How to store vaule from a code field?

I have a rather complex php code entry in a code field.
It is doing it's job and the proper results are being calculated and displayed;
However, now I need to store the returned value into the database field.

I selected onAfterUserUpdate for the trigger (although I'm not 100% sure that is the proper one ... not sure how that is different from onAfter Update user or one of the profile triggers).

Then for the action, I set:

* Field - the field that I'm trying to set (field1)
* Operator - Set (Field = Value)
* Value - the same field name ([field1]) using substitutions

However, the value is still not being set.

What is the proper way to do this?
What is the proper value field substitution to use the calculated value?

Also - the code field would only be updated and saved on initial registration. After that it is not going to change.

The [FIELD_NAME] usage returns the profile value of a field. Ensure your code field is set to display on profile then retry. You can also try using [cb:userdata field="FIELD_NAME" /] usage.

OK ... I finally tracked down the problem, within the actual CODE parameters of the code field.

However, I've run into another problem.

Part of my code does a validation check. But it is trying to validate field value before any data is entered in the form.

Can an AutoAction be used to validate entries and alert the user BEFORE the data is actually saved to the db?
If so, what trigger would I use for that?

Just turn off ajax code validation or implement in your validation code to handle no value being supplied. Can't suggest anything further without better understanding of what you're trying to do with the code field.

Yes, CB Auto Actions can reject a profile update or registration by adding an error to the user object (reference variable would need to be configured) or triggering a plugin error but you're better off just adjusting your code field usage. You'd use the same update and registration triggers as other usages but use Before instead of After.