Design and Application Mode

Design and Application Mode

Overview

PhixFlow has two distinct modes depending on what you need to do.

 
 

Application designers use this mode to create and configure applications. This includes designing screens, creating workflows and actionflows, defining data structures and relationships. You can also set up complex data processing using analysis models.

We recommend that application designers use 

 on a desktop or laptop computer, as you require screen space to configure PhixFlow.

An application designer can switch modes to see their application in action. To switch mode, click the mode icon in the top right of the PhixFlow window.

  •  

 

Application users run PhixFlow applications in this mode.
PhixFlow displays only essential menus and toolbars in 

. Your administrator usually configures PhixFlow so that an application user has no access to 
. Instead, application users work within an application and use the application's menus and navigation to complete tasks.

You can run a PhixFlow application on:

  • desktop or laptop computers

  • mobile devices, such as a tablet or smartphone.

An application designer can configure application user access to the specific applications and data that they need; see Controlling User Access to Applications.

Introducing Application Mode

Opening an Application

When you log in, PhixFlow displays the Welcome window and the application menu. Anytime you want to return to the application menu, in the top left corner of the PhixFlow window, click 

.

You can change the layout of the application menu, using icons in the top right of the application window. 


To open an application:

  1. Double-click anywhere in a card or on a list line

  2. PhixFlow asks you to confirm

  3. Click Yes to continue to the application's Home window.
    From here you can select an aspect of your application on which to work

To create a new application from the application menu, click the 

 button on the left of the menu; see Creating an Application.

Using Applications on Mobile Devices

PhixFlow supports mobile devices, such as tablets and phones. This means team members can access and update data whilst on the move. As mobile devices have less screen space available, the header bar is simplified to show the icons:

  •  – option available depending on user's permissions

Introducing Design Mode

is a powerful tool for configuring applications that help automate business processes.

You can:

  • plan the workflows and tasks for application users 

  • define data structures

  • design application screens

  • configure user interactions for buttons and options on a screen, so that an application user can make changes to specific data records

  • import, batch process and export large volumes of data using analysis models. 
    This means PhixFlow can exchange data with your existing systems and databases

Loading an Application

When you first log into 

, PhixFlow displays the a list of the applications available to you. To return to the application menu at any time, click 
 in the top left. 

In the application menu, applications are shown as cards or as a list. To switch view, click the icons in the top right of the application window.

To load an application:

  1. Click anywhere in a card or on a list line

  2. PhixFlow asks how you would like to load the application (load in current tab, new tab or new window) 

  3. Click an option to continue to the application's Home window. 
    From here you can select an aspect of your application on which to work

To create a new application from the application menu, click the 

 button on the left of the menu; see Creating an Application.

Home Window and Workspace

When you load an application, PhixFlow opens its home window.

This window layout remains the same when you select different things to work on. For example, the following screenshot shows an entity relationship diagram (ERD). In addition to the repository, you can see that the right panel is displaying context help for ERDs.

The home window has the following parts.

Header Bar 

The header bar runs across the full width of the PhixFlow Window. It shows, from left to right:

  • : reopen the application menu to load a different application

  •  

    : also opens the application menu. Depending on the way your administrator has configured PhixFlow, this logo may be replaced by your company logo

  • Quick access to the main activities:

    • Home

    • ERDs

    • Workflows

    • Screens

    • Actionflows

    • Analysis Models

  • The name of the PhixFlow server on which you are working

  • : options to manage your user details, passwords and to 

  • Open the 

  • Open the Learning Centre 

  • Open the 

     Chat Bot

  •  lists the system options, including the 
    , which monitors different processes and tasks; see Administration Menu. The options you see depend on your permissions. .