Form Layout Builder
In this topic ...
Use this Builder to create a newspaper-style column display of the fields generated by Page Automation Builders, such as the Data Page Builder. You might want to do this in a portlet to conserve vertical space by displaying a long form in a more compact horizontal presentation.
To use this Builder you select the container field that holds all the fields that you want to place in columns. Usually this will be the field that corresponds to the Variable selected in the Data Page Builder.
Next you choose the number of columns you want to be displayed.
Once you have determined how many columns to display, you can have the Builder automatically divide the elements equally among the columns, or we can place elements manually among the columns. When you place elements manually we can drag and drop fields as required within the List of Fields.
This builder creates additional nodes in Page Automation trees. We can see these nodes if you add a Data Field Modifier Builder to the model and use it to select fields within the page. You will see that additional hierarchy has been created in the Page Automation contents. This change in content exists only after this Form Layout Builder s position in the Builder Call List. Therefore, a Data Field Modifier Builder located below (after) this Builder should take this new hierarchy into account. A Data Field Modifier located before (above) this Builder will not reflect the modified hierarchy When editing a Data Field Modifier Builder located before this Builder, disable this builder to avoid confusion.
How do I...
Take a long form and display it in three columns?
Use any of the Builders that create a Page-Automation managed form, such as Data Page, Domino View and Form, etc.
Add a Form Layout builder to the model, and select the container for the form you wish to modify.
Choose 3 columns, and let the Form Layout Builder automatically organize the fields into the three columns.
Specifying Inputs
This Builder takes the inputs described in the table below. For help on inputs common to many or all Builders such as those in the Properties input group, see "Using the Builder Call Editor"
Input name Description Name Enter a name for this builder call. The designer tool displays this name in the builder call list. Field Selector Tool Choose the way you want to select the fields that you will place in groups. We can select fields based on:
- Name - Fields are listed by label in the table below
- Type - String, Integer, etc. Fields are listed by type in the table below.
- Using Both Techniques -Fields are listed by Name and Type in the table below
Number of columns Specify the number of newspaper-style columns to display. Field Management Select the type of management to use for columns. Choose:
- Automatic - To allow the Builder to allocate fields among the columns
- Explicit - To manually allocate fields to columns
List of Fields This list is located immediately below the Field Management control and, depending on the management type you choose provides the following functions:
- For Automatic management - Use this list to modify the status and/or the labels of the individual fields.
- For Explicit management - Use this list to drag and drop each of the fields into one of the columns. We can also use the list to modify the status and labels
Additional Fields Use this field to tell the Builder what to do if the final list of fields does not match the list in the table. This might occur if the schema is changed (perhaps it is profiled), or the underlying data structure changes, such as a new row is added to the database table. You can choose:
- Append - To add additional fields to display
- Hide - To suppress display of additional fields
Objects this Builder Creates
This Builder does not add any artifacts to the WebApp object.