Adding conditions that affect the appearance of forms at runtime

In addition to static form arrangement, the appearance of forms at runtime can be altered based on conditions that you specify using the Validation Designer. For example, you can use a condition to change the background color of a field if the field value exceeds a specified number, or the font can be changed if a different condition is met.

Conditions apply to groups of controls.* Therefore, you must first add a control group (as described in steps 7 – 11 below).

After each validation,** the system checks whether a configured condition is true:

• If the condition is true, the configured modifications are applied to the control group.

• If the condition is false, the configured modifications are reset to default if no Else condition is configured. If an Else condition is configured, the configured modifications are applied.

* Note: If a control group consists of different types of controls, only the properties that are common to all of the controls can be modified in the group. Example: In a group of labels, the Background Color property can be changed. But if you add a text box to the group, that property can no longer be changed, because the background color of text boxes cannot be changed by form manipulation. To get around this, you can create a separate control group that contains only controls that have a changeable background color.

** Note: When validation occurs depends in part on the Validate fields when edited (instead of waiting for confirmation) setting in the Verification activity.

The following instructions assume that you have already created a form and added controls to a form panel.

Note: This procedure does not apply to web forms.

Use this procedure

1. Using the XBOUND Management Center, open a console containing the Validation Designer. (For information about working with consoles, see XBOUND Help.)
2. Under Process Navigation, select a process.

3. Click the Check out button ().

4. Select File > Open.
5. In the Open business rule group or form dialog, select a form to open and click OK.

6. Select File > Form Manipulation.

7. In the Customize form manipulation dialog, under Controls, click Add to add a control group.

8. In the Choose controls dialog, type a name for the group.

9. Select the controls that are to be included in the group.

10. Optional: Select Cell mode if changes to a table column are to be made on individual cells. If not selected, changes apply to the entire column.

    Note: Cell mode can be enabled only for columns in the same table. Other controls cannot be modified at the same time in this group. Whole tables are currently not modifiable.

11. Click OK.

12. Back in the Customize form manipulation dialog, under Control modifications, click Add.

13. In the Add or edit action dialog, specify the desired modification.

    For example, for Text properties, the field button () is available. This opens the Choose XBOUND field dialog, where it is possible to include a field value in the text.

    Click OK.

14. Again in the Customize form manipulation dialog, under Conditions, configure the conditions that are to determine the appearance of the form. Use the controls described in this help topic.

15. Click Apply to save your changes.

Related topics

The work area for forms

Input forms for use in Verification: Overview