + " for possibleValueSource " + pvsName + ".");
+                        tableMetaData = qInstance.getTable(possibleValueSource.getTableName());
+                        assertCondition(tableMetaData != null, "Unrecognized table " + possibleValueSource.getTableName() + " for possibleValueSource " + pvsName + ".");
+                     }
+
+                     if(assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getSearchFields()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " is missing searchFields."))
+                     {
+                        if(tableMetaData != null)
+                        {
+                           QTableMetaData finalTableMetaData = tableMetaData;
+                           for(String searchField : possibleValueSource.getSearchFields())
+                           {
+                              assertNoException(() -> finalTableMetaData.getField(searchField), "possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " has an unrecognized searchField: " + searchField);
+                           }
+                        }
+                     }
+
+                     if(assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " is missing orderByFields."))
+                     {
+                        if(tableMetaData != null)
+                        {
+                           QTableMetaData finalTableMetaData = tableMetaData;
+
+                           for(QFilterOrderBy orderByField : possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields())
+                           {
+                              assertNoException(() -> finalTableMetaData.getField(orderByField.getFieldName()), "possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " has an unrecognized orderByField: " + orderByField.getFieldName());
+                           }
+                        }
                      }
                   }
                   case CUSTOM ->
                   {
                      assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeIsEmpty(possibleValueSource.getEnumValues()), "custom-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have enum values.");
                      assertCondition(!StringUtils.hasContent(possibleValueSource.getTableName()), "custom-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have a tableName.");
+                     assertCondition(!CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getSearchFields()), "custom-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have searchFields.");
+                     assertCondition(!CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields()), "custom-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have orderByFields.");
 
                      if(assertCondition(possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference() != null, "custom-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " is missing a customCodeReference."))
                      {

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/values/SearchPossibleValueSourceInput.java

@@ -0,0 +1,268 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2022.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.values;
+
+
+import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.util.List;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.AbstractActionInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QQueryFilter;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Input for the Search possible value source action
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class SearchPossibleValueSourceInput extends AbstractActionInput
+{
+   private String             possibleValueSourceName;
+   private QQueryFilter       defaultQueryFilter;
+   private String             searchTerm;
+   private List<Serializable> idList;
+
+   private Integer skip  = 0;
+   private Integer limit = 100;
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public SearchPossibleValueSourceInput()
+   {
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public SearchPossibleValueSourceInput(QInstance instance)
+   {
+      super(instance);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for possibleValueSourceName
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getPossibleValueSourceName()
+   {
+      return possibleValueSourceName;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for possibleValueSourceName
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setPossibleValueSourceName(String possibleValueSourceName)
+   {
+      this.possibleValueSourceName = possibleValueSourceName;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for possibleValueSourceName
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public SearchPossibleValueSourceInput withPossibleValueSourceName(String possibleValueSourceName)
+   {
+      this.possibleValueSourceName = possibleValueSourceName;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for defaultQueryFilter
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QQueryFilter getDefaultQueryFilter()
+   {
+      return defaultQueryFilter;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for defaultQueryFilter
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setDefaultQueryFilter(QQueryFilter defaultQueryFilter)
+   {
+      this.defaultQueryFilter = defaultQueryFilter;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for defaultQueryFilter
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public SearchPossibleValueSourceInput withDefaultQueryFilter(QQueryFilter defaultQueryFilter)
+   {
+      this.defaultQueryFilter = defaultQueryFilter;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for searchTerm
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getSearchTerm()
+   {
+      return searchTerm;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for searchTerm
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setSearchTerm(String searchTerm)
+   {
+      this.searchTerm = searchTerm;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for searchTerm
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public SearchPossibleValueSourceInput withSearchTerm(String searchTerm)
+   {
+      this.searchTerm = searchTerm;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for idList
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public List<Serializable> getIdList()
+   {
+      return idList;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for idList
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setIdList(List<Serializable> idList)
+   {
+      this.idList = idList;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for idList
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public SearchPossibleValueSourceInput withIdList(List<Serializable> idList)
+   {
+      this.idList = idList;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+   
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for skip
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Integer getSkip()
+   {
+      return skip;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for skip
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setSkip(Integer skip)
+   {
+      this.skip = skip;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for skip
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public SearchPossibleValueSourceInput withSkip(Integer skip)
+   {
+      this.skip = skip;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for limit
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Integer getLimit()
+   {
+      return limit;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for limit
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setLimit(Integer limit)
+   {
+      this.limit = limit;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for limit
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public SearchPossibleValueSourceInput withLimit(Integer limit)
+   {
+      this.limit = limit;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/values/SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput.java

@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2022.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.values;
+
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.AbstractActionOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues.QPossibleValue;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Output for the Search possible value source action
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput extends AbstractActionOutput
+{
+   private List<QPossibleValue<?>> results = new ArrayList<>();
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput()
+   {
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void addResult(QPossibleValue<?> possibleValue)
+   {
+      results.add(possibleValue);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for results
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public List<QPossibleValue<?>> getResults()
+   {
+      return results;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for results
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setResults(List<QPossibleValue<?>> results)
+   {
+      this.results = results;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for results
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput withResults(List<QPossibleValue<?>> results)
+   {
+      this.results = results;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/possiblevalues/QPossibleValueSource.java

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QFilterOrderBy;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 
 
@@ -49,7 +50,8 @@ public class QPossibleValueSource
    // for type = TABLE //
    //////////////////////
    private String               tableName;
-   // todo - override labelFormat & labelFields?
+   private List<String>         searchFields;
+   private List<QFilterOrderBy> orderByFields;
 
    /////////////////////
    // for type = ENUM //
@@ -304,6 +306,128 @@ public class QPossibleValueSource
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for searchFields
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public List<String> getSearchFields()
+   {
+      return searchFields;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for searchFields
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setSearchFields(List<String> searchFields)
+   {
+      this.searchFields = searchFields;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for searchFields
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QPossibleValueSource withSearchFields(List<String> searchFields)
+   {
+      this.searchFields = searchFields;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for searchFields
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QPossibleValueSource withSearchField(String searchField)
+   {
+      if(this.searchFields == null)
+      {
+         this.searchFields = new ArrayList<>();
+      }
+      this.searchFields.add(searchField);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for orderByFields
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public List<QFilterOrderBy> getOrderByFields()
+   {
+      return orderByFields;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for orderByFields
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setOrderByFields(List<QFilterOrderBy> orderByFields)
+   {
+      this.orderByFields = orderByFields;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for orderByFields
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QPossibleValueSource withOrderByFields(List<QFilterOrderBy> orderByFields)
+   {
+      this.orderByFields = orderByFields;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for orderByFields
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QPossibleValueSource withOrderByField(QFilterOrderBy orderByField)
+   {
+      if(this.orderByFields == null)
+      {
+         this.orderByFields = new ArrayList<>();
+      }
+      this.orderByFields.add(orderByField);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for orderByFields - default to ASCENDING
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QPossibleValueSource withOrderByField(String fieldName)
+   {
+      return (withOrderByField(new QFilterOrderBy(fieldName)));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for orderByFields
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QPossibleValueSource withOrderByField(String fieldName, boolean isAscending)
+   {
+      return (withOrderByField(new QFilterOrderBy(fieldName, isAscending)));
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     ** Getter for enumValues
     **

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/modules/backend/implementations/memory/MemoryRecordStore.java

@@ -364,7 +364,17 @@ public class MemoryRecordStore
          return (false);
       }
 
-      if(!value.equals(criterion.getValues().get(0)))
+      Serializable criteriaValue = criterion.getValues().get(0);
+      if(value instanceof String && criteriaValue instanceof Number)
+      {
+         criteriaValue = String.valueOf(criteriaValue);
+      }
+      else if(criteriaValue instanceof String && value instanceof Number)
+      {
+         value = String.valueOf(value);
+      }
+
+      if(!value.equals(criteriaValue))
       {
          return (false);
       }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/utils/ValueUtils.java

@@ -454,8 +454,15 @@ public class ValueUtils
                return (null);
             }
 
+            try
+            {
                return Instant.parse(s);
             }
+            catch(DateTimeParseException e)
+            {
+               return tryAlternativeInstantParsing(s, e);
+            }
+         }
          else
          {
             throw (new QValueException("Unsupported class " + value.getClass().getName() + " for converting to Instant."));
@@ -473,6 +480,26 @@ public class ValueUtils
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private static Instant tryAlternativeInstantParsing(String s, DateTimeParseException e)
+   {
+      if(s.matches("^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}T\\d{2}:\\d{2}$"))
+      {
+         //////////////////////////
+         // todo ... time zone?? //
+         //////////////////////////
+         return Instant.parse(s + ":00Z");
+      }
+      else
+      {
+         throw (e);
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/values/SearchPossibleValueSourceActionTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,243 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2022.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.values;
+
+
+import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.util.List;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.values.SearchPossibleValueSourceInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.values.SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.session.QSession;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.modules.backend.implementations.memory.MemoryRecordStore;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.TestUtils;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.AfterEach;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.BeforeEach;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import org.junit.jupiter.params.ParameterizedTest;
+import org.junit.jupiter.params.provider.NullAndEmptySource;
+import org.junit.jupiter.params.provider.ValueSource;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for SearchPossibleValueSourceAction
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class SearchPossibleValueSourceActionTest
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @BeforeEach
+   @AfterEach
+   void beforeAndAfterEach() throws QException
+   {
+      MemoryRecordStore.getInstance().reset();
+      TestUtils.insertDefaultShapes(TestUtils.defineInstance());
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @ParameterizedTest
+   @NullAndEmptySource
+   @ValueSource(strings = { " " })
+   void testSearchPvsAction_enumNullAndEmptySearchTerms(String searchTerm) throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = getSearchPossibleValueSourceOutput(searchTerm, TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_STATE);
+      assertEquals(2, output.getResults().size());
+      assertThat(output.getResults()).anyMatch(pv -> pv.getId().equals(1) && pv.getLabel().equals("IL"));
+      assertThat(output.getResults()).anyMatch(pv -> pv.getId().equals(2) && pv.getLabel().equals("MO"));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @ParameterizedTest
+   @ValueSource(strings = { "I", "IL", "1", "i", "iL", "il" })
+   void testSearchPvsAction_enumMatchesForIL(String searchTerm) throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = getSearchPossibleValueSourceOutput(searchTerm, TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_STATE);
+      assertEquals(1, output.getResults().size());
+      assertThat(output.getResults()).anyMatch(pv -> pv.getId().equals(1) && pv.getLabel().equals("IL"));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @ParameterizedTest
+   @ValueSource(strings = { "3", "ILL" })
+   void testSearchPvsAction_enumMatchesNothing(String searchTerm) throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = getSearchPossibleValueSourceOutput(searchTerm, TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_STATE);
+      assertEquals(0, output.getResults().size());
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testSearchPvsAction_enumById() throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = getSearchPossibleValueSourceOutputById(2, TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_STATE);
+      assertEquals(1, output.getResults().size());
+      assertThat(output.getResults()).anyMatch(pv -> pv.getId().equals(2) && pv.getLabel().equals("MO"));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testSearchPvsAction_enumByIdNotFound() throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = getSearchPossibleValueSourceOutputById(-1, TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_STATE);
+      assertEquals(0, output.getResults().size());
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @ParameterizedTest
+   @NullAndEmptySource
+   @ValueSource(strings = { " " })
+   void testSearchPvsAction_tableNullAndEmptySearchTerms(String searchTerm) throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = getSearchPossibleValueSourceOutput(searchTerm, TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_SHAPE);
+      assertEquals(3, output.getResults().size());
+      assertThat(output.getResults()).anyMatch(pv -> pv.getId().equals(1) && pv.getLabel().equals("Triangle"));
+      assertThat(output.getResults()).anyMatch(pv -> pv.getId().equals(2) && pv.getLabel().equals("Square"));
+      assertThat(output.getResults()).anyMatch(pv -> pv.getId().equals(3) && pv.getLabel().equals("Circle"));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @ParameterizedTest
+   @ValueSource(strings = { "1", "Triangle" })
+   void testSearchPvsAction_tableMatchesOne(String searchTerm) throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = getSearchPossibleValueSourceOutput(searchTerm, TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_SHAPE);
+      assertEquals(1, output.getResults().size());
+      assertThat(output.getResults()).anyMatch(pv -> pv.getId().equals(1) && pv.getLabel().equals("Triangle"));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testSearchPvsAction_tableById() throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = getSearchPossibleValueSourceOutputById(2, TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_SHAPE);
+      assertEquals(1, output.getResults().size());
+      assertThat(output.getResults()).anyMatch(pv -> pv.getId().equals(2) && pv.getLabel().equals("Square"));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testSearchPvsAction_tableByIds() throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = getSearchPossibleValueSourceOutputByIds(List.of(2, 3), TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_SHAPE);
+      assertEquals(2, output.getResults().size());
+      assertThat(output.getResults()).anyMatch(pv -> pv.getId().equals(2) && pv.getLabel().equals("Square"));
+      assertThat(output.getResults()).anyMatch(pv -> pv.getId().equals(3) && pv.getLabel().equals("Circle"));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testSearchPvsAction_tableByIdNotFound() throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = getSearchPossibleValueSourceOutputById(-1, TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_SHAPE);
+      assertEquals(0, output.getResults().size());
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput getSearchPossibleValueSourceOutput(String searchTerm, String possibleValueSourceName) throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceInput input = new SearchPossibleValueSourceInput(TestUtils.defineInstance());
+      input.setSession(new QSession());
+      input.setSearchTerm(searchTerm);
+      input.setPossibleValueSourceName(possibleValueSourceName);
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = new SearchPossibleValueSourceAction().execute(input);
+      return output;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput getSearchPossibleValueSourceOutputById(Serializable id, String possibleValueSourceName) throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceInput input = new SearchPossibleValueSourceInput(TestUtils.defineInstance());
+      input.setSession(new QSession());
+      input.setIdList(List.of(id));
+      input.setPossibleValueSourceName(possibleValueSourceName);
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = new SearchPossibleValueSourceAction().execute(input);
+      return output;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput getSearchPossibleValueSourceOutputByIds(List<Serializable> ids, String possibleValueSourceName) throws QException
+   {
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceInput input = new SearchPossibleValueSourceInput(TestUtils.defineInstance());
+      input.setSession(new QSession());
+      input.setIdList(ids);
+      input.setPossibleValueSourceName(possibleValueSourceName);
+      SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = new SearchPossibleValueSourceAction().execute(input);
+      return output;
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidatorTest.java

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInpu
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QCriteriaOperator;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QFilterCriteria;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QFilterOrderBy;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QQueryFilter;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
@@ -793,10 +794,14 @@ class QInstanceValidatorTest
       assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> {
             QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource = qInstance.getPossibleValueSource(TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_STATE);
             possibleValueSource.setTableName("person");
+            possibleValueSource.setSearchFields(List.of("id"));
+            possibleValueSource.setOrderByFields(List.of(new QFilterOrderBy("id")));
             possibleValueSource.setCustomCodeReference(new QCodeReference());
             possibleValueSource.setEnumValues(null);
          },
          "should not have a tableName",
+         "should not have searchFields",
+         "should not have orderByFields",
          "should not have a customCodeReference",
          "is missing enum values");
 
@@ -815,15 +820,22 @@ class QInstanceValidatorTest
       assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> {
             QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource = qInstance.getPossibleValueSource(TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_SHAPE);
             possibleValueSource.setTableName(null);
+            possibleValueSource.setSearchFields(null);
+            possibleValueSource.setOrderByFields(new ArrayList<>());
             possibleValueSource.setCustomCodeReference(new QCodeReference());
             possibleValueSource.setEnumValues(List.of(new QPossibleValue<>("test")));
          },
          "should not have enum values",
          "should not have a customCodeReference",
-         "is missing a tableName");
+         "is missing a tableName",
+         "is missing searchFields",
+         "is missing orderByFields");
 
       assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.getPossibleValueSource(TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_SHAPE).setTableName("Not a table"),
          "Unrecognized table");
+
+      assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.getPossibleValueSource(TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_SHAPE).setSearchFields(List.of("id", "notAField", "name")),
+         "unrecognized searchField: notAField");
    }
 
 
@@ -837,11 +849,15 @@ class QInstanceValidatorTest
       assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> {
             QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource = qInstance.getPossibleValueSource(TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_CUSTOM);
             possibleValueSource.setTableName("person");
+            possibleValueSource.setSearchFields(List.of("id"));
+            possibleValueSource.setOrderByFields(List.of(new QFilterOrderBy("id")));
             possibleValueSource.setCustomCodeReference(null);
             possibleValueSource.setEnumValues(List.of(new QPossibleValue<>("test")));
          },
          "should not have enum values",
          "should not have a tableName",
+         "should not have searchFields",
+         "should not have orderByFields",
          "is missing a customCodeReference");
 
       assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.getPossibleValueSource(TestUtils.POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_CUSTOM).setCustomCodeReference(new QCodeReference()),

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/utils/TestUtils.java

@@ -331,7 +331,9 @@ public class TestUtils
       return new QPossibleValueSource()
          .withName(POSSIBLE_VALUE_SOURCE_SHAPE)
          .withType(QPossibleValueSourceType.TABLE)
-         .withTableName(TABLE_NAME_SHAPE);
+         .withTableName(TABLE_NAME_SHAPE)
+         .withSearchFields(List.of("id", "name"))
+         .withOrderByField("name");
    }
 
 

qqq-middleware-javalin/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/javalin/QJavalinImplementation.java

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import java.io.PipedInputStream;
 import java.io.PipedOutputStream;
 import java.io.Serializable;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Locale;
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.DeleteAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.InsertAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.QueryAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.UpdateAction;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.values.SearchPossibleValueSourceAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.adapters.QInstanceAdapter;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QAuthenticationException;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QInstanceValidationException;
@@ -76,10 +78,13 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QueryInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QueryOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.update.UpdateInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.update.UpdateOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.values.SearchPossibleValueSourceInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.values.SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.widgets.RenderWidgetInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.widgets.RenderWidgetOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.session.QSession;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.modules.authentication.Auth0AuthenticationModule;
@@ -277,6 +282,7 @@ public class QJavalinImplementation
             get("/count", QJavalinImplementation::dataCount);
             get("/export", QJavalinImplementation::dataExportWithoutFilename);
             get("/export/{filename}", QJavalinImplementation::dataExportWithFilename);
+            get("/possibleValues/{fieldName}", QJavalinImplementation::possibleValues);
 
             // todo - add put and/or patch at this level (without a primaryKey) to do a bulk update based on primaryKeys in the records.
             path("/{primaryKey}", () ->
@@ -864,6 +870,64 @@ public class QJavalinImplementation
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private static void possibleValues(Context context)
+   {
+      try
+      {
+         String tableName  = context.pathParam("table");
+         String fieldName  = context.pathParam("fieldName");
+         String searchTerm = context.queryParam("searchTerm");
+         String ids        = context.queryParam("ids");
+
+         QTableMetaData table = qInstance.getTable(tableName);
+         if(table == null)
+         {
+            throw (new QNotFoundException("Could not find table named " + tableName + " in this instance."));
+         }
+
+         QFieldMetaData field;
+         try
+         {
+            field = table.getField(fieldName);
+         }
+         catch(Exception e)
+         {
+            throw (new QNotFoundException("Could not find field named " + fieldName + " in table " + tableName + "."));
+         }
+
+         if(!StringUtils.hasContent(field.getPossibleValueSourceName()))
+         {
+            throw (new QNotFoundException("Field " + fieldName + " in table " + tableName + " is not associated with a possible value source."));
+         }
+
+         SearchPossibleValueSourceInput input = new SearchPossibleValueSourceInput(qInstance);
+         setupSession(context, input);
+         input.setPossibleValueSourceName(field.getPossibleValueSourceName());
+         input.setSearchTerm(searchTerm);
+
+         if(StringUtils.hasContent(ids))
+         {
+            List<Serializable> idList = new ArrayList<>(Arrays.asList(ids.split(",")));
+            input.setIdList(idList);
+         }
+
+         SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput output = new SearchPossibleValueSourceAction().execute(input);
+
+         Map<String, Object> result = new HashMap<>();
+         result.put("options", output.getResults());
+         context.result(JsonUtils.toJson(result));
+      }
+      catch(Exception e)
+      {
+         handleException(context, e);
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/

qqq-middleware-javalin/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/javalin/QJavalinImplementationTest.java

@@ -497,4 +497,57 @@ class QJavalinImplementationTest extends QJavalinTestBase
       assertNotNull(jsonObject.getJSONObject("chartData"));
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testPossibleValueUnfiltered()
+   {
+      HttpResponse<String> response = Unirest.get(BASE_URL + "/data/person/possibleValues/partnerPersonId").asString();
+      assertEquals(200, response.getStatus());
+      JSONObject jsonObject = JsonUtils.toJSONObject(response.getBody());
+      assertNotNull(jsonObject);
+      assertNotNull(jsonObject.getJSONArray("options"));
+      assertEquals(5, jsonObject.getJSONArray("options").length());
+      assertEquals(1, jsonObject.getJSONArray("options").getJSONObject(0).getInt("id"));
+      assertEquals("Darin Kelkhoff (1)", jsonObject.getJSONArray("options").getJSONObject(0).getString("label"));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testPossibleValueWithSearchTerm()
+   {
+      HttpResponse<String> response = Unirest.get(BASE_URL + "/data/person/possibleValues/partnerPersonId?searchTerm=Chamber").asString();
+      assertEquals(200, response.getStatus());
+      JSONObject jsonObject = JsonUtils.toJSONObject(response.getBody());
+      assertNotNull(jsonObject);
+      assertNotNull(jsonObject.getJSONArray("options"));
+      assertEquals(1, jsonObject.getJSONArray("options").length());
+      assertEquals("Tim Chamberlain (3)", jsonObject.getJSONArray("options").getJSONObject(0).getString("label"));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testPossibleValueWithIds()
+   {
+      HttpResponse<String> response = Unirest.get(BASE_URL + "/data/person/possibleValues/partnerPersonId?ids=4,5").asString();
+      assertEquals(200, response.getStatus());
+      JSONObject jsonObject = JsonUtils.toJSONObject(response.getBody());
+      assertNotNull(jsonObject);
+      assertNotNull(jsonObject.getJSONArray("options"));
+      assertEquals(2, jsonObject.getJSONArray("options").length());
+      assertEquals(4, jsonObject.getJSONArray("options").getJSONObject(0).getInt("id"));
+      assertEquals(5, jsonObject.getJSONArray("options").getJSONObject(1).getInt("id"));
+   }
+
 }

qqq-middleware-javalin/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/javalin/TestUtils.java

@@ -25,28 +25,31 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.javalin;
 import java.io.InputStream;
 import java.sql.Connection;
 import java.util.List;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QValueException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QAuthenticationType;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.QWidgetMetaData;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.implementations.mock.MockBackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.modules.authentication.metadata.QAuthenticationMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QAuthenticationType;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeType;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeUsage;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.QWidgetMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldType;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues.PVSValueFormatAndFields;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues.QPossibleValueSource;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues.QPossibleValueSourceType;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QBackendStepMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFrontendStepMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFunctionInputMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFunctionOutputMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QRecordListMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.modules.authentication.metadata.QAuthenticationMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.implementations.mock.MockBackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.module.rdbms.jdbc.ConnectionManager;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.module.rdbms.jdbc.QueryManager;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.module.rdbms.model.metadata.RDBMSBackendMetaData;
@@ -123,6 +126,7 @@ public class TestUtils
       qInstance.addProcess(defineProcessSimpleSleep());
       qInstance.addProcess(defineProcessScreenThenSleep());
       qInstance.addProcess(defineProcessSimpleThrow());
+      qInstance.addPossibleValueSource(definePossibleValueSourcePerson());
       defineWidgets(qInstance);
       return (qInstance);
    }
@@ -181,6 +185,8 @@ public class TestUtils
       return new QTableMetaData()
          .withName("person")
          .withLabel("Person")
+         .withRecordLabelFormat("%s %s")
+         .withRecordLabelFields("firstName", "lastName")
          .withBackendName(defineBackend().getName())
          .withPrimaryKeyField("id")
          .withField(new QFieldMetaData("id", QFieldType.INTEGER))
@@ -189,6 +195,7 @@ public class TestUtils
          .withField(new QFieldMetaData("firstName", QFieldType.STRING).withBackendName("first_name"))
          .withField(new QFieldMetaData("lastName", QFieldType.STRING).withBackendName("last_name"))
          .withField(new QFieldMetaData("birthDate", QFieldType.DATE).withBackendName("birth_date"))
+         .withField(new QFieldMetaData("partnerPersonId", QFieldType.INTEGER).withBackendName("partner_person_id").withPossibleValueSourceName("person"))
          .withField(new QFieldMetaData("email", QFieldType.STRING));
    }
 
@@ -268,6 +275,22 @@ public class TestUtils
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private static QPossibleValueSource definePossibleValueSourcePerson()
+   {
+      return (new QPossibleValueSource()
+         .withName("person")
+         .withType(QPossibleValueSourceType.TABLE)
+         .withTableName("person")
+         .withValueFormatAndFields(PVSValueFormatAndFields.LABEL_PARENS_ID)
+         .withOrderByField("id")
+      );
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     ** Define a process with just one step that sleeps
     *******************************************************************************/

qqq-middleware-javalin/src/test/resources/prime-test-database.sql

@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ CREATE TABLE person
    first_name VARCHAR(80) NOT NULL,
    last_name VARCHAR(80) NOT NULL,
    birth_date DATE,
-   email VARCHAR(250) NOT NULL
+   email VARCHAR(250) NOT NULL,
+   partner_person_id INT
 );
 
 INSERT INTO person (id, first_name, last_name, birth_date, email) VALUES (1, 'Darin', 'Kelkhoff', '1980-05-31', 'darin.kelkhoff@gmail.com');