Configuring Form Layouts

Form Layout Benefits Configuration Process Opening a Form Layout Managing Objects Editing Objects Moving Objects Deleting Objects Adding Objects Configuration Through Code FAQ & Diagnostic Tips

Form Layouts allow system administrators to define different cosmetic designs for forms within DEACOM and adjust the result of drill downs within reports. An example of a form is the Order Entry form under the Sales menu. In the same sense that Grid Layouts allow end users to change the columns on a grid and Report Layouts allow users full control over the output of printed Reports and Part Forms, Form Layouts allow users to fine tune the work flows within each form in the system. Form Layouts can be modified and set for All Users, a User Group, or a Specific User. When a user-defined form layout is opened in the system, the word "User" will be displayed in parentheses next to the form name.

Form Layout Benefits

• Work Flow Improvements - Form Layouts put the power in the hands of the users in terms of streamlining data entry and review. Over time, DEACOM has added a substantial number of new forms and fields. No DEACOM user uses every single feature in DEACOM, and therefore has to spend time clicking around and glossing over all of the features that do not apply to their business. Now, forms can be fine-tuned for exactly the use cases of each specific use. For example, fields may be re-arranged depending on the order in which they are completed or hidden if they are completely unused by the company. This is helpful for companies who only use a small portion of all fields available on a form.
• Security Flexibility - Over the years, Deacom has accrued hundreds of security options. Several of these are related to not being able to edit certain fields, access certain reports, view certain tabs, and enter certain transaction types. While this has been a workable solution, it is inherently inflexible and non-scalable. Every time a user has a new security case, we’ve had to add further bloat to our security options, making them less and less manageable for end users. With Form Layouts, the ultimate security decisions are in the hands of the users. For example, if you don’t want a user to have access to a report, it can be removed from the "Report Type" box. If you don’t want a user to see a certain tab on the Item Master (such as costs), it can now be removed from the tab. In the future, Deacom plans to remove redundant security options, which will make security substantially more manageable.
• Configuring Drill Down Capabilities - Starting in 15.04.033, the option of defining how drill downs function is available. When modifying a form layout, this option shows all buttons on the current grid as well as the form plus a (Default) option. When an option is selected, if that button exists, is visible, and is enabled at the time the grid is double clicked, that button click will occur instead. For example, a double click can be configured to result in the user being brought to a Modify version of a form rather than a View Detail version. This can eliminate clicks and enhance the logic of using reports, depending on the user and their security access.

Important: If (1) a new field is added to a form for a new build, (2) your company has a customized Form Layout, and (3) your system is updated, this new field will not be added to the customized form. This is because DEACOM cannot make the distinction between what new fields are applicable to a company and what Users should have read/write/edit access to the field. This is especially important in a form like System Options, since most functions have a high impact on the company and its operations. Users should thoroughly review all Release Notes pertaining to Form Layouts that have been customized in their system to ensure that they are not missing out on any features that would be helpful or necessary for their operations.

Configuration

The security setting "Toolbar - Edit Form Layouts" must be set to "Yes" prior to adding to or modifying existing Form Layouts.

Process

Users should perform and test their configuration changes in a test environment prior to making changes in the production environment.

Opening a Form Layout

Access to the form layout editor is dependent upon the current user or user group being granted access to the “Toolbar – edit form layouts” security option.

1. Navigate to System > Maintenance > Form Layouts or click the "Layout" button on any form in the system. If clicking the "Layout" button on a form, steps 2-3 are unnecessary as the system will open the editor with the form you are currently on already selected.
2. The "Form Layout Editor" opens and the "Select a Form Layout" form is displayed.
3. Select an existing layout to begin. Only existing forms may be modified.
4. Proceed to add or modify objects and elements as described in the sections below.
5. Once all changes or additions have been completed, click the "Save" button to commit the form and complete the process.

Note: Unchecking the "Active" flag on the right-hand side on the form editor and saving will reset the form to the default system version in DEACOM.

Managing Objects

The "Form Layout Editor" utilizes a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) interface conducive to interactive design on the left side of the window. The right side of the window presents header-level options for managing the Form Layout as well as a tree view which can also be used to interact with the objects on the layout. A list of available objects that make up DEACOM and are interactable with through the Form Layout Editor is available on the Form Layouts page. It is important to note that not every object type applies to every form. Generally speaking, when designing form layouts, the user will be selecting objects from the system layout based on the function of the object more so than the type.

The WYSIWYG editor allows for the user to quickly make changes to the layout and see exactly what those changes will look like in practice. The tree editor, on the other hand, shows the structural components and parent/child relationships between objects. Selecting an object in one editor will automatically select it in the other editor. Double-clicking on objects in either place is synonymous with clicking the “Modify” button. Holding down CTRL while clicking on objects will select multiple objects.

Editing Objects

All objects can be edited through double-clicking on the object or selecting the object and clicking "Modify". If more than one object is selected when "Modify" is clicked, the first selected object will open.

Moving Objects

1. Click or drag the selected object on either the Tree or the WYSIWYG editor. It is important to note that not all objects can be made children of all other objects. For instance, a button cannot be the child of a Section but can be the child of a ToolBar. When dragging on the Tree, the editor will tell the user whether the drop is acceptable or not based via the cursor. The cursor will either show a dragging-hand, which signifies an acceptable drop, or it will show a not-allowed (circle with a line through it) signifying that the drop is not acceptable. On the WYSIWYG, the editor will show a thick black line if the drop is acceptable, and no line will be drawn if the drop is not acceptable.
2. To drag on to other tabs in the WYSIWYG, click and drag over top of the name of the tab. This will cause the editor to switch to that tab for dropping purposes.

Deleting Objects

Objects can be deleted from a layout by selecting the object(s) and clicking the “Delete” button. When “Delete” is clicked, the user will be prompted for whether or not they truly want to delete these objects. If a parent object, such as a Section or a ToolBar, is deleted, all its child objects will also be deleted. If a required field is deleted, the required field will still be checked when saving a record. For example: if the Bill-To searchbox is deleted on the Order Entry form, a Bill-To is still required and therefore the form layout may not be usable until the object is re-added.

Adding Objects

Objects that have been mistakenly deleted can be re-added. On the same note, if new fields are available in newer versions of DEACOM, they are not automatically added to user defined form layouts – following the precedent of Grid Layouts and Report Layouts.

To add an object:

1. Select the parent that you would like the object added to and click the “Add” button.
2. The “Edit Element” form will display, and the “Control” ComboBox will show the available objects that can be added to this parent. Reference the Form Layouts page for detailed information on the option on the Edit Element form.
3. Click the "Save" button to add the object, which can then be moved to the desired position on the form.

Configuration Through Code

Configuration Through Code, or Scripting, is functionality within DEACOM that allows end users to write code, in a C-Like scripting language, that offers a level of extensibility to the software without full-blown customization. The Configuration Through Code model, which can often be referred to as the plugin model, the scripting model, or modular software design, is built to sit somewhere between customization and configuration on the spectrum. The goal is to embrace the pros of each side, while shedding the cons. In DEACOM 15.03, Scripting is currently usable only for Form Layouts. It can be expected, however, that its capabilities will continue to grow dramatically over time. See the Configuring Through Code page for process information and examples on using this feature.

FAQ & Diagnostic Tips

Tips:

• Beginning in version 17.03.002, the Edit Element form contains a "Save Button" field with options to control in the element/form will be saved or both saved and closed when the Save button is clicked/executed.
• Search by Caption if unsure of the exact system form name.
• Fields that are optional by default may instead be configured to be required, however fields that are required by default may not be switched to optional. This logic is the same for hidden and disabled fields.
• Captions may be changed for individual Users, if desired, by configuring a Layout for a Specific User. However, if a Caption should be changed for multiple or all Users, Languages should be utilized.
• Fields may be configured as 'password' fields so that the values entered display as a series of asterisks. For example, if storing medical information on a Contact record, the information should be 'hidden' so that unauthorized personnel do not have access to view it.
• Custom text boxes can be added to Form Layouts throughout the system.
• The Default Value field is available on many of the Edit Element forms throughout the system and is useful for setting up the default values for fields, particularly on pre-filters.
• Beginning in version 17.04.004, Script windows support light/dark themes.
• Deacom Version 17.04.005 introduces a new option in the Control field on the Edit Element form called "CustomTileBox". The CustomTileBoxes options supports the display information driven by an Expression on the field.