AAE-46246 Format typed values in form display widgets v2 (#11952)

* AAE-46246 Format typed values in form display widgets

lib/core/src/lib/form/components/widgets/base-display-text/base-display-text.widget.ts

@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { ChangeDetectorRef, Component, inject, AfterViewInit, DestroyRef, InjectionToken } from '@angular/core';
+import { ChangeDetectorRef, Component, inject, AfterViewInit, OnInit, DestroyRef, InjectionToken } from '@angular/core';
 import { debounceTime, filter, isObservable, Observable } from 'rxjs';
 import { FormRulesEvent } from '../../../events';
 import { FormExpressionService } from '../../../services/form-expression.service';
+import { FormFieldValueFormatterService } from '../../../services/form-field-value-formatter.service';
+import { ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED } from '../../../services/form-field-value-formatter.token';
 import { WidgetComponent } from '../widget.component';
 import { takeUntilDestroyed } from '@angular/core/rxjs-interop';
 
@@ -33,11 +35,14 @@ export const ADF_DISPLAY_TEXT_SETTINGS = new InjectionToken<DisplayTextWidgetSet
     template: '',
     standalone: true
 })
-export abstract class BaseDisplayTextWidgetComponent extends WidgetComponent implements AfterViewInit {
+export abstract class BaseDisplayTextWidgetComponent extends WidgetComponent implements OnInit, AfterViewInit {
     private readonly formExpressionService = inject(FormExpressionService);
     private readonly cdr = inject(ChangeDetectorRef);
     private enableExpressionEvaluation: boolean = false;
     protected originalFieldValue?: string;
+    protected readonly formatter = inject(FormFieldValueFormatterService);
+    private readonly formattingEnabledToken = inject(ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED, { optional: true });
+    protected formattingEnabled = false;
 
     private readonly settings = inject<Observable<DisplayTextWidgetSettings> | DisplayTextWidgetSettings>(ADF_DISPLAY_TEXT_SETTINGS, {
         optional: true
@@ -45,6 +50,13 @@ export abstract class BaseDisplayTextWidgetComponent extends WidgetComponent imp
 
     constructor() {
         super();
+        if (isObservable(this.formattingEnabledToken)) {
+            this.formattingEnabledToken.pipe(takeUntilDestroyed()).subscribe((enabled: boolean) => {
+                this.formattingEnabled = enabled ?? false;
+            });
+        } else {
+            this.formattingEnabled = this.formattingEnabledToken ?? false;
+        }
         if (isObservable(this.settings)) {
             this.settings.pipe(takeUntilDestroyed()).subscribe((data: DisplayTextWidgetSettings) => {
                 this.updateSettingsBasedProperties(data);
@@ -54,6 +66,16 @@ export abstract class BaseDisplayTextWidgetComponent extends WidgetComponent imp
         }
     }
 
+    ngOnInit() {
+        const value = this.field?.value;
+        const shouldFormatValue =
+            this.formattingEnabled && value != null && typeof value !== 'string' && this.formatter.hasFormatter(this.field?.type ?? '');
+
+        if (shouldFormatValue) {
+            this.field.value = this.formatter.format(this.field);
+        }
+    }
+
     override ngAfterViewInit() {
         if (this.enableExpressionEvaluation) {
             this.storeOriginalValue();

lib/core/src/lib/form/components/widgets/core/formattable-text.widget.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+/*!
+ * @license
+ * Copyright © 2005-2025 Hyland Software, Inc. and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { Component, DestroyRef, inject, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
+import { takeUntilDestroyed } from '@angular/core/rxjs-interop';
+import { isObservable } from 'rxjs';
+import { filter } from 'rxjs/operators';
+import { FormRulesEvent } from '../../../events/form-rules.event';
+import { ADF_CUSTOM_MESSAGE } from './custom-validation-message.token';
+import { WidgetComponent } from '../widget.component';
+import { FormFieldValueFormatterService } from '../../../services/form-field-value-formatter.service';
+import { ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED } from '../../../services/form-field-value-formatter.token';
+
+@Component({
+    template: '',
+    standalone: true
+})
+export abstract class FormattableTextWidgetComponent extends WidgetComponent implements OnInit {
+    protected readonly destroyRef = inject(DestroyRef);
+    private readonly enableCustomMessage = inject(ADF_CUSTOM_MESSAGE, { optional: true });
+    private readonly formatter = inject(FormFieldValueFormatterService);
+    private readonly formattingEnabledToken = inject(ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED, { optional: true });
+    private formattingEnabled = false;
+    displayValue = '';
+
+    onValueChange(value: string): void {
+        this.field.value = value;
+        this.displayValue = this.computeDisplayValue();
+        this.onFieldChanged(this.field);
+    }
+
+    protected computeDisplayValue(): string {
+        const value = this.field.value;
+        const isReadOnly = this.field.readOnly || this.readOnly;
+        if (this.formattingEnabled && isReadOnly && value != null && typeof value !== 'string' && this.formatter.hasFormatter(this.field.type)) {
+            return this.formatter.format(this.field);
+        }
+        return value as string;
+    }
+
+    ngOnInit(): void {
+        this.initValueFormatting();
+        this.initCustomValidationMessage();
+    }
+
+    private initValueFormatting(): void {
+        if (isObservable(this.formattingEnabledToken)) {
+            this.formattingEnabledToken.pipe(takeUntilDestroyed(this.destroyRef)).subscribe((enabled: boolean) => {
+                this.formattingEnabled = enabled ?? false;
+                this.displayValue = this.computeDisplayValue();
+            });
+        } else {
+            this.formattingEnabled = this.formattingEnabledToken ?? false;
+            this.displayValue = this.computeDisplayValue();
+        }
+
+        this.formService.formRulesEvent
+            .pipe(
+                filter((event: FormRulesEvent) => event?.type === 'fieldValueChanged'),
+                takeUntilDestroyed(this.destroyRef)
+            )
+            .subscribe(() => {
+                this.displayValue = this.computeDisplayValue();
+            });
+    }
+
+    private initCustomValidationMessage(): void {
+        if (this.enableCustomMessage != null) {
+            if (isObservable(this.enableCustomMessage)) {
+                this.enableCustomMessage.pipe(takeUntilDestroyed(this.destroyRef)).subscribe((enabled: boolean) => {
+                    if (this.field) {
+                        this.field.enableCustomValidationMessage = enabled ?? false;
+                    }
+                });
+            } else {
+                this.field.enableCustomValidationMessage = this.enableCustomMessage;
+            }
+        } else {
+            this.field.enableCustomValidationMessage = false;
+        }
+    }
+}

lib/core/src/lib/form/components/widgets/display-text/display-text.widget.spec.ts

@@ -17,8 +17,10 @@
 
 import { ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { FormFieldModel, FormModel } from '../core';
+import { FormFieldTypes } from '../core/form-field-types';
 import { DisplayTextWidgetComponent } from './display-text.widget';
 import { ADF_DISPLAY_TEXT_SETTINGS } from '../base-display-text/base-display-text.widget';
+import { ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED } from '../../../services/form-field-value-formatter.token';
 import { FormService } from '../../../services/form.service';
 import { of } from 'rxjs';
 
@@ -240,4 +242,117 @@ describe('DisplayTextWidgetComponent', () => {
             }, 100);
         });
     });
+
+    describe('typed value formatting', () => {
+        describe('when flag is on', () => {
+            beforeEach(() => {
+                TestBed.resetTestingModule();
+                TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+                    imports: [DisplayTextWidgetComponent],
+                    providers: [
+                        FormService,
+                        { provide: ADF_DISPLAY_TEXT_SETTINGS, useValue: { enableExpressionEvaluation: true } },
+                        { provide: ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED, useValue: true }
+                    ]
+                });
+                fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DisplayTextWidgetComponent);
+                widget = fixture.componentInstance;
+            });
+
+            it('should format a direct People value to full name', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'f1',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    value: [{ firstName: 'Alyssa', lastName: 'Adcock' }]
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.field.value).toBe('Alyssa Adcock');
+            });
+
+            it('should format a direct Group value to group name', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'f1',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.FUNCTIONAL_GROUP,
+                    value: [{ id: 'g1', name: 'Engineering' }]
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.field.value).toBe('Engineering');
+            });
+
+            it('should not contain [object Object] for a complex value', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'f1',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    value: [{ firstName: 'Alice', lastName: 'Brown' }]
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(String(widget.field.value)).not.toContain('[object Object]');
+            });
+
+            it('should resolve expression templates for People via FormExpressionService', () => {
+                const form = new FormModel({
+                    fields: [
+                        { id: 'displayText1', type: 'display-text', value: 'Selected: ${field.peopleField}' },
+                        { id: 'peopleField', type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE, value: [{ firstName: 'Alyssa', lastName: 'Adcock' }] }
+                    ]
+                });
+
+                widget.field = form.getFieldById('displayText1');
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.field.value).toBe('Selected: Alyssa Adcock');
+            });
+
+            it('should re-evaluate expression with formatted value when dependent People field changes', (done) => {
+                const form = new FormModel({
+                    fields: [
+                        { id: 'displayText1', type: 'display-text', value: 'Selected: ${field.peopleField}' },
+                        { id: 'peopleField', type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE, value: [{ firstName: 'Alyssa', lastName: 'Adcock' }] }
+                    ]
+                });
+                formService = TestBed.inject(FormService);
+
+                widget.field = form.getFieldById('displayText1');
+                const peopleField = form.getFieldById('peopleField');
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.field.value).toBe('Selected: Alyssa Adcock');
+
+                peopleField.value = [{ firstName: 'Jane', lastName: 'Smith' }];
+                formService.formRulesEvent.next({ type: 'fieldValueChanged', field: peopleField } as any);
+
+                setTimeout(() => {
+                    expect(widget.field.value).toBe('Selected: Jane Smith');
+                    done();
+                }, 350);
+            });
+        });
+
+        describe('when flag is off', () => {
+            it('should not format a complex field value (default behaviour preserved)', () => {
+                TestBed.resetTestingModule();
+                TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+                    imports: [DisplayTextWidgetComponent],
+                    providers: [FormService]
+                });
+                fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DisplayTextWidgetComponent);
+                widget = fixture.componentInstance;
+
+                const rawValue = [{ firstName: 'Alyssa', lastName: 'Adcock' }];
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'f1',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    value: rawValue
+                });
+
+                // Trigger only ngOnInit (no full render — raw array would crash TranslatePipe without the flag)
+                widget.ngOnInit();
+
+                expect(widget.field.value).toEqual(rawValue);
+            });
+        });
+    });
 });

lib/core/src/lib/form/components/widgets/display-text/display-text.widget.ts

@@ -48,7 +48,13 @@ export class DisplayTextWidgetComponent extends BaseDisplayTextWidgetComponent {
 
     protected evaluateExpressions(): void {
         if (this.field) {
-            this.field.value = this.resolveExpressions(this.field.value);
+            const value = this.field.value;
+            const isFormattableValue = value != null && typeof value !== 'string';
+            if (this.formattingEnabled && isFormattableValue && this.formatter.hasFormatter(this.field.type)) {
+                this.field.value = this.formatter.format(this.field);
+            } else {
+                this.field.value = this.resolveExpressions(value);
+            }
         }
     }
 

lib/core/src/lib/form/components/widgets/multiline-text/multiline-text.widget.html

@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
             rows="3"
             [id]="field.id"
             [required]="field.required"
-            [(ngModel)]="field.value"
+            [ngModel]="displayValue"
-            (ngModelChange)="onFieldChanged(field)"
+            (ngModelChange)="onValueChange($event)"
             [disabled]="field.readOnly || readOnly"
             [placeholder]="field.placeholder"
             [title]="field.tooltip"
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
         </textarea>
     </mat-form-field>
     <div *ngIf="field.maxLength > 0" class="adf-multiline-word-counter">
-        <span class="adf-multiline-word-counter-value">{{ field?.value?.length || 0 }}/{{ field.maxLength }}</span>
+        <span class="adf-multiline-word-counter-value">{{ displayValue?.length || 0 }}/{{ field.maxLength }}</span>
     </div>
     <div class="adf-error-messages-container">
         <error-widget [error]="field.validationSummary" />

lib/core/src/lib/form/components/widgets/multiline-text/multiline-text.widget.spec.ts

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import { MultilineTextWidgetComponentComponent } from './multiline-text.widget';
 import { ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { UnitTestingUtils } from '../../../../testing/unit-testing-utils';
 import { ADF_CUSTOM_MESSAGE } from '../core/custom-validation-message.token';
+import { ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED } from '../../../services/form-field-value-formatter.token';
 import { of, Subject } from 'rxjs';
 
 describe('MultilineTextWidgetComponentComponent', () => {
@@ -298,4 +299,92 @@ describe('MultilineTextWidgetComponentComponent - ADF_CUSTOM_MESSAGE', () => {
             expect(widget.field.validationSummary.message).toBe('FORM.FIELD.VALIDATOR.INVALID_VALUE');
         });
     });
+
+    describe('typed value formatting', () => {
+        describe('when flag is on', () => {
+            beforeEach(() => {
+                TestBed.resetTestingModule();
+                TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+                    imports: [MultilineTextWidgetComponentComponent],
+                    providers: [{ provide: ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED, useValue: true }]
+                });
+                fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MultilineTextWidgetComponentComponent);
+                widget = fixture.componentInstance;
+                testingUtils = new UnitTestingUtils(fixture.debugElement);
+            });
+
+            it('should return formatted name for a People value in read-only mode', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'people-field',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    value: [{ firstName: 'Alice', lastName: 'Brown' }],
+                    readOnly: true
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.displayValue).toBe('Alice Brown');
+            });
+
+            it('should not return [object Object] for a complex field value', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'people-field',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    value: [{ firstName: 'Alice', lastName: 'Brown' }],
+                    readOnly: true
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(String(widget.displayValue)).not.toContain('[object Object]');
+            });
+
+            it('should pass through plain string values unchanged', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'multiline-id',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.MULTILINE_TEXT,
+                    value: 'plain text',
+                    readOnly: true
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.displayValue).toBe('plain text');
+            });
+
+            it('should not JSON-stringify a Date value for an unregistered type', () => {
+                const date = new Date('2026-06-02T14:30:00.000Z');
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'date-id',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.MULTILINE_TEXT,
+                    value: date,
+                    readOnly: true
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(String(widget.displayValue)).toBe(String(date));
+                expect(String(widget.displayValue)).not.toContain('"');
+            });
+        });
+
+        describe('when flag is off', () => {
+            beforeEach(() => {
+                TestBed.resetTestingModule();
+                TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+                    imports: [MultilineTextWidgetComponentComponent]
+                });
+                fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MultilineTextWidgetComponentComponent);
+                widget = fixture.componentInstance;
+            });
+
+            it('should not format complex field values (default behaviour preserved)', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'people-field',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    value: [{ firstName: 'Alice', lastName: 'Brown' }],
+                    readOnly: true
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.displayValue).not.toBe('Alice Brown');
+            });
+        });
+    });
 });

lib/core/src/lib/form/components/widgets/multiline-text/multiline-text.widget.ts

@@ -18,16 +18,13 @@
 /* eslint-disable @angular-eslint/component-selector */
 
 import { NgIf } from '@angular/common';
-import { Component, DestroyRef, inject, OnInit, ViewEncapsulation } from '@angular/core';
+import { Component, ViewEncapsulation } from '@angular/core';
-import { takeUntilDestroyed } from '@angular/core/rxjs-interop';
 import { FormsModule } from '@angular/forms';
 import { MatFormFieldModule } from '@angular/material/form-field';
 import { MatInputModule } from '@angular/material/input';
 import { TranslatePipe } from '@ngx-translate/core';
-import { isObservable } from 'rxjs';
-import { ADF_CUSTOM_MESSAGE } from '../core/custom-validation-message.token';
 import { ErrorWidgetComponent } from '../error/error.component';
-import { WidgetComponent } from '../widget.component';
+import { FormattableTextWidgetComponent } from '../core/formattable-text.widget';
 
 @Component({
     selector: 'multiline-text-widget',
@@ -47,23 +44,4 @@ import { WidgetComponent } from '../widget.component';
     imports: [MatFormFieldModule, NgIf, TranslatePipe, MatInputModule, FormsModule, ErrorWidgetComponent],
     encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None
 })
-export class MultilineTextWidgetComponentComponent extends WidgetComponent implements OnInit {
+export class MultilineTextWidgetComponentComponent extends FormattableTextWidgetComponent {}
-    private readonly destroyRef = inject(DestroyRef);
-    private readonly enableCustomMessage = inject(ADF_CUSTOM_MESSAGE, { optional: true });
-
-    ngOnInit(): void {
-        if (this.enableCustomMessage != null) {
-            if (isObservable(this.enableCustomMessage)) {
-                this.enableCustomMessage.pipe(takeUntilDestroyed(this.destroyRef)).subscribe((enabled: boolean) => {
-                    if (this.field) {
-                        this.field.enableCustomValidationMessage = enabled ?? false;
-                    }
-                });
-            } else {
-                this.field.enableCustomValidationMessage = this.enableCustomMessage;
-            }
-        } else {
-            this.field.enableCustomValidationMessage = false;
-        }
-    }
-}

lib/core/src/lib/form/components/widgets/text/text.widget.html

@@ -18,9 +18,8 @@
                    type="text"
                    [id]="field.id"
                    [required]="field.required"
-                   [value]="field.value"
+                   [ngModel]="displayValue"
-                   [(ngModel)]="field.value"
+                   (ngModelChange)="onValueChange($event)"
-                   (ngModelChange)="onFieldChanged(field)"
                    [disabled]="field.readOnly || readOnly"
                    [textMask]="{mask: mask, isReversed: isMaskReversed}"
                    [placeholder]="placeholder"

lib/core/src/lib/form/components/widgets/text/text.widget.spec.ts

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import { HarnessLoader } from '@angular/cdk/testing';
 import { TestbedHarnessEnvironment } from '@angular/cdk/testing/testbed';
 import { UnitTestingUtils } from '../../../../testing/unit-testing-utils';
 import { ADF_CUSTOM_MESSAGE } from '../core/custom-validation-message.token';
+import { ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED } from '../../../services/form-field-value-formatter.token';
 import { of, Subject } from 'rxjs';
 
 describe('TextWidgetComponent', () => {
@@ -698,4 +699,143 @@ describe('TextWidgetComponent - ADF_CUSTOM_MESSAGE', () => {
             expect(widget.field.validationSummary.message).toBe('FORM.FIELD.VALIDATOR.INVALID_VALUE');
         });
     });
+
+    describe('typed value formatting', () => {
+        describe('when flag is on', () => {
+            beforeEach(() => {
+                TestBed.resetTestingModule();
+                TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+                    imports: [TextWidgetComponent],
+                    providers: [{ provide: ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED, useValue: true }]
+                });
+                fixture = TestBed.createComponent(TextWidgetComponent);
+                widget = fixture.componentInstance;
+                testingUtils = new UnitTestingUtils(fixture.debugElement);
+            });
+
+            it('should return formatted name for a People value in read-only mode', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'people-field',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    value: [{ firstName: 'Alyssa', lastName: 'Adcock' }],
+                    readOnly: true
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.displayValue).toBe('Alyssa Adcock');
+            });
+
+            it('should return comma-separated labels for a multi-select dropdown in read-only mode', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'dropdown-field',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN,
+                    value: [
+                        { id: 'a', name: 'Apple' },
+                        { id: 'b', name: 'Banana' }
+                    ],
+                    readOnly: true
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.displayValue).toBe('Apple, Banana');
+            });
+
+            it('should not return [object Object] for a complex field value', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'people-field',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    value: { firstName: 'Alice', lastName: 'Brown' },
+                    readOnly: true
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(String(widget.displayValue)).not.toContain('[object Object]');
+            });
+
+            it('should pass through plain string values unchanged', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'text-id',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.TEXT,
+                    value: 'hello',
+                    readOnly: true
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.displayValue).toBe('hello');
+            });
+
+            it('should not JSON-stringify a Date value for an unregistered type', () => {
+                const date = new Date('2026-06-02T14:30:00.000Z');
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'date-id',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.TEXT,
+                    value: date,
+                    readOnly: true
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(String(widget.displayValue)).toBe(String(date));
+                expect(String(widget.displayValue)).not.toContain('"');
+            });
+
+            it('should not format a value for an unregistered type', () => {
+                const value = { foo: 'bar' };
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'object-id',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.TEXT,
+                    value,
+                    readOnly: true
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.displayValue).toBe(value as unknown as string);
+            });
+        });
+
+        describe('when flag is off', () => {
+            beforeEach(() => {
+                TestBed.resetTestingModule();
+                TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+                    imports: [TextWidgetComponent]
+                });
+                fixture = TestBed.createComponent(TextWidgetComponent);
+                widget = fixture.componentInstance;
+            });
+
+            it('should not format complex field values (default behaviour preserved)', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'people-field',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    value: [{ firstName: 'Alyssa', lastName: 'Adcock' }],
+                    readOnly: true
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.displayValue).not.toBe('Alyssa Adcock');
+            });
+        });
+
+        describe('when flag emits via observable', () => {
+            it('should format value after observable emits true', () => {
+                TestBed.resetTestingModule();
+                TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+                    imports: [TextWidgetComponent],
+                    providers: [{ provide: ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED, useValue: of(true) }]
+                });
+                fixture = TestBed.createComponent(TextWidgetComponent);
+                widget = fixture.componentInstance;
+                testingUtils = new UnitTestingUtils(fixture.debugElement);
+
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'people-field',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    value: [{ firstName: 'Alyssa', lastName: 'Adcock' }],
+                    readOnly: true
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.displayValue).toBe('Alyssa Adcock');
+            });
+        });
+    });
 });

lib/core/src/lib/form/components/widgets/text/text.widget.ts

@@ -18,16 +18,14 @@
 /* eslint-disable @angular-eslint/component-selector */
 
 import { NgIf, NgTemplateOutlet } from '@angular/common';
-import { Component, DestroyRef, Directive, inject, InjectionToken, Input, OnInit, TemplateRef, ViewEncapsulation } from '@angular/core';
+import { Component, Directive, inject, InjectionToken, Input, TemplateRef, ViewEncapsulation } from '@angular/core';
-import { takeUntilDestroyed } from '@angular/core/rxjs-interop';
 import { FormsModule } from '@angular/forms';
 import { MatFormFieldModule } from '@angular/material/form-field';
 import { MatInputModule } from '@angular/material/input';
 import { TranslatePipe } from '@ngx-translate/core';
-import { isObservable } from 'rxjs';
-import { ADF_CUSTOM_MESSAGE } from '../core/custom-validation-message.token';
 import { ErrorWidgetComponent } from '../error/error.component';
 import { WidgetComponent } from '../widget.component';
+import { FormattableTextWidgetComponent } from '../core/formattable-text.widget';
 import { InputMaskDirective } from './text-mask.component';
 
 type FieldStatusTemplate = TemplateRef<{ $implicit: WidgetComponent }>;
@@ -66,29 +64,14 @@ export class FieldStatusTemplateDirective {
     imports: [NgIf, TranslatePipe, MatFormFieldModule, MatInputModule, FormsModule, ErrorWidgetComponent, InputMaskDirective, NgTemplateOutlet],
     encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None
 })
-export class TextWidgetComponent extends WidgetComponent implements OnInit {
+export class TextWidgetComponent extends FormattableTextWidgetComponent {
     mask: string;
     placeholder: string;
     isMaskReversed: boolean;
     fieldStatusTemplate = inject(FIELD_STATUS_TEMPLATE, { optional: true });
 
-    private readonly destroyRef = inject(DestroyRef);
+    override ngOnInit() {
-    private readonly enableCustomMessage = inject(ADF_CUSTOM_MESSAGE, { optional: true });
+        super.ngOnInit();
-
-    ngOnInit() {
-        if (this.enableCustomMessage != null) {
-            if (isObservable(this.enableCustomMessage)) {
-                this.enableCustomMessage.pipe(takeUntilDestroyed(this.destroyRef)).subscribe((enabled: boolean) => {
-                    if (this.field) {
-                        this.field.enableCustomValidationMessage = enabled ?? false;
-                    }
-                });
-            } else {
-                this.field.enableCustomValidationMessage = this.enableCustomMessage;
-            }
-        } else {
-            this.field.enableCustomValidationMessage = false;
-        }
 
         if (this.field.params) {
             this.mask = this.field.params['inputMask'];

lib/core/src/lib/form/public-api.ts

@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ export * from './services/form.service';
 export * from './services/form-expression.service';
 export * from './services/form-validation-service.interface';
 export * from './services/widget-visibility.service';
+export * from './services/form-field-value-formatter.service';
+export * from './services/form-field-value-formatter.token';
 
 export * from './pipes';
 

lib/core/src/lib/form/services/form-expression.service.spec.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 import { TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { FormExpressionService } from './form-expression.service';
 import { FormModel } from '../components/widgets/core';
+import { FormFieldValueFormatterService } from './form-field-value-formatter.service';
+import { FormFieldTypes } from '../components/widgets/core/form-field-types';
+import { ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED } from './form-field-value-formatter.token';
+import { of } from 'rxjs';
 
 describe('FormExpressionService', () => {
     let service: FormExpressionService;
@@ -269,6 +273,83 @@ describe('FormExpressionService', () => {
             expect(result).toBe('true');
         });
 
+        describe('when ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED token is provided as true', () => {
+            let formattingService: FormExpressionService;
+            let formatter: FormFieldValueFormatterService;
+
+            beforeEach(() => {
+                TestBed.resetTestingModule();
+                TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+                    providers: [FormExpressionService, { provide: ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED, useValue: of(true) }]
+                });
+                formattingService = TestBed.inject(FormExpressionService);
+                formatter = TestBed.inject(FormFieldValueFormatterService);
+            });
+
+            it('should format object field values via the registered formatter', () => {
+                const mockField = {
+                    id: 'peopleField',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    value: { firstName: 'Alyssa', lastName: 'Adcock' }
+                };
+                spyOn(formModel, 'getFieldById').and.returnValue(mockField as any);
+                spyOn(formatter, 'hasFormatter').and.returnValue(true);
+                spyOn(formatter, 'formatValue').and.returnValue('Alyssa Adcock');
+
+                const result = formattingService.resolveExpressions(formModel, '${field.peopleField}');
+
+                expect(result).toBe('Alyssa Adcock');
+            });
+
+            it('should fall back to JSON.stringify when no formatter is registered', () => {
+                const mockField = {
+                    id: 'objectField',
+                    type: 'unregistered-type',
+                    value: { a: 1 }
+                };
+                spyOn(formModel, 'getFieldById').and.returnValue(mockField as any);
+                spyOn(formatter, 'hasFormatter').and.returnValue(false);
+
+                const result = formattingService.resolveExpressions(formModel, '${field.objectField}');
+
+                expect(result).toBe('{"a":1}');
+            });
+
+            it('should render a Date result as a native string instead of quoted ISO', () => {
+                const date = new Date('2026-06-02T14:30:00.000Z');
+                const mockField = {
+                    id: 'datetimeField',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.DATETIME,
+                    value: date
+                };
+                spyOn(formModel, 'getFieldById').and.returnValue(mockField as any);
+                spyOn(formatter, 'hasFormatter').and.returnValue(false);
+
+                const result = formattingService.resolveExpressions(formModel, '${field.datetimeField}');
+
+                expect(result).toBe(String(date));
+                expect(result).not.toContain('"');
+            });
+        });
+
+        describe('when ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED token is not provided', () => {
+            it('should default to JSON.stringify even if a formatter exists', () => {
+                const formatter = TestBed.inject(FormFieldValueFormatterService);
+                const mockField = {
+                    id: 'peopleField',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    value: { firstName: 'Alyssa', lastName: 'Adcock' }
+                };
+                spyOn(formModel, 'getFieldById').and.returnValue(mockField as any);
+                const hasFormatterSpy = spyOn(formatter, 'hasFormatter');
+
+                const result = service.resolveExpressions(formModel, '${field.peopleField}');
+
+                expect(hasFormatterSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+                expect(result).toBe('{"firstName":"Alyssa","lastName":"Adcock"}');
+            });
+        });
+
         describe('when escapeHtml is true', () => {
             let getFieldSpy: jasmine.Spy;
 

lib/core/src/lib/form/services/form-expression.service.ts

@@ -15,8 +15,12 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
+import { inject, Injectable } from '@angular/core';
+import { takeUntilDestroyed } from '@angular/core/rxjs-interop';
+import { isObservable } from 'rxjs';
 import { FormModel } from '../components/widgets/core';
+import { FormFieldValueFormatterService } from './form-field-value-formatter.service';
+import { ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED } from './form-field-value-formatter.token';
 
 @Injectable({
     providedIn: 'root'
@@ -27,6 +31,20 @@ export class FormExpressionService {
     private readonly VARIABLE_PREFIX = 'variable.';
     private readonly VARIABLES_REGEX = /(?:field|variable)\.[a-zA-Z_$][a-zA-Z0-9_$]*/g;
 
+    private readonly formFieldValueFormatter = inject(FormFieldValueFormatterService);
+    private readonly formattingEnabledToken = inject(ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED, { optional: true });
+    private formattingEnabled = false;
+
+    constructor() {
+        if (isObservable(this.formattingEnabledToken)) {
+            this.formattingEnabledToken.pipe(takeUntilDestroyed()).subscribe((enabled: boolean) => {
+                this.formattingEnabled = enabled ?? false;
+            });
+        } else {
+            this.formattingEnabled = this.formattingEnabledToken ?? false;
+        }
+    }
+
     resolveExpressions(form: FormModel, formField: string, escapeHtml?: boolean): string {
         let result = formField || '';
 
@@ -37,24 +55,10 @@ export class FormExpressionService {
         }
 
         for (const match of matches) {
-            let expressionResult = this.resolveExpression(form, match);
+            const rawResult = this.resolveExpression(form, match);
-            if (expressionResult === null || expressionResult === undefined) {
+            let expressionResult = this.normalizeExpressionResult(form, match, rawResult);
-                expressionResult = '';
-            } else if (typeof expressionResult !== 'string') {
-                expressionResult = JSON.stringify(expressionResult);
-            }
             if (escapeHtml) {
-                expressionResult = expressionResult
+                expressionResult = this.escapeHtmlEntities(expressionResult);
-                    .split('&')
-                    .join('&')
-                    .split('<')
-                    .join('&lt;')
-                    .split('>')
-                    .join('&gt;')
-                    .split('"')
-                    .join('&quot;')
-                    .split("'")
-                    .join('&#039;');
             }
             result = result.replace(match, expressionResult);
         }
@@ -62,6 +66,37 @@ export class FormExpressionService {
         return result;
     }
 
+    private normalizeExpressionResult(form: FormModel, match: string, expressionResult: any): string {
+        if (expressionResult == null) {
+            return '';
+        }
+
+        if (typeof expressionResult === 'string') {
+            return expressionResult;
+        }
+
+        return this.formatTypedExpressionResult(form, match, expressionResult);
+    }
+
+    private formatTypedExpressionResult(form: FormModel, match: string, expressionResult: any): string {
+        if (!this.formattingEnabled) {
+            return JSON.stringify(expressionResult);
+        }
+
+        const fieldId = this.extractFieldIdFromMatch(match);
+        const sourceField = fieldId ? form.getFieldById(fieldId) : undefined;
+
+        if (sourceField && this.formFieldValueFormatter.hasFormatter(sourceField.type)) {
+            return this.formFieldValueFormatter.formatValue(expressionResult, sourceField);
+        }
+
+        return this.formFieldValueFormatter.stringifyValue(expressionResult);
+    }
+
+    private escapeHtmlEntities(value: string): string {
+        return value.split('&').join('&amp;').split('<').join('&lt;').split('>').join('&gt;').split('"').join('&quot;').split("'").join('&#039;');
+    }
+
     private resolveExpression(form: FormModel, expression: any): any {
         if (expression === undefined || expression === null) {
             return expression;
@@ -96,6 +131,14 @@ export class FormExpressionService {
         }
     }
 
+    private extractFieldIdFromMatch(match: string): string | null {
+        const inner = match.slice(2, -1).trim();
+        if (inner.startsWith(this.FIELD_PREFIX)) {
+            return inner.slice(this.FIELD_PREFIX.length);
+        }
+        return null;
+    }
+
     getFieldDependencies(expression: string): string[] {
         const dependencies: string[] = [];
         const matches = expression.match(this.GLOBAL_EXPRESSION_REGEX);

lib/core/src/lib/form/services/form-field-value-formatter.service.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,300 @@
+/*!
+ * @license
+ * Copyright © 2005-2025 Hyland Software, Inc. and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
+import { FormFieldValueFormatterService } from './form-field-value-formatter.service';
+import { FormFieldModel } from '../components/widgets/core/form-field.model';
+import { FormFieldTypes } from '../components/widgets/core/form-field-types';
+import { FormModel } from '../components/widgets/core';
+
+/**
+ * Test helper that creates a FormFieldModel attached to a fresh FormModel for unit tests.
+ *
+ * @param type form field type identifier (e.g., FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE)
+ * @param value initial field value
+ * @param options optional dropdown/radio option list
+ * @returns a fully-wired FormFieldModel
+ */
+function makeField(type: string, value: any, options?: { id: string; name: string }[]): FormFieldModel {
+    const form = new FormModel();
+    const field = new FormFieldModel(form, { id: 'f1', type, value });
+    if (options) {
+        field.options = options;
+    }
+    return field;
+}
+
+describe('FormFieldValueFormatterService', () => {
+    let service: FormFieldValueFormatterService;
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+        TestBed.configureTestingModule({});
+        service = TestBed.inject(FormFieldValueFormatterService);
+    });
+
+    describe('hasFormatter', () => {
+        it('should return true for registered types', () => {
+            expect(service.hasFormatter(FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE)).toBeTrue();
+            expect(service.hasFormatter(FormFieldTypes.FUNCTIONAL_GROUP)).toBeTrue();
+            expect(service.hasFormatter(FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN)).toBeTrue();
+            expect(service.hasFormatter(FormFieldTypes.RADIO_BUTTONS)).toBeTrue();
+        });
+
+        it('should return false for unregistered types', () => {
+            expect(service.hasFormatter('unknown-type')).toBeFalse();
+            expect(service.hasFormatter('text')).toBeFalse();
+        });
+    });
+
+    describe('formatValue - base cases', () => {
+        it('should return empty string for null', () => {
+            const field = makeField('text', null);
+            expect(service.formatValue(null, field)).toBe('');
+        });
+
+        it('should return empty string for undefined', () => {
+            const field = makeField('text', undefined);
+            expect(service.formatValue(undefined, field)).toBe('');
+        });
+
+        it('should pass through string values unchanged', () => {
+            const field = makeField('text', 'hello');
+            expect(service.formatValue('hello', field)).toBe('hello');
+        });
+
+        it('should JSON.stringify unknown object types', () => {
+            const field = makeField('text', { foo: 'bar' });
+            expect(service.formatValue({ foo: 'bar' }, field)).toBe('{"foo":"bar"}');
+        });
+
+        it('should render Date values using native string instead of JSON', () => {
+            const date = new Date('2026-06-02T14:30:00.000Z');
+            const field = makeField('datetime', date);
+            expect(service.formatValue(date, field)).toBe(String(date));
+            expect(service.formatValue(date, field)).not.toContain('"');
+        });
+
+        it('should render numeric values without JSON quoting', () => {
+            const field = makeField('integer', 42);
+            expect(service.formatValue(42, field)).toBe('42');
+        });
+
+        it('should render boolean values without JSON quoting', () => {
+            const field = makeField('boolean', true);
+            expect(service.formatValue(true, field)).toBe('true');
+        });
+    });
+
+    describe('stringifyValue', () => {
+        it('should return empty string for null and undefined', () => {
+            expect(service.stringifyValue(null)).toBe('');
+            expect(service.stringifyValue(undefined)).toBe('');
+        });
+
+        it('should pass through strings unchanged', () => {
+            expect(service.stringifyValue('hello')).toBe('hello');
+        });
+
+        it('should render Date using native string, not ISO JSON', () => {
+            const date = new Date('2026-06-02T14:30:00.000Z');
+            expect(service.stringifyValue(date)).toBe(String(date));
+            expect(service.stringifyValue(date)).not.toBe(JSON.stringify(date));
+        });
+
+        it('should render primitives without JSON quoting', () => {
+            expect(service.stringifyValue(42)).toBe('42');
+            expect(service.stringifyValue(true)).toBe('true');
+        });
+
+        it('should JSON.stringify plain objects and arrays', () => {
+            expect(service.stringifyValue({ foo: 'bar' })).toBe('{"foo":"bar"}');
+            expect(service.stringifyValue([{ id: 'a' }])).toBe('[{"id":"a"}]');
+            expect(service.stringifyValue({ foo: 'bar' })).not.toContain('[object Object]');
+        });
+    });
+
+    describe('People formatter', () => {
+        it('should return empty string for null', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE, null);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('');
+        });
+
+        it('should return empty string for empty array', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE, []);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('');
+        });
+
+        it('should format a single user object (single-select mode)', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE, { firstName: 'Alyssa', lastName: 'Adcock' });
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('Alyssa Adcock');
+        });
+
+        it('should format an array with one user', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE, [{ firstName: 'Alyssa', lastName: 'Adcock' }]);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('Alyssa Adcock');
+        });
+
+        it('should format multiple users separated by comma', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE, [
+                { firstName: 'Alice', lastName: 'Brown' },
+                { firstName: 'Bob', lastName: 'Smith' }
+            ]);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('Alice Brown, Bob Smith');
+        });
+
+        it('should fall back to username when no first/last name', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE, [{ username: 'jdoe' }]);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('jdoe');
+        });
+
+        it('should fall back to email when no first/last/username', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE, [{ email: 'a@b.com' }]);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('a@b.com');
+        });
+    });
+
+    describe('Group formatter', () => {
+        it('should return empty string for null', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.FUNCTIONAL_GROUP, null);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('');
+        });
+
+        it('should return empty string for empty array', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.FUNCTIONAL_GROUP, []);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('');
+        });
+
+        it('should format a single group object', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.FUNCTIONAL_GROUP, { id: 'g1', name: 'Engineering' });
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('Engineering');
+        });
+
+        it('should format an array of groups', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.FUNCTIONAL_GROUP, [{ name: 'Eng' }, { name: 'QA' }]);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('Eng, QA');
+        });
+
+        it('should skip groups with no name', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.FUNCTIONAL_GROUP, [{ id: 'g1' }, { name: 'QA' }]);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('QA');
+        });
+    });
+
+    describe('Dropdown formatter', () => {
+        const options = [
+            { id: 'a', name: 'Apple' },
+            { id: 'b', name: 'Banana' }
+        ];
+
+        it('should return empty string for null', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN, null, options);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('');
+        });
+
+        it('should return empty string for empty string', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN, '', options);
+            expect(service.formatValue('', field)).toBe('');
+        });
+
+        it('Shape A: should look up label for string id', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN, 'a', options);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('Apple');
+        });
+
+        it('Shape A fallback: should return the id when not found in options', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN, 'unknown', options);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('unknown');
+        });
+
+        it('Shape B: should use .name from object value', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN, { id: 'a', name: 'Apple' }, options);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('Apple');
+        });
+
+        it('Shape B no name: should JSON.stringify', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN, { id: 'a' }, options);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('{"id":"a"}');
+        });
+
+        it('Shape C: should format array of objects', () => {
+            const field = makeField(
+                FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN,
+                [
+                    { id: 'a', name: 'Apple' },
+                    { id: 'b', name: 'Banana' }
+                ],
+                options
+            );
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('Apple, Banana');
+        });
+
+        it('Shape C string array: should look up labels for each id', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN, ['a', 'b'], options);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('Apple, Banana');
+        });
+
+        it('Shape C empty array: should return empty string', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN, [], options);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('');
+        });
+    });
+
+    describe('Radio formatter', () => {
+        const options = [
+            { id: 'yes', name: 'Yes' },
+            { id: 'no', name: 'No' }
+        ];
+
+        it('should return empty string for null', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.RADIO_BUTTONS, null, options);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('');
+        });
+
+        it('should return empty string for empty string', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.RADIO_BUTTONS, '', options);
+            expect(service.formatValue('', field)).toBe('');
+        });
+
+        it('Shape A: should look up label for string id', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.RADIO_BUTTONS, 'yes', options);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('Yes');
+        });
+
+        it('Shape A fallback: should return the id when not found', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.RADIO_BUTTONS, 'unknown', options);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('unknown');
+        });
+
+        it('Shape B: should use .name from FormFieldOption object (post-click value)', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.RADIO_BUTTONS, { id: 'yes', name: 'Yes' }, options);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('Yes');
+        });
+
+        it('Shape B no name: should JSON.stringify', () => {
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.RADIO_BUTTONS, { id: 'yes' }, options);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('{"id":"yes"}');
+        });
+    });
+
+    describe('register', () => {
+        it('should allow overriding a registered formatter', () => {
+            service.register(FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE, () => 'custom-override');
+            const field = makeField(FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE, [{ firstName: 'Alice' }]);
+            expect(service.format(field)).toBe('custom-override');
+        });
+    });
+});

lib/core/src/lib/form/services/form-field-value-formatter.service.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+/*!
+ * @license
+ * Copyright © 2005-2025 Hyland Software, Inc. and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
+import { FormFieldModel } from '../components/widgets/core/form-field.model';
+import { FormFieldTypes } from '../components/widgets/core/form-field-types';
+import { FormFieldOption } from '../components/widgets/core/form-field-option';
+import { GroupModel } from '../components/widgets/core/group.model';
+import { FullNamePipe } from '../../pipes/full-name.pipe';
+import { UserLike } from '../../pipes/user-like.interface';
+
+export type FormFieldValueFormatter = (value: any, field: FormFieldModel) => string;
+
+@Injectable({ providedIn: 'root' })
+export class FormFieldValueFormatterService {
+    private readonly formatters = new Map<string, FormFieldValueFormatter>();
+    private readonly fullNamePipe = new FullNamePipe();
+
+    constructor() {
+        this.register(FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE, (value) => this.formatPeople(value));
+        this.register(FormFieldTypes.FUNCTIONAL_GROUP, (value) => this.formatGroup(value));
+        this.register(FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN, (value, field) => this.formatDropdown(value, field));
+        this.register(FormFieldTypes.RADIO_BUTTONS, (value, field) => this.formatRadio(value, field));
+    }
+
+    register(fieldType: string, formatter: FormFieldValueFormatter): void {
+        this.formatters.set(fieldType, formatter);
+    }
+
+    hasFormatter(fieldType: string): boolean {
+        return this.formatters.has(fieldType);
+    }
+
+    format(field: FormFieldModel): string {
+        return this.formatValue(field.value, field);
+    }
+
+    formatValue(value: any, field: FormFieldModel): string {
+        if (value === null || value === undefined) {
+            return '';
+        }
+        const formatter = this.formatters.get(field.type);
+        if (formatter) {
+            return formatter(value, field);
+        }
+        return this.stringifyValue(value);
+    }
+
+    stringifyValue(value: any): string {
+        if (value === null || value === undefined) {
+            return '';
+        }
+        if (typeof value === 'string') {
+            return value;
+        }
+        if (value instanceof Date) {
+            return String(value);
+        }
+        if (typeof value === 'object') {
+            return JSON.stringify(value);
+        }
+        return String(value);
+    }
+
+    private formatPeople(value: UserLike | UserLike[]): string {
+        if (!value) {
+            return '';
+        }
+        const users = Array.isArray(value) ? value : [value];
+        if (users.length === 0) {
+            return '';
+        }
+        return users
+            .map((u) => this.fullNamePipe.transform(u))
+            .filter((s) => !!s)
+            .join(', ');
+    }
+
+    private formatGroup(value: GroupModel | GroupModel[]): string {
+        if (!value) {
+            return '';
+        }
+        const groups = Array.isArray(value) ? value : [value];
+        if (groups.length === 0) {
+            return '';
+        }
+        return groups
+            .map((g) => g?.name ?? '')
+            .filter((s) => !!s)
+            .join(', ');
+    }
+
+    private formatDropdown(value: string | FormFieldOption | Array<string | FormFieldOption>, field: FormFieldModel): string {
+        if (value === null || value === undefined) {
+            return '';
+        }
+        if (typeof value === 'string') {
+            if (value === '') {
+                return '';
+            }
+            const option = field.options?.find((o) => o.id === value);
+            return option?.name ?? value;
+        }
+        if (Array.isArray(value)) {
+            if (value.length === 0) {
+                return '';
+            }
+            return value
+                .map((v) => {
+                    if (typeof v === 'string') {
+                        return field.options?.find((o) => o.id === v)?.name ?? v;
+                    }
+                    return v?.name ?? '';
+                })
+                .filter((s) => !!s)
+                .join(', ');
+        }
+        return value?.name ?? JSON.stringify(value);
+    }
+
+    private formatRadio(value: string | FormFieldOption, field: FormFieldModel): string {
+        if (value === null || value === undefined) {
+            return '';
+        }
+        if (typeof value === 'string') {
+            if (value === '') {
+                return '';
+            }
+            const option = field.options?.find((o) => o.id === value);
+            return option?.name ?? value;
+        }
+        return value?.name ?? JSON.stringify(value);
+    }
+}

lib/core/src/lib/form/services/form-field-value-formatter.token.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+/*!
+ * @license
+ * Copyright © 2005-2025 Hyland Software, Inc. and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { InjectionToken } from '@angular/core';
+import { Observable } from 'rxjs';
+
+export const ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED = new InjectionToken<Observable<boolean> | boolean>('adf-typed-value-formatting-enabled');

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/components/widgets/display-external-property/display-external-property.widget.spec.ts

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { FormFieldModel, FormModel, FormFieldTypes, UnitTestingUtils } from '@alfresco/adf-core';
+import { FormFieldModel, FormModel, FormFieldTypes, UnitTestingUtils, ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED } from '@alfresco/adf-core';
 import { HarnessLoader } from '@angular/cdk/testing';
 import { TestbedHarnessEnvironment } from '@angular/cdk/testing/testbed';
 import { ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
@@ -207,4 +207,85 @@ describe('DisplayExternalPropertyWidgetComponent', () => {
             expect(adfLeftLabel).toBeNull();
         });
     });
+
+    describe('typed value formatting', () => {
+        describe('when flag is on', () => {
+            beforeEach(() => {
+                TestBed.resetTestingModule();
+                TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+                    imports: [DisplayExternalPropertyWidgetComponent],
+                    providers: [{ provide: ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED, useValue: true }]
+                });
+                fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DisplayExternalPropertyWidgetComponent);
+                widget = fixture.componentInstance;
+                loader = TestbedHarnessEnvironment.loader(fixture);
+            });
+
+            it('should display formatted full name for a People value', async () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel({ taskId: '<id>' }), {
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    readOnly: true,
+                    value: [{ firstName: 'Alyssa', lastName: 'Adcock' }]
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                const input = await loader.getHarness(MatInputHarness);
+                expect(await input.getValue()).toBe('Alyssa Adcock');
+            });
+
+            it('should display comma-separated group names for a Group value', async () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel({ taskId: '<id>' }), {
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.FUNCTIONAL_GROUP,
+                    readOnly: true,
+                    value: [{ name: 'Eng' }, { name: 'QA' }]
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                const input = await loader.getHarness(MatInputHarness);
+                expect(await input.getValue()).toBe('Eng, QA');
+            });
+
+            it('should not contain [object Object] for a complex value', async () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel({ taskId: '<id>' }), {
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.PEOPLE,
+                    readOnly: true,
+                    value: [{ firstName: 'Alice', lastName: 'Brown' }]
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                const input = await loader.getHarness(MatInputHarness);
+                expect(await input.getValue()).not.toContain('[object Object]');
+            });
+
+            it('should not JSON-stringify a Date value for an unregistered type', async () => {
+                const date = new Date('2026-06-02T14:30:00.000Z');
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel({ taskId: '<id>' }), {
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_EXTERNAL_PROPERTY,
+                    readOnly: true,
+                    externalProperty: 'prop',
+                    value: date
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                const input = await loader.getHarness(MatInputHarness);
+                expect(await input.getValue()).toBe(String(date));
+                expect(await input.getValue()).not.toContain('"');
+            });
+        });
+
+        describe('when flag is off', () => {
+            it('should leave raw string value unchanged (default behaviour preserved)', async () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel({ taskId: '<id>' }), {
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_EXTERNAL_PROPERTY,
+                    readOnly: true,
+                    externalProperty: 'prop',
+                    value: 'banana'
+                });
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                const input = await loader.getHarness(MatInputHarness);
+                expect(await input.getValue()).toBe('banana');
+            });
+        });
+    });
 });

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/components/widgets/display-external-property/display-external-property.widget.ts

@@ -15,14 +15,16 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, Component, inject, OnInit, ViewEncapsulation } from '@angular/core';
+import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, Component, DestroyRef, inject, OnInit, ViewEncapsulation } from '@angular/core';
-import { WidgetComponent, FormBaseModule } from '@alfresco/adf-core';
+import { WidgetComponent, FormBaseModule, FormFieldValueFormatterService, ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED } from '@alfresco/adf-core';
 import { CommonModule } from '@angular/common';
 import { TranslatePipe } from '@ngx-translate/core';
 import { FormCloudService } from '../../../services/form-cloud.service';
 import { FormControl, ReactiveFormsModule, Validators } from '@angular/forms';
 import { MatFormFieldModule } from '@angular/material/form-field';
 import { MatInputModule } from '@angular/material/input';
+import { isObservable } from 'rxjs';
+import { takeUntilDestroyed } from '@angular/core/rxjs-interop';
 
 @Component({
     standalone: true,
@@ -50,18 +52,41 @@ export class DisplayExternalPropertyWidgetComponent extends WidgetComponent impl
     propertyControl: FormControl;
 
     private readonly formCloudService = inject(FormCloudService);
+    private readonly formatter = inject(FormFieldValueFormatterService);
+    private readonly formattingEnabledToken = inject(ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED, { optional: true });
+    private readonly destroyRef = inject(DestroyRef);
+    private formattingEnabled = false;
 
     ngOnInit(): void {
+        if (isObservable(this.formattingEnabledToken)) {
+            this.formattingEnabledToken.pipe(takeUntilDestroyed(this.destroyRef)).subscribe((enabled: boolean) => {
+                this.formattingEnabled = enabled ?? false;
+                if (this.propertyControl) {
+                    this.propertyControl.setValue(this.computeDisplayValue());
+                }
+            });
+        } else {
+            this.formattingEnabled = this.formattingEnabledToken ?? false;
+        }
         this.initFormControl();
         this.initPreviewState();
         this.handleFailedPropertyLoad();
     }
 
+    private computeDisplayValue(): unknown {
+        const value = this.field?.value;
+        const isFormattableValue = value != null && typeof value !== 'string';
+        if (this.formattingEnabled && isFormattableValue && this.formatter.hasFormatter(this.field?.type ?? '')) {
+            return this.formatter.format(this.field);
+        }
+        return value;
+    }
+
     private initFormControl(): void {
         this.propertyControl = new FormControl(
             {
-                value: this.field?.value,
+                value: this.computeDisplayValue(),
-                disabled: this.field?.readOnly || this.readOnly
+                disabled: !!(this.field?.readOnly || this.readOnly)
             },
             this.isRequired() ? [Validators.required] : []
         );

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/components/widgets/dropdown/dropdown-cloud.widget.html

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
                         [id]="'readonlyOption-' + field.id"
                         [value]="field.value"
                     >
-                        {{field.value}}
+                        {{readOnlyDisplayValue}}
                     </mat-option>
                 }
             </mat-select>

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/components/widgets/dropdown/dropdown-cloud.widget.spec.ts

@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ import {
     FormFieldTypes,
     UnitTestingUtils,
     FormFieldComponent,
-    FormRenderingService
+    FormRenderingService,
+    ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED
 } from '@alfresco/adf-core';
 import { FormCloudService } from '../../../services/form-cloud.service';
 import {
@@ -1515,4 +1516,100 @@ describe('DropdownCloudWidgetComponent instantiated by FormFieldComponent wrappe
         expect(selectedOption).toEqual('option1');
         expect(setValueSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     });
+
+    describe('typed value formatting (readOnlyDisplayValue)', () => {
+        const options = [
+            { id: 'a', name: 'Apple' },
+            { id: 'b', name: 'Banana' }
+        ];
+
+        let fixture: ComponentFixture<DropdownCloudWidgetComponent>;
+        let widget: DropdownCloudWidgetComponent;
+
+        describe('when flag is on', () => {
+            beforeEach(() => {
+                TestBed.resetTestingModule();
+                TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+                    imports: [DropdownCloudWidgetComponent],
+                    providers: [{ provide: ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED, useValue: true }]
+                });
+                fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DropdownCloudWidgetComponent);
+                widget = fixture.componentInstance;
+            });
+
+            it('should return formatted label for an object value', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'dropdown-field',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN,
+                    value: { id: 'a', name: 'Apple' }
+                });
+                widget.field.options = options;
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.readOnlyDisplayValue).toBe('Apple');
+            });
+
+            it('should return comma-separated labels for an array value', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'dropdown-field',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN,
+                    value: [
+                        { id: 'a', name: 'Apple' },
+                        { id: 'b', name: 'Banana' }
+                    ]
+                });
+                widget.field.options = options;
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.readOnlyDisplayValue).toBe('Apple, Banana');
+            });
+
+            it('should not contain [object Object] for an object value', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'dropdown-field',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN,
+                    value: { id: 'a', name: 'Apple' }
+                });
+                widget.field.options = options;
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.readOnlyDisplayValue).not.toContain('[object Object]');
+            });
+
+            it('should resolve a plain string value to its matching option label', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'dropdown-field',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN,
+                    value: 'a'
+                });
+                widget.field.options = options;
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.readOnlyDisplayValue).toBe('Apple');
+            });
+        });
+
+        describe('when flag is off', () => {
+            beforeEach(() => {
+                TestBed.resetTestingModule();
+                TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+                    imports: [DropdownCloudWidgetComponent]
+                });
+                fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DropdownCloudWidgetComponent);
+                widget = fixture.componentInstance;
+            });
+
+            it('should return the raw field value (default behaviour preserved)', () => {
+                widget.field = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+                    id: 'dropdown-field',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.DROPDOWN,
+                    value: { id: 'a', name: 'Apple' }
+                });
+                widget.field.options = options;
+                fixture.detectChanges();
+
+                expect(widget.readOnlyDisplayValue).not.toBe('Apple');
+            });
+        });
+    });
 });

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/components/widgets/dropdown/dropdown-cloud.widget.ts

@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import {
     FormFieldModel,
     FormFieldOption,
     FormFieldTypes,
+    FormFieldValueFormatterService,
+    ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED,
     FormService,
     ReactiveFormWidget,
     RuleEntry,
@@ -31,15 +33,15 @@ import {
 } from '@alfresco/adf-core';
 import { AsyncPipe, NgClass } from '@angular/common';
 import { Component, DestroyRef, inject, OnInit, ViewEncapsulation } from '@angular/core';
+import { takeUntilDestroyed } from '@angular/core/rxjs-interop';
 import { FormControl, ReactiveFormsModule, Validators } from '@angular/forms';
 import { MatFormFieldModule } from '@angular/material/form-field';
 import { MatSelectModule } from '@angular/material/select';
 import { TranslatePipe } from '@ngx-translate/core';
-import { BehaviorSubject, Subject } from 'rxjs';
+import { BehaviorSubject, isObservable, Subject } from 'rxjs';
 import { debounceTime, filter, map } from 'rxjs/operators';
 import { TaskVariableCloud } from '../../../models/task-variable-cloud.model';
 import { FormCloudService } from '../../../services/form-cloud.service';
-import { takeUntilDestroyed } from '@angular/core/rxjs-interop';
 import { FormUtilsService } from '../../../services/form-utils.service';
 import { defaultValueValidator } from './validators';
 
@@ -77,6 +79,10 @@ export class DropdownCloudWidgetComponent extends WidgetComponent implements OnI
     private readonly appConfig = inject(AppConfigService);
     private readonly formUtilsService = inject(FormUtilsService);
     private readonly destroyRef = inject(DestroyRef);
+    private readonly formatter = inject(FormFieldValueFormatterService);
+    private readonly formattingEnabledToken = inject(ADF_TYPED_VALUE_FORMATTING_ENABLED, { optional: true });
+    private formattingEnabled = false;
+    readOnlyDisplayValue: string | undefined;
 
     typeId = 'DropdownCloudWidgetComponent';
     showInputFilter = false;
@@ -132,6 +138,16 @@ export class DropdownCloudWidgetComponent extends WidgetComponent implements OnI
     }
 
     ngOnInit() {
+        if (isObservable(this.formattingEnabledToken)) {
+            this.formattingEnabledToken.pipe(takeUntilDestroyed(this.destroyRef)).subscribe((enabled: boolean) => {
+                this.formattingEnabled = enabled ?? false;
+                this.readOnlyDisplayValue = this.computeReadOnlyDisplayValue();
+            });
+        } else {
+            this.formattingEnabled = this.formattingEnabledToken ?? false;
+            this.readOnlyDisplayValue = this.computeReadOnlyDisplayValue();
+        }
+
         /*
             We can have a lot of 'control.setValue' caused by form rules events
             e.g. every time if we focusin/focusout etc. we are calling a setValue.
@@ -161,8 +177,17 @@ export class DropdownCloudWidgetComponent extends WidgetComponent implements OnI
         });
     }
 
+    private computeReadOnlyDisplayValue(): string | undefined {
+        const value = this.field.value;
+        const isFormattableValue = value != null && (typeof value !== 'string' || this.formatter.hasFormatter(this.field.type));
+        const shouldFormatValue = this.formattingEnabled && isFormattableValue;
+
+        return shouldFormatValue ? this.formatter.format(this.field) : value;
+    }
+
     updateReactiveFormControl(): void {
         this.setFormControlValue();
+        this.readOnlyDisplayValue = this.computeReadOnlyDisplayValue();
 
         this.updateFormControlState();
         if (this.field?.form?.showAllValidationErrors) {