Expert mode in the "Applications" module

The setting "Enable expert options" can be enabled via the main menu "Extras / Options / Applications".

"Expert" tab

In Expert mode, the additional "Expert" tab is displayed in the properties dialog for elements, data groups, pages and the application node. Attributes, which describe the corresponding element in its XML application file, and settings can be changed or defined here.

Attributes

Every attribute, which describes the current element in the XML application file, is listed here.

The value of an attribute can be edited by clicking in the corresponding cell in the "Value" column.

Add attribute

Opens a drop-down list in the "Attribute" column where a new attribute can be selected. All of the expert attributes that are available for the currently selected element will be listed here. Attributes that only function under certain conditions are marked with a *. Other attributes can be written directly into the cell next to the listed attributes.

Remove attribute

Deletes the attribute currently selected.

Create GUID

Generates a GUID and copies it to the clipboard.

Below the attribute list you will find the "Settings" button, which you can use to switch to Expert settings.

By clicking on the Settings button in the lower part of the dialog, individual settings may be defined.

Settings, on the other hand, control the behavior of the server or of the controls. The names of the settings are designed to make clear to which elements the setting will be applied.

Remove setting

Deletes the setting currently selected.

Add setting / Edit setting

Opens a dialog where a new setting can be created.

Edit setting

Examples

control.listbox.language.usePortalSettings

Can be used for selection lists.

Function: Lists only the languages that are enabled in the portal.
Possible values: No / Yes

Selection lists with the setting "special value source", where the class "LanguageListProcessor" is used, only list the languages that are activated in the portal with the setting "control.listbox.language.usePortalSettings".

control.distribution.storage.dataGroup.triggerWorkflow

Can be used with the "Multiple selection" element.

Function: Trigger process for selecting entries in the multiple selection
Possible values: No / Yes

When saving values for a multiple selection in the linked child data group, a process event can be initiated for each child data record so that a process can react to the selection of individual entries. Data Group Event Handlers for which the child data group is selected are triggered.

Details

When the expert mode is active, the "Details" dialog is also available via the context menu of an element or by pressing the F4 key.

"Short info" tab

On this tab you will find the

• Title

• Type

• GUID

• Names

of the currently selected element in XML.

Show information

Displays further information on all elements that are a parent to the currently selected element, such as the page that contains the element or a grouping that includes an element.

"XML" tab

This tab contains the XML editor which allows you to edit the XML of the current element directly.

Remove write protection

When you open the dialog, the XML is initially write-protected to prevent unintended changed. Click on this button to remove the write protection.

Show abbreviated XML

Shows/hides XML parts from child elements of the shown element, such as pages beneath a data group.

Filter editor

Filters can also be edited directly in expert mode. To do this, click on "Edit filter in Expert mode" in the filter dialog.

The source text of filters defined via the standard dialog is displayed in the filter editor and can be edited here directly in the XML. Changes to the XML take effect after the application has been published.

Indexes

If the Expert options have been activated, the additional tab "Indexes" will be available in the properties dialog of data groups. Here indexes for database fields can be defined, which will improve performance when filtering or sorting tables in applications.

If the data group contains foreign keys or references, indexes will already have been created here - one index for all primary keys and one index per reference. These indexes cannot be edited via this dialog or changed - apart from the index names. If a reference from the data group is deleted, the corresponding index is deleted automatically.

You can find a list of all defined indexes in the left area of the dialog.

Add index

Creates a new index. The name of the index will be generated automatically from the name of the current data group and an incremental number.

Remove index

Resets an existing index. The index will be removed from the list.

Properties of the selected index

Name

The index name of the currently selected index is shown here and can be edited.

Index is unique

If the field (or fields) in the "Fields" column contains unique values, the "Index is unique" setting can be selected to improve the performance when filtering or sorting.

"Fields" column

List of fields that are selected for the index.

"Sort order" column

For each field you can define whether the index should be in ascending or descending order.

Add field

The required data field can be selected from a list that is no longer hidden.

Remove field

Removes the selected data field from the list.

Conditional display

In Expert mode, the following elements can be shown or hidden based on certain criteria:

• Button

• Grouping

• Grids

In the Properties dialog, you will then see the "Conditional display" setting in Expert mode.

Edit condition

Opens the Velocity editor where you can write your condition.

For elements with an existing conditional display, Velocity can be opened directly with F12.