Actions
Actions defines what happens in a rule (in contrast to when or under what conditions), such as setting properties of controls, showing a message, transferring data or closing the view or form. You can add multiple actions to your rule. Select the action you need from the Actions tab. Items that are underlined are configured and items that have a dotted line still need configuration.
Use the following table to learn more about rule actions.
Type | Rule Definition | Example |
---|---|---|
SmartObject interaction | Execute a method on the View |
|
SmartObject interaction | Execute a SmartObject method | Execute a SmartObject method, such as Create or Load. |
SmartObject interaction | Execute a method for items that have been changed | Execute a method such as Expand or List Refresh for items that were selected. |
SmartObject interaction | Execute a SmartObject method for items that have been changed | Execute the Save method for items that were changed. |
SmartObject interaction | Execute a method for items that have been changed on a subview | Execute a method such as Expand or List Refresh for items selected in a subview. |
SmartObject interaction | Execute a SmartObject method for items that have been changed in a subview | Execute the Save method for items changed in a subview. |
SmartObject interaction | Execute a method for items that have been changed on a View on a subform | Execute a method such as Expand or List Refresh for items selected on a view opened in a subform. |
SmartObject interaction | Execute a SmartObject method for items that have been changed on a View on a subform | Execute the Save method for items changed in a view opened in a subform. |
SmartObject interaction | Execute a method on a control for values that are in a specific state |
Use it in check box list interactions - typically many-to-many relationship usage where checked or unchecked items are created or deleted from the table. |
SmartObject interaction | Execute a View method for items that are in a specific state | Use it in batch operations with Editable List views – execute a Save method for items that were added, changed, or removed. |
SmartObject interaction | Execute a method on a View control for values that are in a specific state | Exposed on view level to allow you to choose a view. Use it in check box list interactions - typically many-to-many relationship usage where checked or unchecked items are created or deleted from the table. |
SmartObject interaction | Execute a method on a control for values that are in a specific state on a subview | Use it in check box list interactions - typically many-to-many relationship usage where checked or unchecked items are created or deleted from the table. |
SmartObject interaction | Execute a method on a control for values that are in a specific state on a View on a subform | Use it in check box list interactions - typically many-to-many relationship usage where checked or unchecked items are created or deleted from the table. |
Form interaction | Execute a Form method | Execute an In error or Initialized method on a form. |
Form interaction | Set the Form's properties | Allows you to change form properties at runtime, see How To: Use the Set a Form's Properties Action for an example. |
Form interaction | Set a View's properties |
Allows you to change view properties at runtime, see How To Set a View's Properties for an example. |
Data Transfer | Populate a list control with data | Populates a list control such as a drop-down list with data. Use it if you want to refresh the control’s data. |
Data Transfer | Populate a list control with cached data | Populates a list control such as a drop-down list or picker with cached data. Use it on initialize events and where you want to refresh a control with cached data. See the following topics for more information about cached data: |
Data Transfer | Load a list control cache with data | Loads a list control cache (such as a drop-down or picker) with data. Use it on initialize events and where you want to refresh the cache data of the control. See the following topics for more information about cached data: |
Data Transfer | Transfer data | Update the Status control with a view or form parameter. |
Control interaction | Set a control's properties | Enable a Button control at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Control's Properties Action for an example. |
Control interaction | Set a Form control's properties | Enable a Button control on a form at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Control's Properties Action for an example. |
Control interaction | Set a View control's properties | Enable a Button control on a view at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Control's Properties Action for an example. |
Control interaction | Set a subform control's properties | Enable a Button control on a subform at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Control's Properties Action for an example. |
Control interaction | Set a View on a subform control's properties | Enable a Button control on a view on a subform at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Control's Properties Action for an example. |
Control interaction | Set a subview control's properties | Enable a Button control on a subview at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Control's Properties Action for an example. |
Control interaction | Specify edit state for View and Form controls | Allows you to configure controls and tables on a view and form as read only or editable, see How to use Rules to change the edit state of View and Form controls and tables for an example. |
Control interaction | Specify edit state for subview controls | Allows you to configure controls and tables on a subview as read only or editable, see How to use Rules to change the edit state of View and Form controls and tables for an example. |
Control interaction | Specify edit state for subform controls | Allows you to configure controls and tables on a subform as read only or editable, see How to use Rules to change the edit state of View and Form controls and tables for an example. |
Control interaction | Specify edit state for View controls | Allows you to configure controls and tables on a view as read only or editable, see How to use Rules to change the edit state of View and Form controls and tables for an example. |
Control interaction | Execute a control's method | Execute the Focus method on a control, see How To Set Focus to a Control for an example. |
Control interaction | Execute a View control method |
Execute the Focus method on a view control, see How To Set Focus to a Control for an example |
Control interaction | Execute a subview control's method | Execute the Focus method on a subview control, see How To Set Focus to a Control for an example. |
Control interaction | Execute a Form control's method that was opened in a subform |
Execute the Focus method on a form control, see How To Set Focus to a Control for an example. |
Control interaction | Execute a View control's method that was opened in a subform | Execute the Focus method on a view control, see How To Set Focus to a Control for an example. |
Navigation | Navigate to another Form and go to a View | Open another form and show the specific view’s tab (if applicable), see How to use the Navigate to another Form Rule Action with parameters and Form state and How To Navigate to Another Form Rule Action for examples. |
Navigation | Navigate to another Form and go to a tab | Open another form and show a specific tab, see How to use the Navigate to another Form Rule Action with parameters and Form state and How To Navigate to Another Form Rule Action for examples. |
Navigation | Navigate to another Form | Open another form, see How to use the Navigate to another Form Rule Action with parameters and Form state and How To Navigate to Another Form Rule Action for examples. |
Navigation | Navigate to another Form and execute a View method | Open another form and execute an Expand method on a view when the form opens, see How to use the Navigate to another Form Rule Action with parameters and Form state and How To Navigate to Another Form Rule Action for examples. |
Navigation | Go to a tab | When a form opens, set the focus to a tab on the form. |
Navigation | Go to a subform tab | When a subform opens, set the focus to a tab. |
Navigation | Go to a View | When a form opens, set the focus to a view on the form. |
Workflow interaction | Start a workflow | Start a workflow when you click the Save button. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the workflow. |
Workflow interaction | Start a workflow on a View | Start a workflow when you click the Save button on a view. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the workflow. |
Workflow interaction |
Start a workflow on a subview |
Start a workflow when you click the Save button on a subview. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the workflow. |
Workflow interaction |
Start a workflow on a subform |
Start a workflow when you click the Save button on a subform. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the workflow. |
Workflow interaction |
Start a Workflow on a View on a subform |
Start a workflow when you click the Save button on a view on a subform. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the workflow. |
Workflow interaction | Open a worklist item | Open a Manager Approval worklist item. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the worklist item. |
Workflow interaction | Open a worklist item on a View | Open a Manager Approval worklist item on a view. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the worklist item. |
Workflow interaction |
Open a worklist item on a subview |
Open a Manager Approval worklist item on a subview. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the worklist item. |
Workflow interaction |
Open a worklist item on a subform |
Open a Manager Approval worklist item on a subform. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the worklist item. |
Workflow interaction |
Open a worklist item on a View on a subform |
Open a Manager Approval worklist item on a view on a subform. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the worklist item. |
Workflow interaction | Action a worklist item | Action the Manager Approval worklist item. Allows you to configure work item bindings such as serial number and activity name. |
Workflow interaction | Action a worklist item on a View | Action the Manager Approval worklist item on a View. Allows you to configure work item bindings such as serial number and activity name. |
Workflow interaction |
Action a worklist item on a subview |
Action the Manager Approval worklist item on a subview. Allows you to configure work item bindings such as serial number and activity name. |
Workflow interaction |
Action a worklist item on a subform |
Action the Manager Approval worklist item on a subform. Allows you to configure work item bindings such as serial number and activity name. |
Workflow interaction |
Action a worklist item on a View on a subform |
Action the Manager Approval worklist item on a view on a subform. Allows you to configure work item bindings such as serial number and activity name. |
Browser interaction | Close the browser window | If the runtime form is opened in such a way that it can be closed via JavaScript in the browser (i.e. opened by JavaScript – such as from worklist), it closes the window. Otherwise it redirects to a blank page. |
Browser Interaction | Navigate to a URL |
Change the browser URL to the specific URL, such as a message form or the home portal form, see How to use the Navigate to URL Rule Action with parameters and How To Navigate to URL Rule Action for examples. |
Browser interaction | Disable the Form |
Disable a Performance Appraisal form when the employee clicks the Submit button. |
Browser interaction | Enable the Form |
Enable a Performance Appraisal form when the manager clicks the Add button. |
Browser interaction | Disable the subform |
Disable a Performance Appraisal subform when the employee clicks the Submit button. |
Browser interaction | Enable the subform |
Enable a Performance Appraisal subform when the manager clicks the Add button. |
Subview interaction | Populate a list control on a subview | Populates a drop-down list on a subview |
Subview interaction | Populate a list control on a subview with cached data |
Populates a list control such as a drop-down list or picker on a subview with cached data. Use it on initialize events and where you want to refresh a control with cached data. See the following topics for more information about cached data: |
Subview interaction | Load a list control cache with data on a subview |
Loads a list control cache (such as a drop-down or picker) with data on a subview. Use it on initialize events and where you want to refresh the control cache with data. See the following topics for more information about cached data: |
Subview interaction | Open a subview | Open a view in a pop-up window (subview). Specifically useful if you don't want to navigate away from the current tab. You can specify subview settings such as Title, Width and Height. See How To Set the Window Size of a subview for more information. |
Subview interaction | Open a subview and execute a method | Open the Employee Details view as a subview when you click a record in the Employees List view, then load the employee's details in the subview using the Load method. Configure the Load method with the ID property of the Employees List view SmartObject to load the record. |
Subview interaction | Transfer data to a subview | Update the Status control on a subview with a view parameter. |
Subview interaction | Close a subview or subform | When you click the Save button on the Employee Details subview, then close the subview to return to the Employees List view. |
Subview interaction | Close a subview or subform and execute a method on the view | When you click the Create button on a subview, then close the subview and refresh the parent List view. |
Subview interaction | Execute a subview method | Execute the Load method on a subview. |
Subform interaction | Execute a subform method | Execute the Load method on a subform. |
Subform interaction | Populate a list control on a View that was opened on a subform |
When you open a view on a subform, then populate a list control such as a drop-down list or picker on the view with data. Use it if you have data in a subform which should populate a list control on a view. |
Subform interaction | Populate a list control on a View that was opened on a subform with cached data | When you open a view on a subform, then populate a list control such as a drop-down list or picker on the view with cached data. Use it on initialize events and where you want to refresh the control with cached data. See the following topics for more information about cached data: |
Subform interaction | Load a list control cache with data on a View that was opened on a subform | When you open a view on a subform, then load a list control's cache (such as a drop-down or picker) with data. Use it on initialize events and where you want to refresh the control cache with data. See the following topics for more information about cached data: |
Subform interaction | Open a subform | Open a view in a pop-up window (subform). Specifically useful if you don't want to navigate away from the current tab. You can specify subform settings such as Title, Width and Height. See How To Set the Window Size of a subview for more information |
Subform interaction | Execute a View method that was opened on a subform | Execute the Load method on a view on the subform. |
Subform interaction | Transfer data to a subform | Update the Status control on a subform with a view parameter. |
Subform interaction | Set a subform's properties |
Change the Page Color of a subform at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Form's Properties Action for an example. |
Subform interaction | Set a View on a subform's properties |
Enable a view on a subform at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a View's Properties Action for an example. |
Visibility | Show a control | Show the Submit control if the view is in Normal mode. |
Visibility | Hide a control | Hide the Submit control if the view is in Offline mode. |
Visibility | Show a control on a View on a subform | Show the Submit control on a view that you open on a subform if the view is in Normal mode. |
Visibility | Hide a control on a View on a subform | Hide the Submit control on a view that you open on a subform if the view is in Offline mode. |
Visibility | Show a subview control | Show the Submit control on a subview if the view is in Normal mode. |
Visibility | Hide a subview control | Hide the Submit control on a subview if the view is in Offline mode. |
Visibility | Enable a control |
Enable the Comments control if current Workflow Activity is Review. |
Visibility | Disable a control | Disable the Text control if current Workflow Activity is Print Agreement. |
Visibility | Enable a subview control | Enable the Comments control on a subview if current Workflow Activity is Review. |
Visibility | Disable a subview control | Disable the Text control on a subview if current Workflow Activity is Print Agreement. |
Visibility | Enable a control on a View on a subform | Enable the Comments control in a view on a subform if current Workflow Activity is Review. |
Visibility | Disable a control on a View on a subform | Disable the Text control in a view on a subform if current Workflow Activity is Print Agreement. |
Visibility | Enable a View |
When you click the New Client button, then enable the New Client view on the Client form. |
Visibility | Disable a View |
When the Client form initializes, then disable the New Client view. |
Visibility | Enable a subview |
When you click the New Client button, then open and enable the New Client subview. |
Visibility | Disable a subview |
When the Sales subview opens, then disable the Sales subview if the current Workflow Activity is Show Sales Report. |
Visibility | Enable a View on a subform |
When you click the New Client button on the Client subform, then enable the New Client view. |
Visibility | Disable a View on a subform |
When the Client subform initializes, then disable the New Client view. |
Visibility | Disable a subform control |
Disable the Text control on the Service level Agreement subform if current Workflow Activity is Print Agreement. |
Visibility | Enable a subform control |
Enable the Comments control on the Service level Agreement subform if current Workflow Activity is Review. |
Visibility | Show a subform control |
Show the Comments control on the Service level Agreement subform if current Workflow Activity is Review. |
Visibility | Hide a subform control |
Hide the Save control on the Service level Agreement subform if current Workflow Activity is Print Agreement. |
Visibility | Hide a subform tab |
Hide the Region tab on a subform if an advanced condition is true. |
Visibility | Show a subform tab |
Show the Region tab on the Sales subform if the current Workflow Activity is Create Region. |
Visibility | Expand a View |
Expand the Employees List view when the Employees form opens to show all the detail of the view. See How To Expand and Collapse View Events and Methods for an example. |
Visibility | Collapse a View |
Collapse the Employees List view when the Employees form opens to limit the space on the form. See How To Expand and Collapse View Events and Methods for an example. |
Visibility | Expand a subview |
Expand the Employees List subview to show all the detail of the view. See How To Expand and Collapse View Events and Methods for an example. |
Visibility | Collapse a subview |
Collapse the Employees List subview to limit the space on the view. See How To Expand and Collapse View Events and Methods for an example. |
Visibility | Expand a View on a subform |
Expand the Employees List view when the Employees subform opens to show all the detail of the view. See How To Expand and Collapse View Events and Methods for an example. |
Visibility | Collapse a View on a subform |
Collapse the Employees List view when the Employees subform opens to limit the space on the form. See How To Expand and Collapse View Events and Methods for an example. |
Visibility | Hide a View on a subform |
Hide the Create Employees view when the Employees subform opens. |
Visibility | Show a View on a subform |
Show the Create Employees view when the Employees subform opens. |
Visibility | Show a View filter section |
Show the filter section on the Employees List view to filter the records in the list. This is only available on List views. |
Visibility | Show the subview filter |
Show the filter section on the Employees List subview to filter the records in the list. This is only available on List views. |
Visibility | Hide the subview filter |
Hide the filter section on the Employees List subview. This is only available on List views. |
Visibility | Show the filter on a View on a subform |
Show the filter section on the Employees List view on the Employees subform to filter the records in the list. This is only available on List views. |
Visibility | Hide the filter on a View on a subform |
Hide the filter section on the Employees List view on the Employees subform. This is only available on List views. |
Visibility | Hide a View filter section |
Hide the filter section on the Employees List view. This is only available on List views. |
Visibility | Hide a View |
Hide the Create Employees view when the Employees form opens. |
Visibility | Show a View |
Show the Create Employees view when the Employees form opens. |
Visibility | Hide a tab |
Hide the Region tab when the Sales form opens. |
Visibility | Show a tab |
Show the Region tab when the Sales form opens. |
Visibility | Show a View control |
Show the Calculate control on the Sales view when the view opens. |
Visibility | Hide a View control |
Hide the Approve control on the New Regions view if the workflow activity is Capture Region. |
Visibility | Enable a View control |
Enable the Submit control on the Capture Sales view when all the fields have been completed. |
Visibility | Disable a View control |
Disable the Comments control on the Sales view if you want to use the control as read-only. |
Visibility | Enable a Form control |
Enable the Submit control on the Sales form view when all the fields have been completed. |
Visibility | Disable a Form control |
Disable the Comments control on the Sales form if you want to use the control as read-only. |
Visibility | Show a Form control |
Show the Calculate control on the Sales form when the view opens. |
Visibility | Hide a Form control |
Hide the Approve control on the New Regions form if the workflow activity is Capture Region. |
Notifications | Get confirmation from user |
When you execute the Delete method, then get confirmation from the user. The dialog displays OK and Cancel buttons. You can create a follow up rule depending on the button clicked. If you click OK, rules listed after the confirmation rule continue to execute. If you click Cancel, no other rules continue to execute. When you use the confirmation dialog rule in an IF statement, the TRUE section executes when clicking the OK button, and executes the ELSE section when clicking the Cancel button. |
Notifications | Show a message |
When you action a worklist item, then show a message as confirmation. The message shows in a dialog. See How To Show a Message Rule Action for an example. |
Notifications | Browse to a Message Form | When you action a worklist item, then show a message as confirmation. The message opens in a page. |
Notifications | Send an e-mail | When you action a worklist item, then send an e-mail as confirmation. See How To Send An E-mail Rule Action. |
Editable List Functionality | Add a new row to the editable list | When you click the New button on the Employees Editable List view a new row is added. |
Editable List functionality | Edit the selected row on the editable list | When you select a row in the Employees Editable List view and then click the Edit button you can edit the selected row. |
Editable List functionality | Remove the selected row from the editable list |
When you select a row in the Employees Editable List view and then click the Remove button you can remove the selected row. |
Editable List functionality | Add a new row to the editable list subview | When you click the New button on the Employees Editable List subview, a new row is added. |
Editable List functionality | Edit the selected row on the editable list subview | When you select a row in the Employees Editable List subview and then click the Edit button, you can edit the selected row. |
Editable List Functionality | Remove the selected row from the editable list subview |
When you select a row in the Employees Editable List subview and then click the Remove button, you can remove the selected row. |
Editable List Functionality | Add a new row to the editable list View on subform | When you click the New button on the Employees Editable List subform, a new row is added. |
Editable List functionality | Edit the selected row on the editable list View on subform | When you select a row in the Employees Editable List subform and then click the Edit button, you can edit the selected row. |
Editable List functionality | Remove the selected row from the editable list View on subform |
When you select a row in the Employees Editable List subform and then click the Remove button, you can remove the selected row. |
Editable List functionality | Apply the changes made to the row on the editable list View | When you click the Save button on the Employees Editable List view, then execute the Create method for all Added items; execute the Save method for all Changed items; and execute the Delete method for all Removed items. |
Editable List functionality | Cancel the changes made to a row on the editable list View | When you click the Undo button on the Employees Editable List view, then cancel the changes made to the row on the editable list. |
Editable List functionality | Apply the changes made to a row on the editable list subview | When you click the Save button on the Employees Editable List subview, then execute the Create method for all Added items; execute the Save method for all Changed items; and execute the Delete method for all Removed items. |
Editable List functionality | Cancel the changes made to a row on the editable list subview | When you click the Undo button on the Employees Editable List subview, then cancel the changes made to the row on the editable list. |
Editable List functionality | Apply the changes made to a row on the editable list View on a subform | When you click the Save button on the Employees Editable List view on a subform, then execute the Create method for all Added items; execute the Save method for all Changed items; and execute the Delete method for all Removed items. |
Editable List functionality | Cancel the changes made to a row on the editable list View on a subform | When you click the Undo button on the Employees Editable List view on a subform, then cancel the changes made to the row on the editable list. |
Rule interaction | Execute another rule | When the Submit button is clicked, then execute the When Create button is Clicked rule |
Rule interaction | Stop rule execution | Stops execution of the current rule. This is typically used along with the if an error occurred condition to clearly define what happens if an error occurs at runtime, or you can use it to force a rule to stop if a specific condition is true. See Stop rule execution and continue to next execution actions for more information about using this action along with the Continue to next execution action and if an error occurred condition to manually control the execution of subsequent execution blocks. |
Rule interaction | Continue to next execution | Continues to the next execution block within the current rule. Note that this action does not continue to the next rule. This is typically used along with the if an error occurred condition to force the rule to continue on to the subsequent block of actions in the same rule, after an error occurs.See Stop rule execution and continue to next execution actions for more information about using this action along with the Stop rule execution action and if an error occurred condition to manually control the execution of subsequent execution blocks. |
You can use the following actions together with the Error occurred condition to manually control the execution of subsequent execution blocks within the current rule when an error occurs:
- Continue to next execution – Continues to the next execution block within the current rule. Note that this action does not continue to the next rule.
- Stop rule execution – Stops execution of the current rule.
When you use the Error occurred condition in a rule and an error occurs at runtime, execution stops by default after completing the error condition's actions. You can use the Continue to next execution and Stop rule execution actions to manually control what must happen after completing the Error occurred condition block of actions. When you use the Stop rule execution action in a rule you can clearly show what happens when an error occurs, improving the discoverability and maintenance of the rule. The Continue to next execution action allows you to continue with subsequent execution blocks in the rule, even if there is an error. In other words, use the Continue to next execution action to force the rule to continue on to the next execution block after an error occurs. The example below shows how you can configure the Continue to next execution and Stop rule execution actions with an Error occurred condition to force execution to continue and stop when you want it to. It shows rule execution if an error occurs when executing the Create method.
The sequence of the rule definition execution is explained below:
- When the Create Button is clicked, the Create method executes.
- If an error occurs at runtime, the rule checks if there is an error handling (if an error occurred) condition. If no error handling condition is found, the rule in this example stops automatically. If it finds the error handling condition, the rule skips to the if an error occurred execution block. In our example, an error occurs at runtime which means that the then transfer data action does not execute.
- Next, all actions within the if an error occurred execution block execute. We use the Continue to next execution action to force the rule to continue because we want to execute the subsequent execution blocks.
- The rule then continues to the next execution block, which is the then show a message to the user action. A message is shown at runtime.
- Rule execution continues to the next execution block (if an advanced condition is true). If the condition evaluates to true, the rule stops execution and no further execution blocks execute. If the advanced condition evaluates to false, the rule continues to the next execution block, executes the transfer data action and then the send an e-mail action. In our example, if we assume the condition evaluates to true, so the transfer data and send an e-mail actions do not execute.