Using the Form Builder

04-01 C-542 C-575 Advanced feature

Use the Form Builder to create a new Form File rule or modify an existing Form rule (Rule-File-Form rule type). This creates a sophisticated rule or data form using Internet Explorer DOM document object model and XML data binding.

Development cycle

1.Click Form Builder . The Form Builder window appears showing the Tree View on the left and the work area on the right.

At any time, you can click Preview to update the form view the current state of the form.

In the Tree View area

In the Main Form area

Click the form icon to define the form's basic parameters such as name, dimensions, and background images used.

Name field — Enter the name you want to appear in the upper left corner of the form.

Banner Image Name — Enter or select the desired background for the form's banner. (Click Search to select from available images.)

Click Apply . The selected parameters apply to the form.

In the Tree View area

In the CSS Style Sheets area

Click the style icon to associate main and overlay style sheets to the form.

Main CSS Style — use the SmartPrompt to view and select a style from the available Main Styles.

Overlay CSS Style — use the SmartPrompt to view the available Overlay Styles. Select the Overlay Style that matches the Banner Image chosen earlier.

Click Apply . The selected parameters apply to the form.

Key elements correspond to the Class Key properties chosen for this rule. If one or more Class Key properties is required to create an instance of this Class, add the properties here as Key Elements. The easiest way to entering several Key Elements to the form is by adding generic Key Elements for all the Class Key properties, then editing them later.

You can add Key Elements in two ways:

Select the Key Element on the form and click the +> button (under Current Node)
Select the Key and click keyElement (under Add Children).

After all Key Elements are added, click the first Key Element to customize it.

In the Tree View area

In the Key Data area

Click the keys icon to associate main and overlay style sheets to the form.

The order that the Key Elements appear in the Tree View is the order they appear on the form. Generally, it is best to put the Class Name of the instance at the top of the form, and the more specific elements below.

Circumstance in Key — Select to include circumstance fields in the form header

RuleSet in Key — Select to include a RuleSet field in the form header

RuleSet Version in Key — Select to include a RuleSet version field in the form header

Available in Key — Select to include the availability icons in the form header

Click Apply . The selected parameters apply to the form.

The Key Elements created here apply to every instance of this class, and cannot be changed once the instance is created.

In the Tree View area

In the Key Element Properties area

Click the key icon to associate main and overlay style sheets to the form.

Key Element — Use SmartPrompt to view and select the desired property from the available properties.

Label (Visual) — Enter a name for the key element.

Click Apply . The selected parameters apply to the form.

The Key Elements created here apply to every instance of this class, and cannot be changed once the instance is created.

In the Tree View area

In the Tab Strip area

Click the tabStrip icon to associate main and overlay style sheets to the form.

Short label in Tab — The name entered here appears on the topmost part of the tab that is always visible, regardless of which tab is selected. When possible, make this name match the Full Length label.

Full Length label — The name entered here appears as the tab's (large) main title, visible only when the tab is selected.

HTML style -

Image Name — Enter the filename or click the magnifying glass and select the desired image from the Image Library (a pop-up version of the Image Library landing page). The image entered here appears directly below the Full Length label on the form by default. You can adjust the image position using the options below.

Image on background? — Select this box to access repeat options for the image specified in Image Name. Leave clear to accept the default image positioning and presentation.

Repeat image on background? — select the desired options:

No Repeat — Produces the image once in the default or specified position.
Repeat — Repeats the image horizontally and vertically as many times as will fit on the tab.
Repeat X — Repeats the image in a horizontal row across the tab.
Repeat Y — Repeats the image in a vertical column on the tab.

Background Image Position — specify the image position by setting X and Y axis values in pixels relative to the default (0PX 0PX) position.

Click Apply . The selected parameters apply to the form.

Tab layout is organized in groups. Groups are a series of interrelated fields, usually separated by title bars. For example, groups can contain several check boxes, or a repeating row with three columns of data.

In the Tree View area

In the Tab Layout Properties area

Click the tabLayout icon to associate main and overlay style sheets to the form.

Rows — enter the desired number of rows for the form. Typically, the number of rows corresponds to the number of groups (and title bars) required on the form.

Columns — enter the desired number of columns for the form. Columns are proportional divisions of tab width. For example, choosing 1 column uses the entire width of the tab. Choosing 2 columns divides the tab area into left and right halves.

Direction to Fill — Choose Down (the default) to fill the form from top to bottom. Choose Right to fill the form from right to left.

Placement:

Choose Main to place the group in the form's main area.
Choose Bottom to place the group at the bottom of the form.

Click Apply . The selected parameters apply to the form.

Tab layout is organized in groups. Groups are a series of interrelated fields (generally) separated by title bars. For example, groups can contain several check boxes, or a repeating row with three columns of data.