Unable to Set the Weight Field on Line Items - NetSuite SuiteScript

When working with NetSuite's SuiteScript to manipulate transaction records, developers often encounter challenges with certain fields that are either read-only or behave unexpectedly. One such field is the "weight" field on line items. Attempting to set this field directly via SuiteScript may not yield the desired results, leading to confusion and potential roadblocks in automation processes.

This article delves into the intricacies of the "weight" field within NetSuite transactions, exploring why direct manipulation may not be feasible and offering alternative approaches to achieve the intended outcomes.

Problem: Locked Weight Field

When writing a SuiteScript, you may have come across the problem where the native “weight” field on line items does not seem to change when you set it with a SuiteScript.

For example:

recordObject.setSublistValue({
   sublistId: 'item',
   fieldId: 'weight',
   line: i,
   value: 0
});

It turns out that you can never overwrite this field because its value is sourced from the item record in NetSuite.

NetSuite either ignores the script when it tries to set the field or resets it after saving during post-processing (likely when calculating shipping). While we aren’t sure of the exact cause, the takeaway is the 'weight' field is effectively locked.

Solutions to Try

As with many errors like this, there are a few different ways to approach resolving this issue. Workarounds may include:

1. Using a custom field to hold weight info
2. Running scripts on item records to update weights

Conclusion

While the "weight" field on NetSuite transaction line items is not directly editable via SuiteScript due to its calculated nature, understanding this behavior enables developers to implement effective workarounds. By modifying item records appropriately, utilizing custom fields, and leveraging SuiteScript for calculations, one can achieve the desired functionality without compromising data integrity.

Related Article: Troubleshoot TypeError: Cannot read property \"length\" from null

Get stuck in a step during this article?

We like to update our blogs and articles to make sure they help resolve any troubleshooting difficulties you are having. Sometimes, there is a related feature to enable or a field to fill out that we miss during the instructions. If this article didn't resolve the issue, please use the chat and let us know so that we can update this article!