Creating New Elements

Revision as of 07:02, 15 July 2010

Elements Explained

An element could best be explained as an item on a page such as a text box, drop down, option box, or button. This is exactly what we create when we select create element.

Once an element has been created, this will need to be added to the screen layout.
Please see Modifying Screen Layouts for more information on this.

The Relationship between Objects and Elements

The Subscribe-HR System is an object orientated system. Every page is an object. If we were wanting to create a new page we would be creating a new object in the system.
An Element is an item on a page. Items are required to be linked to a page (otherwise known as an Object).
This is enforced by requiring that an Object be selected first before an Element can be created.
Example: If I want to create a new element and add this to the Employee Medical form, I would have to select Objects, locate the Object called Employee Medical and then select Elements.

Creating New Elements

1. After logging into the Subscribe-HR portal, select the Development TAB.
2. Select the Objects folder.
3. Select the Object you wish to create the element on.
   If you wish to create a new object please see the documentation Creating New Objects
4. Select the Elements sub folder.
5. Select the create button.
6. Enter the Element name in Title Case. This should be a name that you can easily identify what the element is. Example: Item Serial Number
7. Select the Element Record Type. This defines what type of element will be used. This is explained below.
8. Enter the Element label. this is the text that you wish to appear next to the element. Example: First Name:
9. Check the Mandatory field if you wish to make this element a field that must be filled in before the record can be saved.
10. Check the Not editable after the value is saved field if you do not want to be able to edit the value saved in the element. This is often used for creating unique identifiers in a record set.
11. Check the Do not show on create form if you do not want this element to appear when you select the create button.
12. Check the Display on search results if you want the data saved in this element to appear in the object search list
    
13. Check the Use for searching if you want to be able to search on this data from the search list.
14. Check the Use for predictive text searching if you want to enable predictive text search on this element.
15. Check the Mask Value if you wish to hide the actual value in the element. This will appear as ****
    
16. Check the Display on Bread Crumbs if you wish for this elements saved value to appear in the breadcrumb trail
    
17. Select the Groups that can edit this element. You are selecting your defined user groups as being able to edit the save values in this element.
18. Select the Groups that can view this element. You are selecting your defined user groups as being able to see this element on a page.
    This is a good feature and can be used for example: in scenarios where only HR Managers may only be able to edit and see comments on a page, self service users cannot see the comments.
19. Enter any element help
20. Select the Save button.

Text Element Type

The text element type can record up to a maximum of 255 characters. If you require more text you should consider using the Long Text element type.


Variables for this element

• Mask Value - masking of the value is performed by asterisk ***
• Minimum field length
• Maximum field length
• Field width(pixels
• Default value

Number Element Type

The number element can only store numeric values up to the maximum length of 255 characters.


Variables for this element

• Minimum field length
• Maximum field length
• Field width(pixels
• Decimal places
• Default value

Date Element Type

The date element can only store the date, in the local settings format.
By enabling the date picker you are enabling the ability to click in this field and have the calendar show.
If you require Date and Time please use the Data and time element type.

Variables for this element

• Enable Date Picker

Date and time Element Type

The Date and time element can only store the date and time, in the local settings format.
By enabling the date picker you are enabling the ability to click in this field and have the calendar show. The calendar cannot select the time.

Variables for this element

• Enable Date Picker
• Field Width (pixels)

Email Element Type

The Email element can store alpha and numeric values however has validation to check if this is a valid email address. The validation checks for @ and .

Variables for this element

• Minimum field length
• Maximum field length
• Field Width (pixels)
• Default value

URL Element Type

The URL element can store alpha and numeric values however has validation to check if this is a valid URL.

Variables for this element

• Minimum field length
• Maximum field length
• Field Width (pixels)
• Default value

Currency Element Type

The Currency element can store numeric values only to a maximum of 255 characters.

Variables for this element

• Minimum field length
• Maximum field length
• Field Width (pixels)
• Decimal places
• Default value

Percentage Element Type

The Percentage element can store numeric values only to a maximum of 255 characters.

Variables for this element

• Minimum field length
• Maximum field length
• Field Width (pixels)
• Decimal places
• Default value

Long Text Element Type

The Long text element can store alpha and numeric values.
By enabling the rich text editor you are switching on options to be able to format the text.

Variables for this element

• Minimum field length
• Maximum field length
• Field Width (pixels)
• Decimal places
• Default value

Drop down Element Type

The Drop down element type requires to be linked to a code library.
This is where the drop down will get its values from. See the Adding Data to the Code Library for more information.
Linking to the code library After the Drop down element is created check the Link to code library checkbox, this will display a drop down called Code library entry, select from the drop down the desired code library.

Variables for this element

• Link to code library
• Code library entry
• Field Width (pixels)
• Field height (pixels)
• Default value

Boolean Element Type

The Boolean element type is a YES / NO or 0 / 1 option.
Booleans have the option of being a check box which when checked = true and unchecked = false
Booleans can also be a drop down, however this is not configurable and you only have the choice of YES or NO

Variables for this element

• Boolean display type - Check box or Drop down
• Default value

Attachment Element Type

The Attachment element type allows the uploading of a single file to the server per record.

Variables for this element

• None

Image Element Type

The Image element type is a place holder for an image, this allows the uploading of a popular format of image, and for this to be displayed on screen.
The resized feature is handy to use especially when you need to control what the screen may look like if a large image was uploaded.

Variables for this element

• Resize Image
• Resized Width
• Resized Height

Time Element Type

The time element type only allows numeric characters, and stores the time only.

Variables for this element

• Default value

Multiselect Element Type

The Multiselect element type allows for selecting of multiple options. Multiselects need to be linked to the code library.

Variables for this element

• Link to code library
• Code Library entry
• Field width (pixels)
• Field height (pixels)
• Default value

Using the Link to code library option

The Link to code library option is available on Drop down and Multiselect elements.

1. Select the Link to code library option on the element
2. A Code library entry drop down will appear
3. Select the desired code library

Using the Link to User Object option

The Link to User Object option is available on Drop down and Multiselect elements.
By linking a drop down or multiselect element to the User Object means that the drop down or multiselect element will be populated with all users in the system.

1. Create a new Element.
2. Select the Element record type to be Drop Down.
3. Give the element a name in the Element Label.
4. Select the Link to User Object check box.
5. Select the appropriate security groups who can view and edit this element.
6. Select the Save button.