4. Actionflow Fundamentals

Introduction

Welcome to the Actionflow Fundamentals. In this chapter we will learn about all the key techniques and principles to create our Actionflows in PhixFlow which allow us to interact with our data..

Concepts

To find out more about the key concepts for ActionFlow before you take the course below, or simply to refresh your memory, see Understanding Actionflows.

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Task 1: Change the Add Customer header

1. On the Companies List screen you created in 3. Screens Fundamentals, click the Add button under the grid
2. The Company Form screen will open
3. Right-click to Unlock the screen and click on the header, Company Details
4. In the Properties, change the Default Value to New Customer
5. Save the changes
6. Close the Company Form screen

Task 2: Create an Actionflow for the Edit Customer header

1. Right-click on the Edit button under the grid
2. Select Display Actionflow
3. On the Actionflow, in the toolbar, click and drag a Calculate node onto the canvas
   1. Name it, Details
   2. Press Create Action
4. Click and drag the Calculate Node and hover over the wire between the input node and the Open Edit Form node until a  icon appears - drop the Calculate node onto this icon
5. Under Connections, click on the input wire
6. The Connector Mappings window will open:
   1. Drag the CompanyName attribute from the left (Companies view) to the right (Companies edit form)
   2. Press Save
7. On the Actionflow canvas, select the wire between the input node and the Calculate node (in)
   1. Drag the CompanyName attribute from the left (Companies edit form) to the right (Calculate node)
   2. Press Save 
      1. This maps the CompanyName into the Actionflow so it can be used in the calculation
8. Click on the Calculate node to open the Properties on the right
9. In the Output Attributes section, click 
   1. In the New Calculate Attribute window, add:
      1. Name: pfTitle
      2. Expression: "Editing: " + in.CompanyName
   2. Save all changes
10. Pass this calculated value back to the screen by selecting the wire between the calculate node and the open edit form (CompaniesForm)
11. The Connector Mappings window will open:
    1. Drag the pfTitle attribute from the left (Calculate node) on top of the Header1Dynamic attribute on the right (Companies edit form)
    2. Press Save
12. See the changes in action by pressing the Edit button on the Companies List screen to open the Companies Form

Task 3: Setup Validation

1. Unlock the Companies Form
2. Right-click the Save button and choose Display Actionflow
3. On the Actionflow, select Properties from the toolbar
4. In the Basic Settings, toggle on Perform Validation Before Running
5. Save the changes
6. See the changes by adding a new record to the Companies grid but leave the Company Name field blank
7. Press Save and the Validation Failed error message will show