2. Build the Leave Request SmartObject

In this step, you will create the Leave Request (SmartBox) SmartObject in K2 Designer. This SmartObject will store the leave requests entered by our users.

SmartBox SmartObjects are Nintex K2-provided and managed storage where a new table is created on your behalf in the K2 database. You add properties (think columns in a table) and methods (think create, save, delete).

1. Begin by adding a new SmartObject to store the leave request records. Create a new SmartBox SmartObject under the SmartObjects category and name it Leave Request SmartObject.
   If you are working in a shared environment where there may be multiple builds of the same SmartObject, consider adding your initials to the SmartObject name so that it is unique.
   1. Create a new SmartBox SmartObject from K2 Designer to store the leave request records. Right-click the SmartObjects category and select New SmartObject.
      
   2. The SmartObject designer opens on the GENERAL settings screen. Name the new SmartObject
      Leave Request SmartObject
      then confirm the SmartBox option is selected. In a later step, you will learn more about the Advanced option, which connects the SmartObjects to an existing data source. Click CREATE.
      If you are working in a shared environment where there may be multiple builds of the same SmartObject, consider adding your initials to the SmartObject name so that it is unique.
      
2. Next, you will define the properties necessary for the Leave Request SmartObject. Add the remaining Leave Request SmartObject properties using the table below as a guide.

   Name	Type	Notes
   ID	Autonumber	Nintex K2 adds the ID automatically and it is the primary (or unique) key for each record.
   Leave Request Title	Text
   Employee Name	Text
   Employee Email	Text
   Leave Start Date	Date
   Leave End Date	Date
   Leave Type	Text
   Requester Comments	Memo
   Request Status	Text	The workflow updates this field.

   1. On the properties screen, notice that Nintex K2 adds the ID property for you, which is the primary (or unique) key for each SmartObject record. In this step, you will add the remaining properties for the Leave Request Application.
      Click Add. Enter the property Name and data Type using the table values below the image for reference. Click the <Add property> link to add more properties until you have entered all eight properties, and then click OK.
      

      Name	Type	Notes
      ID	Autonumber	Nintex K2 adds the ID automatically and it is the primary (or unique) key for each record.
      Leave Request Title	Text	A unique title for each leave request.
      Employee Name	Text	The person who is requesting the leave.
      Employee Email	Text	The email of the person requesting the leave.
      Leave Start Date	Date	What date the leave will start on.
      Leave End Date	Date	What date the leave will end on.
      Leave Type	Text	This will store the selected leave type, selected by a drop-down list.
      Requester Comments	Memo	To allow the requester to enter comments.
      Request Status	Text	The workflow updates this field with the status of the leave request as the workflow progresses.

3. Finish the wizard to publish the SmartObject.

   The Leave Request (SmartBox) SmartObject
   

   1. Your properties screen should look like the image below. Now you can "finish" the SmartObject. Finishing a SmartObject publishes it to the K2 server and make it available for use in other artifacts, such as views and forms. Click FINISH to publish the new SmartObject to the K2 server.
      

Review

In this step, you created the Leave Request (SmartBox) SmartObject. This SmartObject stores the leave request data entered by our users. In the next step, you will create the Leave Request Item View. This is the user interface for entering leave request details.

Next Step: 3. Build the Leave Request Item View