Is it possible to return a value from the database to use in a user profile field?
 

I had though that by adding $bbuserinfo[data] in as the default value when crating a new profile field when I created the forum might take the data I want to auto populate the field and put it in, but that is not so much the case.

Is there a way to return a value from the database to auto populate a field in a custom user profile field?

I thought perhaps entering the value directly into the field in the database would work, but it did not work. Are the profile fields set up like a regular text entry field for a form?

So I am at a loss and I am hoping maybe someone can clue me in.

The field output if you make a custom user profile field looks like this when you view the code:

<input type="text" class="bginput" name="userfield[field5]" id="ctb_field5" value="test" size="25" maxlength="100" />

If you set a default value for the field, say $bboptions[username] why would it not return the user name in that field as the default value?

vBulletin doesn't check its own templates to see whats changed and make changes to its database structure accordingly...its only a piece of forum software. I see you figured out that you had to create a custom field and use that.
If you select the Single line text box option when you add a new User Field then yes, if you haven't changed the default location you can see it on the User CP -> Edit Profile Page.
Because you should be using $bbuserinfo[username] as opposed to $bboptions, although I would not recommend doing that since if someone has already put data into that field which is not the same as their username they won't be able to see it. (I don't know if you can edit the value bit anyway.

Can you explain what you want to do with the Custom Profile Field? Their may be a better approach or at least people can give better advice if you tell us what its for.

thank you for the information Opserty.
What I am trying to do is get two mods to work with one entry, gXboxlive and xBox gamer tag in the IM postbit
It seemed really silly to have two entries in the user profile for XBL user names and I though there a simpler method rather than dissecting and changing one mod or the other. I though if I could return the value of the XBL tag in the IM postbit and I could use it to fill in the default value of the other than made it a non-editable field so it was hidden from view.
I had started to work on changing the XBL tag in the IM postbit mod since it is not a large mod to use a custom defined field, but the results have been less than stellar.