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This page is for application designers who want to create screens for application users.

Overview

This page explains the screen properties. For information on how to divide a screen into different panes, and how to add components to it, see Splitting a Screen.

Insert excerpt_property_toolbar_property_toolbarnopaneltrue Insert excerpt_property_tabs_property_tabsnamebasic-hnopaneltrue Insert excerpt_parent_parentnopaneltrue

Basic Settings

FieldDescriptionNameThe name of the screen.Open Maximised Insert excerpt_check_box_tick_check_box_ticknopaneltrue to open the screen maximised. Insert excerpt_check_box_untick_check_box_unticknopaneltrue to open the screen as a popup window.Allow User to Resize Insert excerpt_check_box_tick_check_box_ticknopaneltrue to enable the application user, when running in Insert excerpt_app_mode_app_modenopaneltrue, to resize the screen. Insert excerpt_check_box_untick_check_box_unticknopaneltrue to keep the screen size fixed when running in in Insert excerpt_app_mode_app_modenopaneltrue.This option does not affect resizing the screen in Insert excerpt_design_mode_design_modenopaneltrue.Show Toolbar Insert excerpt_design_mode_design_modenopaneltrue always has a toolbar with the screen name on the left and toolbar icons on the right. Insert excerpt_check_box_tick_check_box_ticknopaneltrue to also display the toolbar in Insert excerpt_app_mode_app_modenopaneltrue. The screen name is displayed. Toolbar icons are not displayed. Insert excerpt_check_box_untick_check_box_unticknopaneltrue is the default as the toolbar is usually not required in Insert excerpt_app_mode_app_modenopaneltrue.Show Window Button Bar Insert excerpt_check_box_tick_check_box_ticknopaneltrue to display a Windows-style bar at the top of the screen. This has a maximise/restore button and a close button.

Image Removed

Insert excerpt_check_box_untick_check_box_unticknopaneltrue to have no Windows-style bar at the top of the screen.Always On Top Insert excerpt_check_box_tick_check_box_ticknopaneltrue to keep the screen on top of other screens. This is useful for a popup window that you want a user to complete before returning to another screen. Insert excerpt_check_box_untick_check_box_unticknopaneltrue to allow other screens to be displayed in front. Keep Data Insert excerpt_check_box_tick_check_box_ticknopaneltrue to allow screen data to be referenced even after the screen is closed. This is useful if an application user needs access to global data available in the system. Insert excerpt_check_box_untick_check_box_unticknopaneltrue is the default. The screen data is not required once the screen is closed.Preload

screens , especially complex screens, can take some time to open, which can feel slow to the application user. Use this option when you need a screen to open quickly. Preloading screens adds to the time it takes PhixFlow to initially start up. For this reason we recommend you only preload screens that an application user will always want to open.

Insert excerpt_check_box_tick_check_box_ticknopaneltrue to preload the screen when PhixFlow first starts. When the user then opens the screen , it displays immediately. The data itself may still take time to load. Insert excerpt_check_box_untick_check_box_unticknopaneltrue is the default. The screen does not need to be preloaded.

Preloading relates to the screen itself. Any data backing the screen is only loaded when the screen opens, and this may also take time to load.

Cache LocallyIf an application user is likely to require the same screen in different stages of a task. Use this option so that, when the user closes and reopens the screen, it loads immediately.

Insert excerpt

	_Banners
	_Banners
name	screen
nopanel	true

This page is for application designers who want to create screens for application users.

Overview

This page explains the screen properties. For information on how to divide a screen into different panes, and how to add components to it, see Splitting a Screen.

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	_property_toolbar
	_property_toolbar
nopanel	true

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_property_tabs
name basic-h
nopanel true

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	_parent
	_parent
nopanel	true

Basic Settings

To remove a menu, use the toolbar button Insert excerpt_delete_deletenopaneltrue.

Mappings

This section has a toolbar with standard buttons.

Components on the screen, such as buttons or data-components, can have actionflows or record-actions. Record-actions can take data from attributes in different tables or views. Where the attributes have different names, you must map the attribute, so that the record-action recognises the data. This grid contains a list of mappings for the components on this screen.

To configure a mapping, in the screen, right-click a component and select Insert excerpt_mapping_mappingnopaneltrue.

Unreachable Actions

This section has a toolbar with standard buttons. The grid displays a list of actionflows that are linked to components on the screen, but do not exist yet.

Tip
Actionflows are a new way to configure actions, introduced in PhixFlow version 9.0.0; see Understanding Actionflows.

Actions

This section has a toolbar with standard buttons. The grid displays a list of actions and record-actions that are linked to the screen.

Tip
Actions and record-actions were the way to configure screen functionality before PhixFlow version 9.0.0; see Using Table-Actions and Record-Action

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Menus and Toolbars

Screen Toolbar

There is a toolbar above the screen canvas. This provides the following options:

List options Insert excerpt_tables_tablesnopaneltrue

Open the repository showing the list of available tables for your application.

Insert excerpt_screen_toolbar_screen_toolbarnopaneltrueOpen the repository showing the list of available screens for your application. Insert excerpt_actionflow_actionflownopaneltrueOpen the repository showing the list of available actionflows for your application. Insert excerpt_palette_palettenopaneltrueOpen the list of palettes. Insert excerpt_styles_stylesnopaneltrueOpen the repository showing the list of available styles for your application.Canvas options Insert excerpt_help_helpnopaneltrueOpen the help topic with details about working with screens. Insert excerpt_property_settings_property_settingsnopaneltrueOpen the properties tab for the screen. Insert excerpt_unlock_unlocknopaneltrueor Insert excerpt_lock_locknopaneltrue

Unlock a screen to edit its layout.

Lock a screen to prevent accidental edits and to display the data content.

Insert excerpt_refresh_refreshnopaneltrue

Update the screen to reflect changes made elsewhere in PhixFlow, such as the screen properties, layer orders or shared styles.

Screen Popup Menu

Right-click on a screen to display its popup menu. The options available depend on where you click. If there are many options, some are moved onto the sub-menu Insert excerpt_screen_screennopaneltrue Options.

Menu optionDescription Insert excerpt_unlock_unlocknopaneltrueUnlock a screen to edit its layout. Insert excerpt_lock_locknopaneltrueLock a screen to prevent accidental edits and to display the data content. Insert excerpt_context_parameters_context_parametersnopaneltrueFor screens created in PhixFlow versions 8.3 and earlier, open a window listing the context parameters in alphabetical order. Insert excerpt_element_show_element_shownopaneltrueFor screens created in PhixFlow versions 8.3 and earlier, open the properties for the screen element. Insert excerpt_area_above_area_abovenopaneltrue

Use these options to divide a screen into multiple, resizable panes. Select the option to add a pane relative to the currently selected pane.

To remove a pane, use the popup menu options

Field Description

Name The name of the screen.

Description We recommend that you always enter a description to explain the purpose of this item.

Open Maximised

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_tick
	_check_box_tick
nopanel	true

to cache the screen on the application user's client computer when the screen first opens

	true

to open the screen maximised.

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_untick
	_check_box_untick
nopanel	true

is the default. The screen does not need to be cached.

Caching relates to the screen itself. Any data backing the screen will be reload each time the screen is opened.

Position

By default, new screens are set to Floating. If you want a screen to open with a fixed position, select one of the Pinned drop-down options:

Pinned to top
Pinned to bottom
Pinned to left
Pinned to right
Floating

Use the Pinned options to create a permanently visible screen. This is useful for a navigation area or toolbar that you want to be visible for all other screens. Floating screens do not overlap with pinned screens. When the user maximises a Floating screen, it expands only to the remaining space.

Width

For screens that are not set to Open maximised, specify a screen width in pixels, for example 500px for a small confirmation window. The default size for a popup screen approximately 800px.

Height

For screens that are not set to Open maximised, specify a screen height in pixels, for example 150px for a small confirmation window. The default size of a popup screen is approximately 500px.

Top

Available when Position is Floating.

For screens that are not set to Open maximised, set an offset value in pixels to position the screen where it is required. For example, to display a screen as a popup window towards the top left of the screen, set:

Top: 60px
Left: 60px

Left

Right

Bottom

Screen Elements

Screen elements are specific sections on a screen that posses their own properties, specifically each element can be backed by a different table.

To view a list of the elements for a specific screen, open the Insert excerpt_property_settings_property_settingsnopaneltrueavailable from the screen toolbar; see Screen Element.

Menu Items

This section has a toolbar with standard buttons and:

Image Removed Show Table-actions

Insert excerpt_filter_filternopaneltrueThe grid contains a list of menu items. To add a menu item to the list, click Insert excerpt_add_addnopaneltrueClick Insert excerpt_add_addnopaneltrue

Select

either Add a new sub-menu
or Add a new menu item; see Startup Actions

PhixFlow opens a new properties tab for a menu item or sub-menu; see Startup Actions for details.

to open the screen as a popup window.

Allow Manual Resizing

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_tick
	_check_box_tick
nopanel	true

to enable the application user, when running in

Insert excerpt

	_app_mode
	_app_mode
nopanel	true

, to resize the screen.

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_untick
	_check_box_untick
nopanel	true

to keep the screen size fixed when running in in

Insert excerpt

	_app_mode
	_app_mode
nopanel	true

.

This option does not affect resizing the screen in

Insert excerpt

	_design_mode
	_design_mode
nopanel	true

.

Always On Top

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_tick
	_check_box_tick
nopanel	true

to keep the screen on top of other screens. This is useful for a popup window that you want a user to complete before returning to another screen.

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_untick
	_check_box_untick
nopanel	true

to allow other screens to be displayed in front.

Preload

Some screens, especially complex screens, can take some time to open, which can feel slow to the application user. Use this option when you need a screen to open quickly. Preloading screens adds to the time it takes PhixFlow to initially start up. For this reason we recommend you only preload screens that an application user will always want to open.

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_tick
	_check_box_tick
nopanel	true

to preload the screen when PhixFlow first starts. When the user then opens the screen , it displays immediately. The data itself may still take time to load.

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_untick
	_check_box_untick
nopanel	true

is the default. The screen does not need to be preloaded.

Preloading relates to the screen itself. Any data backing the screen is only loaded when the screen opens, and this may also take time to load.

Screen Elements

Screen elements are specific sections on a screen that posses their own properties, specifically each element can be backed by a different table.

To view a list of the elements for a specific screen, open the

Insert excerpt

	_property_settings
	_property_settings
nopanel	true

available from the screen toolbar; see Screen Element.

Advanced

Field

Description

Show Toolbar

Insert excerpt

	_design_mode
	_design_mode
nopanel	true

always has a toolbar with the screen name on the left and toolbar icons on the right.

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_tick
	_check_box_tick
nopanel	true

to also display the toolbar in

Insert excerpt

	_app_mode
	_app_mode
nopanel	true

. The screen name is displayed. Toolbar icons are not displayed.

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_untick
	_check_box_untick
nopanel	true

is the default as the toolbar is usually not required in

Insert excerpt

	_app_mode
	_app_mode
nopanel	true

.

Show Window Button Bar

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_tick
	_check_box_tick
nopanel	true

to display a Windows-style bar at the top of the screen. This has a maximise/restore button and a close button.

Image Added

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_untick
	_check_box_untick
nopanel	true

to have no Windows-style bar at the top of the screen.

Keep Data

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_tick
	_check_box_tick
nopanel	true

to allow screen data to be referenced even after the screen is closed. This is useful if an application user needs access to global data available in the system.

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_untick
	_check_box_untick
nopanel	true

is the default. The screen data is not required once the screen is closed.

Cache Locally

If an application user is likely to require the same screen in different stages of a task. Use this option so that, when the user closes and reopens the screen, it loads immediately.

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_tick
	_check_box_tick
nopanel	true

to cache the screen on the application user's client computer when the screen first opens.

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_untick
	_check_box_untick
nopanel	true

is the default. The screen does not need to be cached.

Caching relates to the screen itself. Any data backing the screen will be reload each time the screen is opened.

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_property_tabs
_property_tabs
name style-h
nopanel true

Style Settings

Field	Description
Position	By default, new screens are set to Floating. If you want a screen to open with a fixed position, select one of the Pinned drop-down options: Pinned to top Pinned to bottom Pinned to left Pinned to right Floating Use the Pinned options to create a permanently visible screen. This is useful for a navigation area or toolbar that you want to be visible for all other screens. Floating screens do not overlap with pinned screens. When the user maximises a Floating screen, it expands only to the remaining space.
Width	For screens that are not set to Open maximised, specify a screen width in pixels, for example `500px` for a small confirmation window. The default size for a popup screen approximately 800px. If this is left blank, the screen will adjust its width to the content automatically.
Height	For screens that are not set to Open maximised, specify a screen height in pixels, for example `150px` for a small confirmation window. The default size of a popup screen is approximately 500px. If this is left blank, the screen will adjust its height to the content automatically.
Top	Available when Position is Floating. For screens that are not set to Open maximised, set an offset value in pixels to position the screen where it is required. For example, to display a screen as a popup window towards the top left of the screen, set: Top: `60px` Left: `60px`
Left
Right
Bottom

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_property_tabs
_property_tabs
name action-h
nopanel true

Unconnected Actions

This section has a toolbar with standard buttons, see Common Properties. The grid displays a list of Actionflows that are linked to components on the screen that are not connected to a component. These can occur when Actionflows are created in a

Insert excerpt

	_workflow
	_workflow
nopanel	true

.

Actions

This section has a toolbar with standard buttons, see Common Properties. The grid displays a list of Actionflows or Table-Actions (Legacy) that are linked to the screen.

Menu Items

This section has a toolbar with standard buttons, see Common Properties and:

Image Added Show Table-actions
Insert excerpt
_filter
_filter
nopanel true

The grid contains a list of menu items. To add a menu item to the list, click

Insert excerpt

	_add
	_add
nopanel	true

Click
Insert excerpt
_add
_add
nopanel true
Select
- either Add a new sub-menu
- or Add a new menu item; see Startup Actions Properties
PhixFlow opens a new properties tab for a menu item or sub-menu; see Startup Actions Properties for details.

To remove a menu, use the toolbar button

Insert excerpt

	_delete
	_delete
nopanel	true

Pane.

.

Menus and Toolbars

Screen Toolbar

There is a toolbar above the screen canvas. This provides the following options:

List options

Insert excerpt

	_

area_right_area_right

attributes
	_attributes
nopanel	true

Opens the Available Attributes Window.

Insert excerpt

	_tables
	_tables
nopanel	true

Opens the repository showing the list of available tables for your application.

Insert excerpt

	_

area

screen_

below

toolbar
	_

area

screen_

below

toolbar
nopanel	true

Opens the repository showing the list of available screens for your application.

Insert excerpt

	_

area_left

actionflow
	_

area_left

nopanel
actionflow

true

	true

Opens the repository showing the list of available Actionflows for your application.

Insert excerpt

	_

area_lock_width

palette
	_

area_lock_width

palette
nopanel	true

Fix

Open the

height or width of the selected pane. You will no longer be able to resize a pane by dragging its dividing line.

list of palettes.

Insert excerpt

	_

area_lock_height_area_lock_heightnopaneltrue

template
	_template
nopanel	true

Opens the repository showing the list of available templates for your application.

Insert excerpt

	_styles_

delete

ccs
	_styles_

delete

ccs
nopanel	true

When a specific component is selected, delete the component.

Delete options depend on the selected item, for example:

Delete Selected Objects
Delete Pane
Delete Form

Open the repository showing the list of available styles for your application.

Canvas options

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	_

remove

property_settings
	_property_

remove

settings
nopanel	true

ElementRemove the selected item from the screen, whilst leaving it in the repository

Open the properties tab for the screen.

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	_

element_delete

unlock
	_

element_delete

unlock
nopanel	true

Delete a screen element.

or

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	_

form_new

lock
	_

form_new

lock
nopanel	true

Create a new form in the current area

Unlock a screen to edit its layout.

Lock a screen to prevent accidental edits and to display the data content.

Insert excerpt

	_

pin_unpin

refresh
	_

pin_unpin

refresh
nopanel	true

Pin a component to fix its position; see Pinning and Unpinning.

Update the screen to reflect changes made elsewhere in PhixFlow, such as the screen properties, layer orders or shared styles.

Screen Popup Menu

Right-click on a screen to display its popup menu. The options available depend on where you click. If there are many options, some are moved onto the sub-menu

Insert excerpt

	_

palette

screen
	_

palette

screen
nopanel	true

Open the palette to drag in components

Options.

Options to arrange the selected components:

align_leftalign_left: Align the left edges of all the selected components to the component that is furthest to the leftalign_rightalign_right: Align the right edges of all the selected components to the component that is furthest to the rightaligntopaligntop: Align the top edges of the selected components to the component that is positioned highestOpens a new mapping element properties tab where you can map attributes with different names to components.

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_align

nopanel

true

Menu option

Description

Insert excerpt

	_

unlock
	_

unlock
nopanel	true

Unlock a screen to edit its layout.

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	_

lock
	_

lock
nopanel	true

Lock a screen to prevent accidental edits and to display the data content.

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	_

context_

parameters
	_

context_

parameters
nopanel	true

Open a window listing the context parameters in alphabetical order, if applicable.

Insert excerpt

	_

align

element_

bottom

show
	_

align

element_

bottom

show
nopanel	true

: Align the bottom edges of the selected components to the component that is positioned lowest

Open the properties for the screen element.

Insert excerpt

_align_horizontal

	_

align

delete
	_

horizontal

delete
nopanel	true

: Equally distribute the selected components horizontally in the available space.When a specific component is selected, delete the component.

Delete options depend on the selected item, for example:

Delete Selected Objects
Delete Pane
Delete Form

Insert excerpt

	_align_verticalpalette
	_align_verticalpalette
nopanel	true

: Equally distribute the selected components vertically in the available space

Open the palette to drag in components.

Insert excerpt

	_repository_find
	_repository_find
nopanel	true

Open the repository with to see the selected component in the list. This can be useful if you want to move a component.

Insert excerpt

	_screen_properties
	_screen_properties
nopanel	true

Open the properties tab for the screen.

Insert excerpt

_record_show

nopanel

true

Display information about the table and its records.

Insert excerpt

_mapping

nopanel

true

Insert excerpt

	_record_childrenshow
	_record_childrenshow
nopanel	true

For the selected parent container, select all the child components

Display information about the table and its records.

Insert excerpt

	_show_table_propertiesconfiguration
	_show_table_propertiesconfiguration
nopanel	true

or Show the Table Configuration

Open the properties for the table.

Insert excerpt

	_attributes_

show

add
	_attributes_

show

add
nopanel	true

to ...
Show the list of attributes that are bound to the component. The attributes can be from a table or view. This is shown in the option:

Opens the Available Attributes Window.

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_

attributes_show

access
_

attributes_show

access
nopanel true

for table <name>

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attributes_show

audit
_

attributes_show

audit
nopanel true

for view <name>htmlcomment

HTML Comment

hidden	true

Unreachable Actions

A workflow can have placeholder actionflows linked to a screen. If the actionflow has not been wired then it is listed here.

Open on Startup

You may have a screen that acts as your application's welcome window. Use this option to open a screen whenever the application starts.

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_tick
	_check_box_tick
nopanel	true

to open the screen when the application starts.

Insert excerpt

	_check_box_untick
	_check_box_untick
nopanel	true

is the default. The screen is opened by a user interacting with the application.

Live Search
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title	Sections on this page

Table of Contents

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Learn More

For links to all pages in this topic, see Designing Screens.

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Version	Old Version 109	New Version Current
Changes made by	Zoe Baldwin	Zoe Baldwin
Saved on	Jan 19, 2024	Aug 12, 2024

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Overview

Basic Settings

Overview

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Basic Settings

Mappings

Unreachable Actions

Actions

Menus and Toolbars

Screen Toolbar

Screen Popup Menu

Screen Elements

Menu Items

Screen Elements

Advanced

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Style Settings

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Unconnected Actions

Actions

Menu Items

Menus and Toolbars

Screen Toolbar

Screen Popup Menu

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access_

accessnopaneltrue

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audit_

auditnopaneltrue

Unreachable Actions

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_property_tabs
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name basic-h
nopanel true

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_property_tabs
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name style-h
nopanel true

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_property_tabs
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name action-h
nopanel true

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access
_

access
nopanel true

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audit
_

audit
nopanel true

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