Dropdown
Solution No. 80
The Dropdown object inserts a dropdown list in a field cell for users to enter data by selecting from user-defined options.
So Where Do We Use It?
Dropdown lists are used when you wish to enter data based on a specific group of choices. The user selects a choice from a pre-defined list.
Add a Dropdown
A Dropdown can be added to a screen from the Toolbox on the design screen page. To add a Dropdown, follow these steps:
1. Follow the steps to Edit an Existing Screen or Add a New Screen.
2. Click Add Objects from the Toolbox.
3. Click and drag the Dropdown object to the desired cell in the design screen.
4. Release the mouse button.
5. To finish, select the appropriate option below:
A. If you are ready to activate your changes to the screen, but wish to keep the design screen open, click Publish.
B. If you are ready to activate your changes to the screen and wish to close the design screen, click Save & Close, then select Ok.
C. If you wish to close the design screen and not publish changes, click Save & Close, then select Cancel.
Edit a Dropdown
1. Follow the steps to Edit an Existing Screen or Add a New.
2. Click Add Objects from the Toolbox.
3. Add a Dropdown or go to an existing Dropdown in the design screen.
4. Click Edit in the upper-right corner of the Dropdown object you wish to edit.
5. The Dropdown Properties Wizard appears. The wizard is divided into 6 steps that follow:
Step 1 of 6: Dropdown Object Properties
1. Enter Caption.
2. Select Caption location from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
A. Top
B. Left
C. Right
D. None
3. Set a Default Value if applicable.
4. Click Formatting (click to show)formatting options or Advanced Options (click to show)for Advanced options, otherwise click Next
If you opted to show formatting options
1. Select Caption forecolor by clicking the blank field. A color picker pops up, allowing you to select the color of your choice.
2. Select Caption backcolor by clicking the blank field. A color picker pops up, allowing you to select the color of your choice.
3. Select Text forecolor by clicking the blank field. A color picker pops up, allowing you to select the color of your choice.
4. Select Text backcolor by clicking the blank field. A color picker pops up, allowing you to select the color of your choice.
5. Check the Use default font size box to use the pre-assigned font size selected for your Method account; uncheck the Use default font size box and manually enter a font size in the corresponding field.
6. Check the Underlined box for the caption to be underlined.
7. Check the Italic box for the caption to appear in italics.
8. Check the Bold box for the caption to appear in bold.
9. Select the Alignment:
The Choices are:
1. Left
2. Center
3. Right
If you opted to show Advanced Options (Click to show):
1. Check the Hidden box if you wish for the object to be hidden from the screen.
2. Check the Read Only box if you wish to not allow the object to be edited.
3. Enter Hover Help Tip, if applicable.
4. Click Next.
Step 2 of 6: Dropdown Object Actions
1. Fill the Add Action or Copy Action button.
2. Select Event from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
A. Text Change
B. Button Click
C. Add New
3. Select Action from the dropdown list.
4. Click Add Action (See Method Actions Reference Guide for assistance).
5. Click Next.
Step 3 of 6: Dropdown Object Validation Rules
1. Select Condition from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
A. Contains – requires value contain specified criteria.
B. Does not contain – value cannot contain specified criteria.
C. Equal to – value must match criteria.
D. Is not equal to – value cannot match criteria.
E. Starts with – value must start with specified criteria.
F. Ends with – value must end with specified criteria.
G. Is empty – value must be empty.
H. Is not empty – value cannot be empty.
I. Build selection list – value must be found in the selection list.
2. If you selected Is empty, or Is not empty for Step 1, skip to Step 5; if you selected Build selection list for Step 1, type values into selection list then skip to Step 5; otherwise proceed to Step 3.
3. Select Value from the dropdown list.
The choices are:
A. Type In – sets the condition to a user-defined action result.
B. Value From Screen – sets the condition to a value pulled from a specific field within the specified screen.
4. If you selected Type In for Step 3, skip to Step 5; otherwise select from the dropdown list below.
5. Click Add Validation Rule.
6. Click Next.
Step 4 of 6: Dropdown Object Choices
1. Select Value From Table. This is the table the dropdown will get its selection from.
2. Select Field from the dropdown list.
3. Select the 2nd column from the dropdown, if applicable.
4. Select the 3rd column from the dropdown, if applicable.
5. Select a default value for the list.
Step 5 of 6: Dropdown Field Filter
1. Select an option for the Choose from a list of available field’s dropdown list.
2. Click Insert Filter.
3. Click Finish.
4. To finish select the appropriate option below:
A. If you are ready to activate your changes to the screen, but wish to keep the design screen open, click Publish.
B. If you are ready to activate your changes to the screen and wish to close the design screen, click Save & Close, then select Ok.
C. If you wish to close the design screen and not publish changes, click Save & Close, then select Cancel.
Step 6 of 6: Dropdown Roles
1. Select the Roles that will be allowed permission to perform certain operations.
The choices are:
A. Accountant
B. Administrator
C. Customizer
D. Director
E. Guest
F. Manager
G. Staff
Delete a Grid
1. Follow the steps to Edit an Existing.2. Find the Grid you wish to delete in the design screen.3. Click the ‘X’ in the upper-right corner of the Grid you wish to delete.4. Click OK when prompted to confirm.5. To finish, select the appropriate option below:
A. If you are ready to activate your changes to the screen, but wish to keep the design screen open, click Publish.
B. If you are ready to activate your changes to the screen and wish to close the design screen, click Save & Close, then select Ok.
C. If you wish to close the design screen and not publish changes, click Save & Close, then select Cancel.
Change the Grid Size
1. Follow the steps to Edit an Existing Screen or Add a New.2. Add a Grid or go to an existing Grid in the design screen.3. Click the ‘<->’ icon in the upper-right corner of the Grid you wish to resize. With each click, the Grid will grow to occupy the cell to the right. Once the Grid has occupied all cells in its row, the next click will decrease the Grid size to only the cell it was originally placed in.4. To finish, select the appropriate option below:
A. If you are ready to activate your changes to the screen, but wish to keep the design screen open, click Publish.
B. If you are ready to activate your changes to the screen and wish to close the design screen, click Save & Close, then select Ok.
C. If you wish to close the design screen and not publish changes, click Save & Close, then select Cancel.
| Created by | John C. on | Nov-19-2012 |
| Last modified by | John C. on | Nov-19-2012 |
