| # Dynamic sessions and dynamic forms In LN the sessions and forms are dynamic. The appearance of a dynamic session/form is not fixed but can differ per situation. Characteristics The following list is an overview of the key characteristics of dynamic sessions and dynamic forms. Form layout The form layout is dynamic: the position of fields and labels is not fixed, but can differ per situation. At runtime, the same form can be displayed in multiple ways. The runtime appearance of the form is based on: the content (labels and fields) and the structure (grouping of labels and fields) of the form and the sequence of fields and groups in the form definition. the table field authorizations of the user (if any): if a user is not authorized for a table field, the field (including its label) completely disappears from the form. The position of the remaining form fields is rearranged automatically. Refer to Impact of table field authorizations for an example. the mode in which the session is run. Dynamic sessions can run in overview mode and in details mode. Editor Forms are edited through the Dynamic Form Editor ( DFE). This editor is a separate utility and must be installed, from the Infor LN installation CD, on the client PC. Refer to Dynamic Form Editor for details on the editor. Session generation You can create sessions through the Sessions (ttadv2500m000) session. For each session, an empty dynamic form is generated automatically. You must use the Dynamic Form Editor to generate the form fields. Session and form integration Sessions and forms are integrated. There is a one to one relationship between sessions and forms: each form is linked to a session and each session has only one form. You can directly edit the form by clicking Edit Form in the Sessions (ttadv2500m000) session. Single form for each session Each session has only one form. A form can consist of multiple field groups. At runtime, these groups can be displayed as parallel form tabs. In the Dynamic Form Editor, fields can be moved very easily from one field group to another. Combination of overview and details session Dynamic sessions can run in 2 modes: overview mode and details mode. Therefore, a single dynamic session can be used as an overview session and as a details session. Refer to Combined overview and details session for details. Dynamic Index Switching If Dynamic Index Switching is implemented for a session, the layout of the form changes automatically when a user selects another index (through the Sort by command in the session's View menu). The runtime layout of the form changes according to the selected index. For example: The order of fields in the session's grid changes. Different fields are displayed in the view area above the session's grid. Refer to To implement dynamic index switching for details. Text boxes Text fields can be displayed as text boxes, where you can type the text directly. However, it is also still possible to edit texts via a text editor. Appearance of enum and string fields In the Dynamic Form Editor, you can define how enumerated fields and string fields must be displayed. For example, you can indicate whether an enumerated field is displayed as a check box, a drop down list box, or as an option set (a set of radio buttons). Form commands Multiple form commands can be defined for each session/form. Form commands are used to start a session, a function, a business method or a menu. Form commands can be started via buttons or via the session's Specific menu. You can create form commands in the Form Commands (ttadv3518m000) session. Dynamic Form Editor The Dynamic Form Editor ( DFE) is not an LN session, but a separate utility that must be installed, from the LN installation CD, on the client PC. Use this editor to define the form fields (including their labels), field groups and alignment settings for a form. In the editor, the form is displayed as a list of fields and field groups. The editor offers preview options to view the runtime layout of the form, while editing. The following figure shows a screenshot of the DFE: Form of Employees (tccom0101m000) session in the DFE The dynamic form in this figure contains various types of components: Table fields, e.g. the tccom001.emno field. Table fields with a reference to another table, e.g. the tccom001.clan field. Non-table fields, e.g. variables from the session's program script. For example: the user.desc field. Field groups, e.g. the General and Employment groups. Each component type has its own icon. The icon in the form's upper left corner represents the entire session. Here you can modify session properties, such as the runtime appearance of field groups (on a single page, or on multiple form tabs). More information For detailed information refer to the DFE online help. You can access this online help via the Help menu in the DFE (see the previous figure) or by pressing F1 in the DFE. Combined overview and details session LN contains various sessions that are used as both an overview session and a details session. For example: Employees - General (tccom0101m000) Items - Freight Management (fmfmd1100m000) Standard Routes (fmlbd0150m000) Tasks (tsmdm0115m000) Service Areas (tsmdm1105m000) When you start such a combined session, the session runs in overview mode: a list of records is displayed. However, when you double-click a record (or click New or Duplicate) in the overview session, the same session is started in details mode: a dialog, where you can edit a single record, appears. In the DFE, you can specify per field/group whether the field/group must be displayed in overview mode and/or in details mode. For details, refer to "Field properties" and "Group properties" in the DFE online help. Note Overview session and details session are not always the same session. In a lot of cases the overview session and the details session are separate sessions. For example: The Items - General (tcibd0501m000) overview session and the Item - General (tcibd0101s000) details session. The Business Partners (tccom4500m000) overview session and the Business Partners (tccom4100s000) details session. The Addresses (tccom4530m000) overview session and the Addresses (tccom4130s000) details session. Impact of table field authorizations The runtime appearance of a dynamic form is influenced by the table field authorizations of the user (if any): if a user is not authorized for a table field, the field (including its label) completely disappears from the form. The position of the remaining form fields is rearranged automatically. Note Table field authorizations can be defined through the Specific menu in the Role Data (ttams2100m000) session. For details refer to Defining authorizations. Sessions In LN you can use the following sessions to maintain dynamic sessions and dynamic forms: Sessions (ttadv2500m000) Forms (ttadv3500m000) Form Commands (ttadv3518m000) Convert session to dynamic (ttadv2900m000) Related topics The online help in the Dynamic Form Editor Session Synchronization Multi Main Table sessions To implement dynamic index switching Program Scripts Overview LN Reporting Overview |