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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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  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
FieldDescription
NameThe name of the screen.
DescriptionWe recommend that you always enter a description to explain the purpose of this item.
Open Maximised

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 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.

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 to open the screen maximised.

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nopaneltrue
 to open the screen as a popup window.

Allow Manual Resizing

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 to enable the application user, when running in 
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, to resize the screen.

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_check_box_untick
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 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 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. 

nopaneltrue
 to keep the screen size fixed when running in in 
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.

This option does not affect resizing the screen in 

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.

Always On Top

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 to

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

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.

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nopaneltrue

 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.

In PhixFlow 11.1+, 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. 

In PhixFlow 11.1+, 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
LeftRightBottom

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

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    nopaneltrue
    available from the screen toolbar; see Screen Element.  

    Advanced

    FieldDescription
    Show Toolbar
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    _design_mode
    nopaneltrue
     always has a toolbar with the screen name on the left and toolbar icons on the right. 

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    _check_box_tick
    _check_box_tick
    nopaneltrue
     to also display the toolbar in 
    Insert excerpt
    _app_mode
    _app_mode
    nopaneltrue
    . The screen name is displayed. Toolbar icons are not displayed.

    Insert excerpt
    _check_box_untick
    _check_box_untick
    nopaneltrue
     is the default as the toolbar is usually not required in 
    Insert excerpt
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    _app_mode
    nopaneltrue
    .

    Show Window Button Bar

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

    Image Added

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

    Keep Data

    Insert excerpt
    _check_box_tick
    _check_box_tick
    nopaneltrue
     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.

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    _check_box_untick
    _check_box_untick
    nopaneltrue
     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. 

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

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    _check_box_untick
    _check_box_untick
    nopaneltrue
     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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    Style Settings

    FieldDescription
    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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    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 

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    .

    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
      nopaneltrue

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

    Insert excerpt
    _add
    _add
    nopaneltrue

    1. Click 
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      _add
      _add
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    2. Select 
    3. 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
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    nopaneltrue

     Pane.

    .

    Menus and Toolbars

    Screen Toolbar

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

    List options
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    _
    area_right_area_right
    attributes
    _attributes
    nopaneltrue
    Opens the Available Attributes Window.

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    _tables
    _tables
    nopaneltrue

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

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    _
    area
    screen_
    below
    toolbar
    _
    area
    screen_
    below
    toolbar
    nopaneltrue
    Opens the repository showing the list of available screens for your application.
    Insert excerpt
    _
    area_left
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    _
    area_leftnopaneltrue
    actionflow
    nopaneltrue
    Opens the repository showing the list of available Actionflows for your application.
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    _
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    _
    area_lock_width
    palette
    nopaneltrue
    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
    nopaneltrue
    Opens the repository showing the list of available templates for your application.
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    _styles_
    delete
    ccs
    _styles_
    delete Insert excerpt_remove_remove
    ccs
    nopaneltrue

    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
    Insert excerpt
    _property_settings
    _property_settings
    nopaneltrue
     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
    nopaneltrue

    Delete a screen element.

    or 

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    _

    form_new

    lock
    _

    form_new

    lock
    nopaneltrue

    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.

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    _

    pin_unpin

    refresh
    _

    pin_unpin

    refresh
    nopaneltrue

    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 

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    _

    palette

    screen
    _

    palette

    screen
    nopaneltrue

    Open the palette to drag in components

     Options.

    Options to arrange the selected components:_align_leftalignleft: 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 componentsthe screen.
    Insert excerpt
    _align_align
    nopaneltrue
    Menu optionDescription
    Insert excerpt
    _
    unlock
    _
    unlock
    nopaneltrue
    Unlock a screen to edit its layout.
    Insert excerpt
    _
    lock
    _
    lock
    nopaneltrue
    Lock a screen to prevent accidental edits and to display the data content.
    Insert excerpt
    _
    context_
    parameters
    _
    context_
    parameters
    nopaneltrue
    Open a window listing the context parameters in alphabetical order, if applicable.
    Insert excerpt
    _
    align
    element_
    bottom
    show
    _
    align
    element_
    bottom
    show
    nopaneltrue
    : 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
    delete
    _
    align_horizontal
    delete
    nopaneltrue

    : 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
    nopaneltrue
    : Equally distribute the selected components vertically in the available space

    Open the palette to drag in components.

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    _repository_find
    _repository_find
    nopaneltrue

    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
    nopaneltrue
    Open the properties tab for the screen.
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    nopaneltrue

    Display information about the table and its records.

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    nopaneltrue
    Insert excerpt
    _record_childrenshow
    _record_childrenshow
    nopaneltrue
    For the selected parent container, select all the child components

    Display information about the table and its records.

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    _show_table_propertiesconfiguration
    _show_table_propertiesconfiguration
    nopaneltrue
    or Show the Table Configuration

    Open the properties for the table.

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    _attributes_

    show

    add
    _attributes_

    show

    add
    nopaneltrue
     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
    nopaneltrue

     for table <name>

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    attributes_show

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    _

    attributes_show

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    nopaneltrue

     for view <name>htmlcomment

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    hiddentrue

    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.

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     to open the screen when the application starts.

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


    Live Search
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    Learn More

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

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