Drag and Drop Data Definition Builder
Digest
The Drag-n-Drop Data Definition Builder is a feature debuted with the release of Cascade Server 6.4 and is a graphical tool to build Data Definitions.
Concept
Understanding the Data Definition Building Tool
The Builder is made up of two parts, the content section, noted in the system as "system-data-structure," and a toolbar, that is located above the Builder's content section. In order to add new structured fields to a Data Definition, users will drag one of the supplied 14 field/tool options from the toolbar and drop it in the desired location in the content section. In the example below, we've dragged a "group" tool into the content section:
When dropped into the content section, each field has a context toolbar that contains buttons for edit and delete. The edit option is displayed to allow for specification of settings for a specific field in use by the Data Definition. Using the delete button will remove the field from the Data Definition. See the delete and edit functions in the screen shot below:
Users can use the "Advanced" option for any field, to further modify and customize each item. After editing any aspect of a field, whether standard or advanced, users must press "Save" to save the changes and close the edit box.
Fields/tools can be clustered by "group." For example, if you wanted to create an "address" section in a Data Definition form, you'd drop a group into the content section, and within that group you'd drag text fields for street, city, state, and zip code. Each field/tool has label and identifier elements.
Labels refer to the label text that will appear in front of each field in the Data Definition. Using the example above, the label for one of the text fields would be "zip code."
Identifiers refer to the tag name for a given field in rendered Index Block XML content. Note - if fields/tools are dropped within the same Data Definition group, these fields cannot use the same identifier. Fields within the same Data Definition can use the same identifier, so long as they are not clustered within a group.
Tools/Fields Supplied in the Builder's Toolbar
The Drag-n-Drop Data Definition Builder toolbar contains 14 fields for easy drag-n-drop inclusion in Data Definitions:
- group - used to group together form fields in the Data Definition. For example, if the group were "address" it would contain fields for street, city, and so on.
- text field - single-line textbox.
- text area - multi-line textbox.
- WYSIWYG field - standard word processing editor.
- checkboxes - either a single checkbox or a group of checkbox fields.
- dropdown - a single dropdown field with multiple selection options.
- radio buttons - either a single radio button or a group of radio button fields.
- multi-selector - a multi-select field with listed values that can be simultaneously selected.
- calendar - a single field with date chooser.
- date-time field - a field with choosers for date and time.
- page chooser - field with clickable chooser to select a Page.
- file chooser - field with clickable chooser to select a File.
- block chooser -field with clickable chooser to select a Block.
- symlink chooser - field with clickable chooser to select an External Link.
For a description of each Data Definition field property, please refer to the Data Definition Schema Reference.
Once these fields have been dragged into the Data Definition's content section, upon save the field properties are validated. For example, an identifier can never be left empty and "minimum number" settings cannot contain alpha and/or other non-numeric characters. The builder will not allow users to save invalid fields. Furthermore, when submitting a new or edited Data Definition, if it contains any invalid fields, upon submission of the Data Definition, the system will prompt the user to remedy these errors.
Using XML with the Data Definition Builder
Note - for accessibility reasons and for power users familiar with XML, those who would rather build their Data Definitions manually with XML are still able to do so via the "XML" tab displayed in the Data Definition Builder below:
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After updating the XML in the "XML" tab, users can switch back to the Data Definition Builder in the "General" tab, and the XML updates will automatically be shown in the builder's contents.
Above: XML entered in Data Definition XML Tab
