Overview
Actionflows can be used to pass data between screens, itMoving data between screens is achieved through an ActionFlow and form fields on a screen. In this example, we have a Company Name form field on Screen 1 that we will pass to Screen 2 using an actionflow. This is illustrated below:
Passing Data between Screens
When passing data between screens: only a single record can be sent from one screen to another, and it can only be passed to a form.
This setup assumes Screen 1 has Company Data already displayed on it. Example company data is available from the Learning Centre. See Designing Screens for guidance on setting up screens.
see Understanding Actionflows.
Step 1 Create the Actionflow
- Find Screen 2 in the repository and dragging it onto the screen 1 canvas. PhixFlow automatically creates a button with an actionflow that opens screen 2; see Adding a Button to Open a Screen.
- Right-click on the new button and select Display Actionflow to open the actionflow diagram.
Step 2 Configure the Actionflow
In the actionflow diagram, in the Inputs panel, click on the On-Click Event and select the source of your data. PhixFlow opens the Mappings window.
If you need to change the mapping later, to reopen the Mappings window, right-click on the line between the source of data and the connection point, then click. Add Mapping.
- Drag the attributes you want to pass to the next screen from the left to the right box.
In the example screenshots, we will pass on theCompany Name
. - In the example above, the connector called screen only opens the screen. In this case we need to pass data. This means we need to remove the connector and create a new one.
To remove the connector, in the actionflow, right-click on the connector to screen 2 and select Remove Connector, then Confirm the removal. - Connect the Inputs → in connection point to Open (Screen 2). In the popup, select Form, which allows data to pass. When prompted select Screen 2.
- In the Mapping window, map the attributes you want to pass to Screen 2. For this example, we will pass on
Company Name
. - Close the actionflow.
Step 3 Test the configuration
- Open the screen 1 canvas and switch to Application Mode; see Design and Application Mode.
- In screen 1, edit a
Company Name
and click the button.
Screen 2 opens with the data for theCompany Name
attribute including the latest edits.
Passing a Calculated Value to Another Screen
This example builds on the example above. we will now insert a calculated value into the actionflow created above to add a value that then gets passed to a second screen.
Step 1 Update Screen 2
- Open Screen 2 and add a form field from the palette that will be used to hold the calculated value we pass across. In our example this is called,
CalculatedValue.
- Close the screen.
We now need to tell the actinflow about this change
- Open Screen 1, unlock it if necessary, right-click on the button that opens Screen 2 and select Display Actionflow.
- Open the Screen 2 node from the actionflow, from the Input Connection Points open the component where the data will be displayed by double-clicking on it. In our example this is Screen 2.
- In the window that opens, in the Attributes section, click Attributes and from the screen that opens drag the new
CalculateValue
filed into this attribute section.
Step 1 Update the Actionflow
- From the context toolbar drag a Calculate onto the canvas. Provide a useful name. In our example this is called
CalculateValue
.- In here you can perform any calculation see Calculate Node. Save your changes.
- Remove the connection between in and Screen 2.
- Connect the in connection point to the Calculate.
- Connect
CalculateValue
to Screen 2 using the Screen 2 form.
Updating Values on an Existing Screen
PhixFlow can update the values on a screen, for example a user enters a date and needs to calculate the number of working days to that date.
- Add a button to your screen.
- See Designing Screens.
- Right-click on the button, select Add Actionflow.
- Create you actionflow to perform the required functionality, for example calculate the number of working days until a selected date. See Understanding Actionflows for assistance.
- In the connection points click Add New:
- Provide a meaningful Name.
- Select Output.
- In the screen that opens select the form you wish to write the data back to. Note you can only write back to a form field, you cannot write back to any other view type.
- Map your outgoing attributes to the available attributes. See Wiring Actionflows.
When the actionflow runs it will output the value from the actionflow to your original screen.