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This page is provides the reference information for dashboard properties.

Overview

Create application screens by starting with a dashboard; see Creating or Opening a Screen.

PhixFlow opens existing screens locked, to prevent accidental editing. To edit a screen,  Insert excerpt_layout_unlock_layout_unlocknopaneltrue it:
  • either using the toolbar 
  • or right-click anywhere in the screen to display the pop-up menu.

This page has the reference documentation for dashboard properties. For information on how to divide a screen into different panes, and how to add things to a screen, see Drag-and-Drop Techniques.

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Table of Contents
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See Also

Properties

Insert excerpt_property_toolbar_property_toolbarnopaneltrue The toolbar includes the button to  Insert excerpt_dashboard_display_dashboard_displaynopaneltrue. Insert excerpt_parent_parentnopaneltrue

Basic Settings

FieldDescriptionNameThe name of the screen.Open Maximised

Insert excerpt
_Banners
_Banners
namescreen
nopaneltrue

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
nopaneltrue

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_property_tabs
_property_tabs
namebasic-h
nopaneltrue

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_parent
_parent
nopaneltrue

Basic Settings

FieldDescription
NameThe name of the screen.
Open Maximised

Insert excerpt
_check_box_tick
_check_box_tick
nopaneltrue
 to open the screen maximised.

Insert excerpt
_check_box_untick
_check_box_untick
nopaneltrue
 to open the screen as a popup window.

Allow User to Resize

Insert excerpt
_check_box_tick
_check_box_tick
nopaneltrue
 to enable the application user, when running in 
Insert excerpt
_app_mode
_app_mode
nopaneltrue
, to resize the screen.

Insert excerpt
_check_box_untick
_check_box_untick
nopaneltrue
 to keep the screen size fixed when running in in 
Insert excerpt
_app_mode
_app_mode
nopaneltrue
.

This option does not affect resizing the screen in 

Insert excerpt
_design_mode
_design_mode
nopaneltrue
.

Show Toolbar
Insert excerpt
_design_mode
_design_mode
nopaneltrue
 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
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_

tick

untick
_check_box_

tick

untick
nopaneltrue

 to open the screen maximised.

 is the default as the toolbar is usually not required in 

Insert excerpt
_

check

app_

box_untick

mode
_

check

app_

box_untick

mode
nopaneltrue

 to open the screen as a pop-up window.Allow User to Resize

.

Show Window Button Bar

Insert excerpt
_check_box_tick
_check_box_tick
nopaneltrue
 to

enable the application user, when running in 

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_

app

box_

mode

untick
_check_

app

box_

mode

untick
nopaneltrue

, to resize

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

Always On Top

Insert excerpt
_check_box_

untick

tick
_check_box_

untick

tick
nopaneltrue
 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 

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_

design

box_

mode

untick
_check_

design

box_

mode

untick
nopaneltrue
 to allow other screens to be displayed in front.

Show Toolbar 

 

Keep Data

Insert excerpt
_check_box_tick
_check_box_tick
nopaneltrue
 to

display a toolbar for the screen todo - currently not working??

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
nopaneltrue

 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 pop-up 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

 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_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

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 data is not required once the screen is closed.PreloadScreens, 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.

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. 

Insert excerpt
_check_box_tick
_check_box_tick
nopaneltrue
 to

preload

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

Open on Startup

Todo - not yet implemented

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_ticknopaneltrue to open the screen when the application starts. Insert excerpt_check_box_untick_check_box_unticknopaneltrue is the default. The screen is opened by a user action within the application. Position

By default, screens are opened floating centrally. If you want a screen to open with a fixed position, select one of the drop-down options:

  • Pinned to top
  • Pinned to bottom
  • Pinned to left: top left
  • Pinned to right: top right
  • Floating (default)

todo - check DEV-9189 as there are problems using these options

Width

Specify a screen width in pixels, for example 500px for a small confirmation window. The default size for a pop-up screen approximately 800px.Height

Specify a screen height in pixels, for example 150px for a small confirmation window. The default size of a pop-up screen is approximately 500px. 

Top

Available when Position is Floating.

Set an offset value in pixels to position the screen where it is required. For example, to display a screen as a pop-up window towards the top left of the screen set:

  • Top: 60px
  • Left: 60px
LeftRightBottom

Dashboard Elements

This section lists the Dashboard Elements on this screen.

PhixFlow creates dashboard elements when you use the pop-up menu Add Area... options to divide up the screen. In PhixFlow version 8.3 and earlier, dashboard elements enabled different parts of the screen to be bound to different sources of data, either a stream (table) or view.

Where dashboard elements are bound to data, you can link them, so that the data in one dashboard element drives the data in another; see Linked and Driving Views.

Menu Items

This section has a toolbar with standard buttons and:

  •  Image Removed Show stream actions (record-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 Menu
  • PhixFlow opens a new properties tab for a menu item or sub-menu; see Menu for details.
  • To remove a menu, use the toolbar button Image Removed Delete Everywhere.

    Mappings

    This section has a toolbar with standard buttons. The grid contains a list of mappings between attributes that are the same but have different names in different streams (tables) or views. PhixFlow will evaluate all the mapped datasets when it runs an action on the dashboard. Todo - check this is the correct mapping.

    Unreachable Actions

    Todo - New feature related to actionflows?

    Actions

    This section has a toolbar with standard buttons. The grid displays a list of actions and/or (todo - check) stream item actions (record-actions) that are linked to the screen.

    Insert excerpt_access_accessnopaneltrue Insert excerpt_description_descriptionnopaneltrue Insert excerpt_audit_auditnopaneltrue

    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_layout_unlock_layout_unlocknopaneltrueor  Insert excerpt_layout_lock_layout_locknopaneltrue

    Unlock a screen to edit its layout.

    Lock a screen to

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

    Insert excerpt
    _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.

    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_settings
    nopaneltrue
    available from the screen toolbar; see Screen Element.  

    Menu Items

    This section has a toolbar with standard buttons 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 
      Insert excerpt
      _add
      _add
      nopaneltrue
    2. Select 
    3. PhixFlow opens a new properties tab for a menu item or sub-menu; see Startup Actions for details.

    To remove a menu, use the toolbar button 

    Insert excerpt
    _delete
    _delete
    nopaneltrue
    .

    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
    _mapping
    nopaneltrue
    .

    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

    Insert excerpt
    _description
    _description
    nopaneltrue

    Insert excerpt
    _access
    _access
    nopaneltrue


    Insert excerpt
    _audit
    _audit
    nopaneltrue

    Menus and Toolbars

    Screen Toolbar

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

    List options

    Insert excerpt
    _tables
    _tables
    nopaneltrue

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

    Insert excerpt
    _screen_toolbar
    _screen_toolbar
    nopaneltrue
    Open the repository showing the list of available screens for your application.
    Insert excerpt
    _actionflow
    _actionflow
    nopaneltrue
    Open the repository showing the list of available actionflows for your application.
    Insert excerpt
    _palette
    _palette
    nopaneltrue
    Open the list of palettes.
    Insert excerpt
    _styles
    _styles
    nopaneltrue
    Open the repository showing the list of available styles for your application.
    Canvas options
    Insert excerpt
    _help
    _help
    nopaneltrue
    Open the help topic with details about working with screens.
    Insert excerpt
    _property_settings
    _property_settings
    nopaneltrue
    Open the properties tab for the screen.

    Insert excerpt
    _unlock
    _unlock
    nopaneltrue

    or 

    Insert excerpt
    _lock
    _lock
    nopaneltrue

    Unlock a screen to edit its layout.

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

    Insert excerpt
    _refresh
    _refresh
    nopaneltrue

    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
    _screen
    nopaneltrue
     Options.

    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_
    refresh
    parameters
    _refreshnopaneltrue

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

    Screen Context Menu

    Right-click on a screen to display its pop-up 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
    _context_parameters
    nopaneltrue
    For screens created in PhixFlow versions 8.3 and earlier, open a window listing the context parameters in alphabetical order.
    Insert excerpt
    _element_show
    _element_show
    nopaneltrue
    For screens created in PhixFlow versions 8.3 and earlier, open the properties for the screen element.
    Insert excerpt
    _
    layout
    area_
    unlock
    above
    _
    layout
    area_
    unlock
    above
    nopaneltrue
    Unlock

    Use these options to divide a screen

    to edit its layout.

    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 

    Insert excerpt
    _

    layout_lock

    delete
    _

    layout_lock

    delete
    nopaneltrue

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

     Pane.

    Insert excerpt
    _
    context
    area_
    parameters
    right
    _
    context
    area_
    parametersnopaneltrueFor dashboards created in PhixFlow versions 8.3 and earlier, open a window listing the context parameters in alphabetical order.
    right
    nopaneltrue
    Insert excerpt
    _
    element
    area_
    show
    below
    _
    element
    area_
    show
    below
    nopaneltrue
    For dashboards created in PhixFlow versions 8.3 and earlier, open the properties for the dashboard element.
    Insert excerpt
    _area_
    above
    left
    _area_
    above
    left
    nopanel
    true

    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 pop-up menu options 
    true
    Insert excerpt
    _area_
    delete_delete
    lock_width
    _area_lock_width
    nopaneltrue
     Pane
    Fix the height or width of the selected pane. You will no longer be able to resize a pane by dragging its dividing line.
    Insert excerpt
    _area_lock_
    right
    height
    _area_lock_
    right
    height
    nopaneltrue
    Insert excerpt
    _
    area_below
    delete
    _
    area_below
    delete
    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 

    Insert excerpt
    _

    area_left

    remove
    _

    area_left

    remove
    nopaneltrue
     Element

    Remove the selected item from the screen, whilst leaving it in the repository.
    Insert excerpt
    _area
    _
    lock
    element_
    width
    delete
    _
    area
    element_
    lock_width
    delete
    nopaneltrue
    Fix the height or width of the selected pane. You will no longer be able to resize a pane by dragging its dividing line
    Delete a screen element.
    Insert excerpt
    _
    area
    form_
    lock_height
    new
    _
    area
    form_
    lock_height
    new
    nopaneltrue
    Create a new form in the current area.
    Insert excerpt
    _pin_unpin
    _
    delete
    pin_
    delete
    unpin
    nopaneltrue
    When

    Pin a

    specific

    component

    is selected, delete the component.Other delete options that may be available relate to specific types of component in the selected pane

    to fix its position; see Pinning and Unpinning.

    Insert excerpt
    _

    delete_item

    palette
    _

    delete_item

    palette
    nopaneltrue

     Delete options depend on the selected item. Examples are:
    Open the palette to drag in components.
    Insert excerpt
    _
    delete_item
    autosize
    _
    delete_item
    autosize
    nopaneltrue
     selected objects

    Toggle whether or not the currently selected component is automatically auto sized when an application window is resized by the user.

    Note

    Using this option, or manually resizing a component may change the state of the Layout → Style Settings → Auto Size property.


    Insert excerpt
    _delete_item
    _
    delete
    align
    _
    item
    align
    nopaneltrue
     pane

    Options to arrange the selected components:

    Insert excerpt
    _

    delete

    align_

    item

    left
    _

    delete

    align_

    item

    left
    nopaneltrue

     form 

    : Align the left edges of all the selected components to the component that is furthest to the left.

    Insert excerpt
    _

    element

    align_

    delete

    right
    _

    element

    align_

    delete

    right
    nopanel

    trueDelete a dashboard element

    true
    : Align the right edges of all the selected components to the component that is furthest to the right.

    Insert excerpt
    _

    form

    align_

    new

    top
    _

    form

    align_

    new

    top
    nopaneltrue

    Create a new form in the current area

    : Align the top edges of the selected components to the component that is positioned highest.

    Insert excerpt
    _

    pin

    align_

    unpin

    bottom
    _

    pin

    align_

    unpin

    bottom
    nopaneltrue

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

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

    Insert excerpt
    _align_

    palette

    horizontal
    _align_

    palette

    horizontal
    nopaneltrue

    Open the palette to drag in components

    : Equally distribute the selected components horizontally in the available space.

    Insert excerpt
    _

    autosize

    align_vertical

    _autosizenopaneltrue

    Toggle whether or not the currently selected component is automatically auto sized when an application window is resized by the user.

    NoteUsing this option, or manually resizing a component may change the state of the Layout → Style Settings → Auto Size property

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

    Insert excerpt
    _

    arrange

    repository_

    components

    find
    _

    arrange

    repository_

    components

    find
    nopaneltrue

    Options to arrange the selected components within a pane:
    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
    _
    align
    screen_
    left
    properties
    _
    align
    screen_
    left
    properties
    nopaneltrue
    Open the properties tab for the screen.
    Insert excerpt
    _
    align
    record_
    right
    show
    _
    align
    record_
    right_align_topnopaneltrue
    show
    nopaneltrue
    Insert excerpt_align_top

    Display information about the table and its records.

    Insert excerpt
    _
    align_bottom
    mapping
    _align
    _
    bottom
    mapping
    nopaneltrue
    Opens a new mapping element properties tab where you can map attributes with different names to components.
    Insert excerpt
    _
    distribute_horizontal
    children
    _
    distribute_horizontal
    children
    nopaneltrue
    For the selected parent container, select all the child components.

    Insert excerpt
    _

    distribute

    table_

    vertical

    properties
    _

    distribute

    table_

    vertical

    properties
    nopaneltrue

    or Show the Table Configuration

    Open the properties for the table.

    Insert excerpt
    _

    repository

    attributes_

    find

    show
    _

    repository

    attributes_

    find

    show
    nopaneltrue

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

    ...

    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:

    • Insert excerpt
      _
    screen
    • attributes_
    properties
    • show
      _
    screen
    • attributes_
    properties
    • show
      nopaneltrue
    Open the properties tab for the screen.
    •  for table <name>
    • Insert excerpt
      _
    record
    • attributes_show
      _
    record
    • attributes_show
      nopaneltrue
    Display information about the stream (table) and its (stream items) records. Insert excerpt_mapping_mappingnopaneltrueOpens a new mapping element properties tab where you can map attributes with different names to components
    •  for view <name>


    HTML Comment

    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_

    children

    tick
    _check_box_

    children

    tick
    nopaneltrue

    For the selected parent container, select all the child components

     to open the screen when the application starts.

    Insert excerpt
    _

    table

    check_box_

    properties

    untick
    _check_

    table

    box_

    properties

    untick
    nopaneltrue

    or Show the Stream ConfigurationOpen the properties for the stream (table). Insert excerpt_attributes_show_attributes_shownopaneltrue...

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

    Insert excerpt_attributes_show_attributes_shownopaneltrue for stream (table)<name>

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


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    stylenone


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

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     for view <name>