Appboard/2.4/builder/widgets/actions/write static value

Revision as of 03:05, 18 September 2013 by imported>Jason.nicholls

The "Write Static Value" action provides a way to write a static value back to the data source based on the selected item. This action only works if the data source supports updates, and is configured appropriately if required.

A simple example and use of this action would be to set an acknowledged flag on a selected ticket in a table widget. In this case either a database table or query would be configured to retrieve the list of tickets, a widget configured to show the tickets, and the action created to set a specific field in order to mark it as acknowledged (e.g. the setting the "ack" field to "1").

As with any widget action it's possible to configure these in context, multiple actions if it's desired to set multiple fields, and action menus can be built if different operations need to be presented to the end-user.


Supporting Data Source Types

Data Source Type Details
CSV file/dir no configuration required on data source
Database Table automatic for entities with primary keys defined
Database Query each entity (query) needs a specific SQL update statement defined


How To Create a Write Static Value Action

For instructions on adding an Action to a Widget, see the general instructions in How To Create an Action in a Widget.


How To Configure a Write Static Value Action

Perform the following steps to configure the "Write Static Value" Action for a Widget:

  1. Follow the instructions above to create the Action in the Widget Actions panel.
  2. Name: Enter a name for this Action. For convenience, a default name is provided. The Name is not used anywhere else in AppBoard, and only displayed on this configuration page.
  3. On selection of:
    1. Select "any" or "specific" for the type of data selection by the User that will trigger the Action. When selecting "specific", perform the following additional steps:
      1. Click the Filter button. The Filter Editor is displayed.
      2. Click Add Rule to create one or more rules that indicate what data should trigger the Action, when selected.
      3. Click Close to save the Filter settings.
    2. Select the Data Collection name. When the Widget is run, selection of data in this Data Collection will trigger the Action.
  4. Enter the following information:
    1. Field Name: Select the name of the field for the user-selected record that AppBoard will update.
    2. Value: Enter the value that AppBoard will write for the indicated field in the user-selected record.


Sample Use Case

Suppose a Table Widget displays data from the following source to a User:


Raw Error Acknowledgement Data on Server
Customer ID IP Address Error Acknowledged
0001 172.21.38.220 License Expired No
0001 172.21.38.226 Server Not Responding No
0002 172.26.11.101 Slow response time No
0002 172.21.38.105 License Warning Yes
0002 172.21.38.313 Temperature too high Yes


The Table Widget's Data Collection has a Client Side filter that only displays errors that have not been acknowledged (Acknowledged="No"). So the Table Widget displays the following data:


Filtered Error Acknowledgement Data in Table Widget
Customer ID IP Address Error Acknowledged
0001 172.21.38.220 License Expired No
0001 172.21.38.226 Server Not Responding No
0002 172.26.11.101 Slow response time No


Suppose that when the User clicks on a row, he acknowledges the error and it should then be removed from the display. To do this, you can create a "Write Static Value" Action that will write the Value "Yes" to the Field "Acknowledged".