Multi-Instance Fields Options
All of the iMIS field types are equally available for both single-instance and multi-instance tables. A multi-instance table can have anywhere from 0 to an unlimited number of records for each iMIS user. Multi-instance records are usually used for data that is repetitive in nature such as work history, continuing education submissions, academic history, etc.
When adding a multi-instance record to a Sonic Form you must consider both the source and the target of the data.
Multi-instance Sources

Where YEAR = '2015'
will return the first record found where the Year is equal to 2015.
Where SEQN=@ff@SEQN
will return the record whose sequence number matches the sequence number included in the URL.
When adding a multi-instance record to a Sonic Form you must consider both the source and the target of the data.
Multi-instance Sources
- New – a fresh (blank) multi-instance record is loaded with appropriate defaults (checkbox is empty, numeric fields are zero, text fields are blank, date fields are blank).
- First – the first record in the multi-instance table – normally the oldest record on file, a new record is loaded if not found.
- Last – the last record in the table – normally the most recent record on file, a new record is loaded if not found.
- Parameter – a record matching a specific parameter value in the multi-instance table (e.g. YEAR=2013) for that user is loaded. If that value is not found, a new record is loaded.
- New – a fresh (blank) multi-instance record is saved with the data captured on the form.
- First – the first record in the multi-instance table is updated by the form.
- Last – the last record in the multi-instance table is updated by the form.
- Parameter – the record matching a specific parameter value (e.g. YEAR=2015) is updated by Sonic Forms.
Examples
- A user must file an annual work history showing their employment each year. To save time, the form loads with their most recent record: LOAD=LAST, SAVE=NEW.
- A user has four records on file, an IQA is used to display the records with an “Edit” link beside each one. The “Edit” link goes to a Sonic Form which displays and updates the record selected by the user. LOAD=WHERE, SAVE=WHERE.
- In 2017 a user goes to add their annual work history to their existing record. The form loads their last year's employment history but when the form is saved it creates a new record for them. LOAD=YEAR="2016", SAVE=NEW.

Using the Where Option
The "Where" option for multi-instance records provides you with both control and flexibility in how you update your data. When a "Where" statement is added to a Form Part, Sonic Forms will evaluate the user's data to read and update the correct record. The dropdown list includes all of the fields available in the Multi-instance record. For example:- SEQN - the unique record number generated by iMIS
- YEAR - a field showing a four-character year code
- MENTOR - an iMIS ID for a person who is designated as a MENTOR
Simple Where Statements
A simple Where statement uses a hard-coded value to specify a record. For example,Where YEAR = '2015'
will return the first record found where the Year is equal to 2015.
Dynamic Where Statements
When creating a Where statement, you can also specify a URL parameter by using the coding of "@ff@" which signals to Sonic Forms to look for a URL parameter with the appropriate name. The most common use of this is to use the SEQN number from the multi-instance record itself ot specify a single unique record.Where SEQN=@ff@SEQN
will return the record whose sequence number matches the sequence number included in the URL.