function define_default_field() {
        global $OUTPUT;
        if (empty($this->data->id)) {
            echo $OUTPUT->notification('Programmer error: dataid not defined in field class');
        }
        $this->field = new stdClass();
        $this->field->id = 0;
        $this->field->dataid = $this->data->id;
        $this->field->type   = $this->type;
        $this->field->param1 = '';
        $this->field->param2 = '';
        $this->field->param3 = '';
        $this->field->name = '';
        $this->field->description = '';
        $this->field->required = false;

        return true;
    }