03 December 2020

1. In-App Designer

1.1. Introduction

The In-App Designer, formerly known as End User Definition/End User UI, allows to create, edit, and share configurations directly within the built-in admin user interface. These configurations define various elements such as dashboards, widgets, tables, charts, etc. Using the In-App Designer, config-admins can easily manage these configurations, making them available for end-users to apply to their pages, dashboards, or widgets. The In-App Designer is accessible from both the standalone Helium application and as a widget within the 3DDASHBOARD environment.

Users with the 'TVC Config Admin' role are responsible for managing in-app configurations. These users will be referred to as Config-Admin throughout the documentation.

1.2. Configure Dashboard

Let’s walk through a common scenario to create a Project Dashboard that displays key project metrics, such as issues, tasks, and issue priorities.

To do so, we will create a dashboard and configure the essential widgets as listed:

  • Issue Widget: Displays the list of project issues.

  • Task Widget: Shows the current tasks.

  • Issue Priority Chart Widget: Visualizes the priority levels of issues.

Once the dashboard is fully configured and validated in the admin UI, it can be shared with the required users, enabling them to access and interact with the dashboard.

To access the admin UI from standalone Helium UI and the 3DDASHBOARD environment, follow the steps outlined in the Admin Configuration UI link.

1.2.1. Step 1/4 - Create draft dashboard

Create a new dashboard by clicking the command Design Dashboard and name the dashboard "Project Dashboard"

image
Figure 1. Design Dashboard Screen

Once the dashboard is created, launch the dashboard using the preview icon. A new empty dashboard will open with options to create new widgets as shown in the images below.

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Figure 2. Preview dashboard
image
Figure 3. Empty dashboard with Create widget options

1.2.2. Step 2/4 - Create widgets

As per the scenario, create 3 new widgets by selecting the issue/task dataset and a new table

Widget 1: Create Issue TableWidget:
Form Field Name Description

Name field

Name of the tablewidget

Valid For Field

This field is mainly for filtering out the huge list in data source and table fields. This field lists only the business type for which datasets or tables are created already.

Datasource Field

Select the data source from the dropdown. This field lists all the accepeted datasets which shared by config-admin and also the one created from saved search. Refer create dataset from saved search section.

Widget Type field

List options to create a table or chart widget.

CreateNew Checkbox

Enables you to create a new table or lists existing tables for your selection.

For our scenario, choose the Issue data source and new table, and create a new tablewidget for displaying the Issue objects The new table will be created with a basic columns.

image
Figure 4. Create Issue Table Widget screen

The created tablewidget will have the basic columns like type, name and revision. Config-Admin can now add new columns to this table.

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Figure 5. Issue TableWidget With basic columns

1.2.3. Step 3/4 - Add more Table Columns

Config-Admin can update the table with required columns using the Table Configurator.

Consider below 3 columns are required in the newly created tablewidget.

  1. Issue Status,

  2. Related Tasks, and

  3. Related Tasks Status

Using the Table Configurator, you can select the required tablecolumn from the existing list of columns, or you can create a new column by providing your expression as shown in the image.

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Figure 6. Table Configurator to Add Columns

You can choose the predefined columns by searching with the text, or you can click on 'Add Advanced Column' to create new column with expression as shown in images.

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Figure 7. Choose 'Maturity Status' from existing column list
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Figure 8. Create new Column from Add advance column

Refer the below image where Issue tablewidget with new columns are configured.

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Figure 9. New TableWidget created for Issue
Widget 2: Create Task TableWidget

Similar to the Issue tablewidget, create a tablewidget for "Tasks" by choosing the "Task" as datasource and the Create New table option enabled.

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Figure 10. Create Task TableWidget

Choose the datasource as Tasks and create a new tablewidget for "Task"

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Figure 11. Task TableWidget
Widget 3: Create Issue priority ChartWidget

Add a new chartwidget by selecting the widget type as "Chart" in create widget screen.

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Figure 12. Create Chart Widget

Now, the "Project Dashboard" is created in the DRAFT state with 3 widgets in it. And it is ready to promote to an active state and share with end-user

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Figure 13. Draft Project Dashboard

1.2.4. Step 4/4 - Activate and Share dashboard with end-user

Promote the created dashboard to an active state and share it with end-user

By default, the configured "Project Dashboard" will be in the draft state. Before we share it with the end-user, promote it to the active state. while Promoting the "Project Dashboard" config, all the related configuration objects (such as Widget, Table, Tablecolumn, and Dataset objects) will be auto promoted to active state

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Figure 14. Promote the Draft Dashboard

Share the "Project Dashboard" configuration which is in an active state with the end-user using the Share Command. Once it is shared, end-user will be notified about the new configuration shared. See EndUser - Shared Configurations to know how the shared dashboard is accepted and used by enduser.

If config-admin need to make any further changes to the shared dashboard, the configuration object has to be revised.

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Figure 15. Share the Project Dashboard

1.3. Revise Shared Dashboard

Once the configuration object is shared with the end-user, the admin cannot make any further changes to the shared configuration object. To make any changes, the configuration object has to be revised.

Consider a scenario where the end-user has requested to include one more tablewidget "Risk" in the shared project dashboard. For such a scenario, the admin can revise the project dashboard’s configuration object and add a new tablewidget for displaying the risk objects. It involves 4 major steps like

  1. Revise project dashboard

  2. Create a new dataset for listing "Risk" objects

  3. Create a new tablewidget "Risk" on the revised dashboard

  4. Promote the revised dashboard to active state.

1.3.1. Step 1/4: Revise project dashboard

Revise the "Project Dashboard" config using the revise command in Admin UI.

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Figure 16. Revise the Project Dashboard

Once the revised object is created, launch the revised dashboard using the preview icon, or open it from the 3DD widget preference page by choosing the revised project dashboard object.

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Figure 17. Choose revised Project Dashboard

On the revised "Project Dashboard", config-admin can add new widgets as per the user requirement.

1.3.2. Step 2/4: Create new dataset "Risk"

To create a "Risk" tablewidget, a new dataset is required to list "Risk" objects. Use the below configuration and create the dataset with name "Risks".

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<DataSet>
	<Inquiry>
		<Code>temp query bus Risk * * where "owner == context.user" limit 25 select id dump |</Code>
		<Format>${OID}</Format>
		<Pattern>*|*|*|${OID}</Pattern>
	</Inquiry>
</DataSet>

1.3.3. Step 3/4: Create new tablewidget "Risk"

Open the revised project dashboard which is in the draft state from the 3DD widget preference page or using the launch icon and create new widget "Risks" by choosing the already created dataset "Risks"

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Figure 18. Add Risk Widget on revised Project Dashboard

Config-Admin can choose to re-arrange the widgets as per the need on the "Revised Dashboard". Once the Risk widget is added, "Revised Dashboard" is ready to promote. Please refer the below image for the final view of the Revised Dashboard.

image
Figure 19. Revised Project Dashboard with Risk tablewidget

1.3.4. Step 4/4: Promote Revised dashboard

Promote the revised object from Admin UI.

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Figure 20. Revised Project Dashboard with Risk tablewidget

Once the revised object is promoted to the active state, the previous revision will be auto promoted to the obsolete state. End-user will be intimated about the revised "Project Dashboard". And the revised dashboard will reflect in the end-user UI automatically without end-user’s intervention.

1.4. Create and Share Widget

Consider a scenario where the end-user has requested for a "Issue" tablewidget to add in his dashboard.

Config-Admin can start with creating new dataset for listing the "Issue" dataset

1.4.1. Step 1: Create dataset

Create a "Issues" dataset with below configuration as shown in image.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<DataSet>
	<Inquiry>
		<Code>temp query bus Issue * * where "owner == context.user" limit 25 select id dump |</Code>
		<Format>${OID}</Format>
		<Pattern>*|*|*|${OID}</Pattern>
	</Inquiry>
</DataSet>
image
Figure 21. Create dataset configuration

Validate configuration using Validate option. Refer Validate XML against XSD section.

1.4.2. Step 2: Create Widget

Create new or launch an existing empty dashboard. See Create and Preview dashboard section.

In the opened dashboard, add tablewidget to list "Issue" objects. Refer Create Issue TableWidget section to create a Issue tablewidget and configure new columns to the tablewidget.

1.4.3. Step 3: Promote Widget and Share with end-user

Select the created widget in admin UI and promote to active state, and the share with end-user as shown in image.

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Figure 22. Promote and share widget

1.5. Configure Form Widget

Config admin can create Form Widget and add to the helium dashboards as like the Table Widget and Chart Widget.

To configure a formwidget, config admin needs two config objects namely Form Config and Widget Config. These configs can be created through the command "Create Config" in Config Admin UI page.

1.5.1. Create Form

As a first step, create the form config object with a form XML configuration as shown in the image.

image
Figure 23. Create Form config with form XML configuration

Sample form XML configuration

<Form>
    <SubmitStrategy>AUTO</SubmitStrategy>
	<Layout>
		<Columns>1</Columns>
	</Layout>
	<Section>
		<Label>Basics And Attribute</Label>
		<Field>
			<Label>Type</Label>
			<Expression>type</Expression>
			<Editable>false</Editable>
		</Field>
		<Field>
			<Label>Name</Label>
			<Expression>name</Expression>
			<Editable>false</Editable>
		</Field>
		<Field>
			<Label>Revision</Label>
			<Expression>revision</Expression>
			<Editable>false</Editable>
		</Field>
		<Field>
			<Label>State</Label>
			<Expression>current</Expression>
			<Editable>false</Editable>
		</Field>
		<Field namespace="hex:engineering" name="EstimatedCost.xml" />
	</Section>
</Form>

1.5.2. Create FormWidget

As a second step, config admin can create widget config by pointing to the form config create at the first step.

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Figure 24. Create formwidget pointing the created formconfig

Sample FormWidget XML configuration

<FormWidget>
	<Title>${TYPE}:${NAME}:${REVISION}</Title>
	<FormConfig ref="CONFIG:00000000000" />
	<ResolveContextId>page</ResolveContextId>
	<FormMode>view</FormMode>
</FormWidget>

1.5.3. Add FormWidget to helium dashboard

The formwidget can be added to the helium dashboard as like the table widget and then the Helium dashboard can be viewed from 3DD widgets.

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Figure 25. Add FormWidget to existing dashboard

Once the formwidget is added and the context object is set to 3DD Widget, the complete dashboard with formwidget can be viewed from 3DDashboard.

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Figure 26. Add FormWidget to existing dashboard

1.5.4. FormWidget in 3DD Widget

Moreover, the formwidget can be directly viewed in 3DD widgets by choosing widget type as helium form in 3DD widget preferences.

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Figure 27. Configure formwidget in 3DD widget by selecting 'Helium Form'
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Figure 28. View formwidget in 3DD widget

1.6. Admin Configuration UI

The Admin Configuration UI is a built-in interface for Config-Admin to create and share dashboards, widgets, tables, and other elements. This UI can be accessed in both the standalone Helium application and the 3DDASHBOARD.

Only users with the TVC Config Admin role can access the Admin UI.

1.6.1. Configure Admin UI in StandAlone Helium

To access the Admin Configuration UI in the standalone Helium application, you need to add the Configuration Admin command to the Helium.xml file as follows:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Application xmlns="http://technia.com/helium/Application">
   ...
    <TopBar>
      	...
      <Command>tvc:command:helium:admin/ConfigAdminUI.xml</Command>
   	...
    </TopBar>
<Application/>

Once configured, the "Configuration Admin" command will appear in the top bar of the Helium UI as shown in the image.

image
Figure 29. Command for Config Admin UI

1.6.2. Configure Admin UI in 3DDASHBOARD

In the 3DDASHBOARD environment, the Admin Configuration UI can be set up by creating a new app from the "Additional Apps" interface. Use the following URLs:

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Figure 30. App for Config Admin UI

Config-Admin can also add 3DDASHBOARD widget for Admin UI by choosing "AdminPage(tvc:page:helium:admin/AdminPage.xml)" in 3DDASHBOARD widget preference as shown in the image.

image
Figure 31. 3dd widget for Config Admin UI

1.7. Configuration Request

End-user can request for a new configuration like dashboard, widget, table, tablecolumn or expression, etc. from config-admin by createing the config request.

1.7.1. EndUser Requests

End-user can create a config request from the Request tab in Shared Config UI as shown in image. In the create form, end-user can write a detailed description about the new configuration requirement and can submit by clicking the Notify Config Admin button.

Once the request is created, config-admin will be notified about the new config request.

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Figure 32. Create Config Request

1.7.2. ConfigAdmin - Request Tab

All the config requests created by end-user will be listed in the Configuration Requests tab of config-admin-UI as shown in image.

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Figure 33. List of Configuration requests created by endusers

Config-Admin will create a new configuration based on the description in the config request, and share with the requested end-user. Once the configuration is created and shared with the end-user, config-admin can update the request object by adding the admin comment.

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Figure 34. Add Admin comment

1.8. Dataset

Datasets are used to retrieve data for the table and chart widgets. In-App-Designer supports all the existing tags and configuration of Dataset.

Depending on how it is designed Dataset query can cause performance issues. For example a query like temp query bus Part * * will likely cause system failure as it tries to query all parts in system, which can be in million for some companies. Therefore, we have by default restricted access to create Dataset to only system or business admin.

This can be disable using the key tvc.enduser.dataset.limitToAdmin in tvc.properties. The valid value is either true or false and the default value is true.

In Inquiry and Query dataset, type as a wildcard i.e * is not allowed, but this can be disabled using the key tvc.enduser.dataset.disallowWildcardInType in tvc.properties. The valid value is either true or false and the default value is true.

1.8.1. Save Search Criteria as Admin/End-user Dataset

NSX search form provides an easy way in UI to define a dataset. This allows end-users to directly use search/search results as datasets.

There are three options to save the search/search result.

  • Save Search

  • Save As Datasource

  • Save As Admin Datasource (only admin can access)

Save As Datasource : User can save the search/search result as dataset and use in create widget form.

Save As Admin Datasource: Admin can save the search/search result as dataset and can be shared with other users.

Also, admin can create admin dataset configs which can be used for designing the widget in draft state.

1.8.2. Create dataset and filter inline create widget screen

This feature is introduced from 2023.1.0 release.

To configure the widgets in a dashboard, it is a prerequisite to have the datasets and filters ready before creating the widgets. From release 2023.1.0, it is not mandatory to have the preconfigured datasets and filters. Instead, config-admin can choose to create the dataset and filters from within the create widget screen as shown in the image.

image
Figure 35. Inline Create Dataset and Filter

Refer the video where the dataset and filter are created and edited from the create widget screen.

Validate Inquiry-based dataset

The config-admin can set up the dataset by using the "Create Config" and "Create Dataset" commands from the admin-UI. We have introduced a "Validate Inquiry" button in the create/edit forms of dataset configs, to verify the query performance used in the dataset.

To measure the performance, Config-admin can set a time limit by which the query is expected to execute. If a query is taking more than the defined time limit, it will be flagged as bad performing query. By default the time limit is set as 2 seconds. It can be modfied by setting a property tvc.core.inappdesigner.validateInquiry.timeLimitInSeconds in tvc.properies file.

This feature enables the config-admin to assess the performance of a widget when it is loaded with the validated dataset. And by optimizing the query, the config-admin can ensure the best possible performance.

Create Dataset screen with Query performance

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Figure 36. Query performance within defined time limit
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Figure 37. Query that exceed defined time limit

Edit Dataset screen with Query performance

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Figure 38. Edit Dataset - Query that exceed defined time limit

1.8.3. Create Expand Dataset

Similar to configuring the inquiry-based datasets, config-admin can also configure expand datasets. Config-admin can configure expand dataset as well, by providing the input parameters in the UI form

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Figure 39. Create Expand Dataset inline the create Widget screen

1.9. Configure Chart Widget with Expand Dataset

With the support of expand dataset and create expression links on the create widget screen, it is made easy to configure a chart widget based on objects related to the context object.

The linked video illustrates a scenario in which the context part is expanded via the EBOM relationship and a PIE chart is generated using the 'material category' attribute of the child parts.

1.10. Edit Widgets Inline as XML

Although you can edit the config XML from the Admin UI as a config-admin, you also have the option to edit the config XML directly from the Widget UI.

1.11. Expression

Admin can create expression by choosing selectexpression as a Configuration Type and any valid expression in Configuration.

Currently table column can be created with direct attributes on table objects like 'Material Category' for Parts, however it may be needed to add coumn to show related object data like state of connected part specification. User can create such expression and that expression can be used to create column to show the related object state.

These expressions can also be used to create charts in create chart wizard.

Expression example:

<Expression>from[Part Specification].to.name</Expression>
image
Figure 40. Expression Create Config
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Figure 41. Add Select Expression Column

1.12. Column Configurator

The Column configurator menu is responsible for selecting or removing columns from the table structure.

Config-admin can add, remove and update columns in a table from the existing list of attributes based on objects present in table including the unified type and interface attributes.

It is also possible to exclude some attributes from the addable list by adding following init-param in web.xml:

    tvc.core.attributes.excludedAttributes

It accepts comma-separated attribute names to be excluded. Furthermore, attribute labels support localization through framework properties.

In datatable toolbar :

    <TableConfigurator />
image
Figure 42. Columns menu

There are two ways of adding a new column to the existing table. Config-admin can simply check one/more columns from the existing list or use Add Advanced Column icon to add column with more custom settings.

The table below shows and explains the available settings in advanced mode:

Field Value Notes / Description

Name

String

The name appears as table column header

Description

String

The description acts as tooltip for column header.

Expression

String

The expression field provides a list of attributes to select from for the column data.

Template

String

The list of templates if configured. Refer Choose template to a Column section.

Is Relationship Select Expression

True or False

whether the select expression pertains to the business-object itself or to its relationships.

Valid For

String

The list of types to specify the column belongs to which type.

Is Editable

True or False

Whether the column should be editable or not.

Default is false.

InputType

String

List of input types to select from in case of editable field. E.g. If the attribute is of date format, you can select date as input type which will present a date picker to choose from in edit mode.

No Wrap

True or False

Whether the content of column should be wrapped. Default is true.

Filter

True or False

Whether column should have its own column filter.

Default is false.

Sortable

True or False

Whether column should be sortable or not.

Default is true.

image
Figure 43. Add Advanced Column form

After addition user can delete the column by unselecting it and update by using the pencil icon next to column item in the menu. Edit form provides same properties as add advanced form.

1.12.1. Controlling Cell Editability for User-Added Columns

When users add columns to a table using the table configurator, these columns are editable by default, depending on the user’s access level.

To control this editability, a new property tvc.helium.usertable.addableColumnCell.editable, has been introduced. This allows organizations to restrict the editability of user-added columns. By default, the property is set to true. To disable editability for these columns, set the property to false.

Columns added when this setting is not set to false will remain editable according to the user’s access level.

More columns can be added using property tvc.helium.tableconfigurator.showMoreColumnsLink which can be set as true or false as per requirement. The default value is true thus making the Add more columns link visible inside the table-configurator menu. It is also visible for config-admin when the table is in draft state.

Add more columns link is not visible for default table
image
Figure 44. Add more columns link

1.12.3. Expression support in advanced column

Now end-users can write an expression in the advanced column. This feature will facilitate end-user to write their expression to display the related object information in a table column. This can be enabled by adding the property tvc.helium.tableconfigurator.writeExpression.enabled = true in TVC.properties file. The default value for this property is false.

This feature needs to be enabled with caution and it is expected that the user knows the concept of Enovia MQL selects to use this feature.
image
Figure 45. Write expression for Column

1.12.4. Expression and Attributes as column

In-app designer enables config-admins and end-users to select the business-object and relationship attributes. Additionally config-admin can create expression using the advanced column link in the table configurator.

image
Figure 46. Advanced Columns
image
Figure 47. Relationship Attributes
image
Figure 48. Relationship Attribute as columns

If any relationship attribute is selected, its value can be seen upon expanding the parent business object. We are enabling to add relationship attributes as columns as well. For example user can now add EBOM relationship attributes like - Find Number, Quantity when using a structure table.

1.13. File based Configurations in JSON

Config-admin can configure the file based configurations to list under create widget form using the TVC_InAppConfigurations.json file

If the json file (with name TVC_InAppConfigurations.json) is not configured, a few pre-built file based configurations will be displayed in the create widget form as shown below. To add or remove the file-based configs from the create widget dropdown, config-admin can create and configure them in TVC_InAppConfigurations.json in WEB-INF/classes/.

TVC_InAppConfigurations.json.sample file with the built-in file-based configurations, is available in WEB-INF/classes/ folder. Config-admin can rename the sample JSON file and add more or remove existing file-based configs.
image
Figure 49. Pre-built Configs if TVC_InAppConfigurations.json is not configured

Also Valid For can be defined as mapping for XML-based configs in a TVC_InAppConfigurations.json file. This allows the admin to decide which all XML-based configs can be used as In-App configs and also makes it easier to filter using the valid for at UI level.

Sample configurations: you can find the TVC_InAppConfigurations.json.sample file in WEB-INF\classes

//TVC_InAppConfigurations.json
{
  "datasets": {
    "Part": [
      {
        "label": "com.technia.inapp.dataset.label.ebom",
        "value": "tvc:dataset:hex:engineering/EBOM.xml"
      }
    ],
    "Document": [
      {
        "label": "com.technia.inapp.dataset.label.specifications",
        "value": "tvc:dataset:hex:engineering/Specifications.xml"
      }
    ]
  },
  "templates": [
    {
      "label": "ObjectLink",
      "value": "helium/templates/table/object-link"
    },
    {
      "label": "ObjectLinkWithAltOid",
      "value": "helium/templates/table/object-link-with-alternate-oid"
    }
  ]
}
Config Name Description Example

datasets

The json config which contains datasets specific to a particular valid for type to show in datasource field in create/edit widget form.

{
  "valid-for-Type": [
    {
      "label": "dataset label",
      "value": "dataset"
    }
  ]
}

templates

The list of column templates to show in create/edit form of the advanced column.

refer End User Defined Columns section.

[
  {
    "label": "template label",
    "value": "template"
  }
]

Internationalization Support: In the config file, the label could also be a string resource property key for internationalization.

The concept of Valid For is extended to datasets. Using JSON mapping, the file-based dataset can be listed in the Create Widget form.

image
Figure 50. Dataset Results based on validFor

1.14. Configure toolbar commands

This feature is introduced from 2023.1.0 release.

Config-admin can now add the built-in toolbar commands to the widgets that is being configured. The toolbar menu will appear only in the draft state for the config-admin. Config-admin can choose the command for the configuring widget and share it with the end-users. The end-user can use these commands on the selected BusinessObjects.

1.14.1. Built-in commands for Flat Table:

image
Figure 51. In-built toolbar commands for Flat Table

1.14.2. Built-in commands for Structure Table:

The Structure table will have "ExpandAll" and "CollapseAll" in addition.

image
Figure 52. In-built toolbar commands for Structure Table

These built-in toolbar commands are mapped in TVC_InAppConfigurations.json.

Config-admin can also include new commands to this JSON file and make it available in the configuring widgets.

image
Figure 53. In-built Toolbar commands mapped in JSON

1.15. Choose template to a Column

By applying the template to a column, the user can change the look and feel of a column.

There are some situations where the user likes to see column data more effectively.

  1. Identify all the approved tasks by colour.

  2. Differentiate the priority of an object using the appropriate colour.

  3. On clicking on the column value, Open the connected object.

  4. Show an icon when a part is connected to a specification.

  5. Open the side panel and show object information in a dashboard.

Users can address all these situations by applying templates to a column.

image
Figure 54. Choose Template To Column

A new template field is introduced in advanced column form to choose a template.

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Figure 55. New Template Field

Template Creation: Admin can create any handlebar template and configure in TVC_InAppConfigurations.json file. Refer InApp Configurations with Valid-For Support section for more details.

{{!--
  Sample Handlebars template that can be applied to columns in a datatable.

  Available variables are:
  - object
  - row
  - cell

--}}
    <a href="javascript:App.routing.open('{{row.objectId}}');">{{cell.value}}</a>

1.16. Preselected Valid-For in Add Widget

For context pages like Part or Product, the widget will show related information. Therefore, it is good to pre-populate valid for with the context object type.

When the user is in the context of any object, the valid For field is preselected with context object type.

It is also possible to change Valid For to any other value.

This helps to eliminates the unrelated configs from the config list.

1.17. Manage Admin Configs

1.17.1. Share/Unshare configs with end-user and teams

Admin user can share created config definitions with end users and teams. To perform this, user can select the configuration from Configurations table and click on the Share command in toolbar. This will open Shared With widget in the sidepanel to allow admin to share/unshare configuration with end users and teams.

image
Figure 56. Configuration List
image
Figure 57. Share with widget
image
Figure 58. Search and share config with end user and team

1.17.2. Revise configs

Admin can revise the shared config objects which are already shared to enduser.

image
Figure 59. revise shared config

Admin can update the configuration changes on the created new revision and promote it to active state. Once the new revision is promoted to active state, the previous revision which is shared to end user will be auto-replace by new active revision. And the previous revision will be auto-promoted to obsolete state.

1.17.3. Delete Draft Configs

Config-Admin can choose to delete the draft configs if it is no more required.

Only the draft configs are allowed to delete.
image
Figure 60. Delete Config

1.17.4. Autopromote Child Configs

When the Dashboard is activated, all its child components like widgets, tables, tablecolumns, and datasets will be auto promoted to an active state.

1.17.5. Preview dashboard Configs

Admin can preview the configured dashboard before sharing with end users. From release 2021.4.0, admin can preview the Draft dashboards also. This is to facilitate admin to make changes on draft dashboard as required before promoting to active and share with end user.

1.18. Validate XML against XSD

Admin can validate XML in both create and edit config forms using validate option.

image
Figure 61. Validate Config

Sample XML to validate:

<DataTable>
    <Title>MyPartsTable</Title>
    <Toolbar>
        <Search/>
        <TableConfigurator/>
        <Menu>
            <Label>Export</Label>
            <FontIcon>icon share</FontIcon>
            <ExportExcel/>
            <ExportPDF/>
        </Menu>
    </Toolbar>
    <TableConfig ref="CONFIG:0000000000000108"/>
</DataTable>

Refer this video for more details:

1.19. Notifications

The Email notification will be sent to the user when an admin share or unshare the configurations and Also, on activation of a new revision of configuration which is already shared.

Email Notification requires the MX_SMTP_HOST is configured and users have valid email address.

Email Notification Handler uses templates configured in string resources.

Following are the default template property keys used for workflow email notifications.

tvc.inappdesigner.email.share.to.user.message =

tvc.inappdesigner.email.share.to.user.subject =

tvc.inappdesigner.email.unshare.to.user.message =

tvc.inappdesigner.email.unshare.to.user.subject =

tvc.inappdesigner.email.revision.active.to.user.message =

tvc.inappdesigner.email.revision.active.to.user.subject =

tvc.inappdesigner.email.share.to.team.message =

Following are the MACROs that can be used as $(MACRO) in the email templates.

TITLE
CONFIG_TYPE
CONTEXT_USER
TO_USER
DATE

Example:

tvc.inappdesigner.email.share.to.user.message = <p>Hello $(TO_USER),</p> \
<p>The Configuration "<strong>$(TITLE)</strong>" of type "$(CONFIG_TYPE)" has been shared with you by "<strong>$(CONTEXT_USER)</strong>" on $(DATE).</p> \
<p>&nbsp;</p> \
<p>Please accept "<strong>$(TITLE)</strong>" to use in your dashboards</p> \
<p>&nbsp;</p> \
<pre><em><sub>This message is system generated and sent by Administrator.</sub></em></pre>

tvc.inappdesigner.email.share.to.user.subject = New Config "$(TITLE)" is Shared

1.20. List Accepted Configs in 3DDASHBOARD Widget Preference

Following image of 3DDashboard widget preference shows that user can view their 'Accepted Shared Config' from Helium. Currently configurations of Helium Dashboard, Helium Chart Widget and Helium Table Widget are listed in preferences of TVC widget.

image
Figure 62. Accepted Shared Data Table widget in preferences

1.21. List Admin Configs in 3DDASHBOARD Widget Preference

Along with viewing Accepted Shared User Definitions, users who have 'TVC Config Admin' role, can view all the Admin Configs in 3DDashboard Widget. To disable this feature, please set tvc.3ddashboard.showAdminEndUserConfigObjects property to false in tvc.properties or web.xml file.

1.22. Export/Import Configurations

This feature is introduced from 2022.4.0 release.

In-App-Designer enables config-admins to create or configure dashboards, widgets, and their related configurations from the Config Admin UI page. Now Config-admin can copy the configurations from one environment to another environment using this export/import configuration feature. Using this feature, configs like dashboards or widgets can be configured and validated in pre-prod environments and then these validate configs can be exported and imported to the production enviromment.

1.22.1. Export Configuration

Config-admin can select the configurations from the admin UI and click the export command. The selected configurations will be downloaded as a ZIP file which can be imported into another environment or can be deployed in the web directories by extracting the needed files from the ZIP file.

image
Figure 63. Export Config Form

1.22.2. Import Configuration

The exported file can be imported into the new environment using the built-in command available in the config admin UI. New set of business-objects will be created based on the imported files. These business-objects will be created in the draft state and config-admin can review and activate.

image
Figure 64. Import Config Form

Moreover, the exported XML files can also be deployed in the web directory and used as the regular file-based configurations. You can extract the needed configurations from the ZIP file and deploy them in the web directory.

Please refer to the video where a dashboard with 4 widgets is exported and imported back.

1.23. Page Config for classic tabs

In this release, enabling config-admin to create/configure helium-page configuration which inturn can be configured in the TVC Classic pages. By this way In-App Designer’s feature can be used in TVC Classic pages also.

By default, helium-page config is disabled to create. Enable it by adding tvc.enduser.page.enableToCreate = true setting in TVC.properies file. By default, this property is set to false

Config admin can design a helium-page by configuring dashboards in it and add to the classic or Enovia command to view from the TVC classic page.

Consider a scenario where you want to view drawing print object’s related parts and the related part’s CO. For such scenerio, config admin can configure the related UI using "In-App Designer". From config-admin page, configure 2 dashboards to display the related parts and the part’s related CO. Then add the created dashboards to the helium-page object in a tabs as shown in the image.

image
Figure 65. Configure helium-page with the created dashboards

Once the helium-page is created, configure a enovia command or TVC command by pointing the helium-page object in the HREF as shown below. And add the command to the drawing print object’s tree menu.

The URL parameters used in the href are casesensitive.
print command DrawingPrintInAppView

command DrawingPrintInAppView
  description config admin configured dashboard view for drawing print type
  label 'Helium View'
  href '${ROOT_DIR}/goto/foo.jsp?embed=true&inAppPage=CONFIG:0000000000002698/Active'
  setting Target Location value content
  nothidden

Once the command DrawingPrintInAppView is configured in menu type_DrawingPrint, the helium-page can be seen as shown in below image

image
Figure 66. helium-page view configured for Drawing Print

1.24. EndUser

In-App-Designer enables the end users to customize how the content/information should displayed in the application.

End users can accept and apply the configurations shared by config-admin, and enables further customizations at user end as well. End-user will be notified about the new configuration shared by config-admin. New configuration can be a dashboard, widget, table, tablecolumns or expressions. All the shared configurations will be listed in the Pending Shared Config tab in Shared-Config-UI as shown in image. End-user have to accept the configuration before using it. In upcoming sections, you will be seeing how the shared configs will be used by end-user.

image
Figure 67. Pending Shared Config UI

1.25. Configure EndUser UI

Using the built-in Shared Config UI page, end-user can

  1. View and manage the self created configurations,

  2. Create a request for a new configuration (like dashboard, Widget, table, etc) and

  3. View and manage the configurations shared by config-admin and the self created configurations.

1.25.1. Configure Shared Config UI in StandAlone Helium Page

In standalone helium page, Shared Config UI can be accessed through the command Shared Configuration. Add this command in Helium.xml file as shown below.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Application xmlns="http://technia.com/helium/Application">
   ...
    <TopBar>
      	...
      <Command>tvc:command:helium:enduser/SharedConfigUI.xml</Command>
   	...
    </TopBar>
<Application/>

In Helium UI, you can see the "Shared Configuration" command in the topbar as shown in the image.

image
Figure 68. Shared config command and Page

1.25.2. Configure Shared Config in 3DDASHBOARD

In 3DDASHBOARD, create App for Shared Config UI from the "Additional Apps" UI as shown in the image.

image
Figure 69. Configure Shared config App

You can also add 3DD widget for Shared Config UI by choosing "SharedConfigUI (tvc:page:helium:enduser/SharedConfigUI.xml)" dashboard in 3DD widget preference page as shown in the image.

image
Figure 70. 3DDASHBOARD widget for Shared Conifg UI

1.26. Accept Shared Configurations

There is shared config widget which will be displayed, when user clicks on the configurable Shared Config command present in helium topbar. There are 3 tabs in this widget to display pending, accepted and rejected configurations. User will see all shared configurations in pending tab. Once it is accepted or rejected that will move to accepted or rejected tab.

All configurations shared with end user’s team are by default in accepted mode.
image
Figure 71. Shared configs with end user and team

1.27. View Accepted Dashboard

The accepted dashboard configurations can be used in 3 ways.

1.27.1. 1. Replace the existing dashboard with the Accepted Dashboard

Consider a scenario, where the default dashboard need to be replaced by the Admin shared dashboard.

  1. Add Shared dashboard command opens the sidepanel with all the accepted dashboards.

  2. End-user can select the Shared Dashboard from sidepanel and click on Apply command to replace the existing dashboard with selected Shared Dashboard.

  3. End-user can use Reset to Default Config command to resume back to the original dashboard it had earlier.

image
Figure 72. Replace Default dashboard with Shared Dashboard

1.27.2. 2. Add Accepted Dashboard in 3DDASHBOARD widgets.

All the accepted dashboard will be listed in 3ddashboard widget preference page. End-user can choose the accepted dashboard and add to the 3DDASHBOARD widget as shown in the images. Refer List Accepted Configs in 3DDASHBOARD widget preference section to enable or disable the accepted configs to list in 3DDASHBOARD widget preference.

image
Figure 73. Choose Shared Dashboard in 3DDashboard widget preference
image
Figure 74. View Shared Dashboard added from 3DD widget preference

1.27.3. 3. On Helium Standalone application, add dashboard to MyDashboard dynamic menu

Accepted shared dashboards can be accessed directly from a dynamic menu known as "My Dashboard". Under "Accepted shared config" tab, add and remove dashboard command are available to manage "My Dashboard" menu. This dynamic menu can be added in topbar as shown below

In Helium.xml,

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Application xmlns="http://technia.com/helium/Application">
   ...
    <TopBar>
      	...
      <Menu>tvc:menu:helium:myconfigdashboard/MyConfigDashboards.xml</Menu>
   	...
    </TopBar>
<Application/>

1.28. User Configurations

All user created configs will be listed under User Configurations tab. Delete Config command can be used to delete the unused configs or configs which are no more required.

image
Figure 75. User Configurations

1.29. Create Dashboard By Enduser

Endusers can create dashboard and configure widgets in it. Previously, to set up a new dashboard, the end-user will have to request config-admin to configure and share. From now on, end-users can configure new dashboards themselves and that reduces config-admin dependency.

1.30. Widgets

Create and customize widgets.

1.30.1. Create widgets

A user can add new widgets to a dashboard by using the + sign in the dashboard settings menu. This will open a form at the top in the corresponding dashboard, where you can create your widget/specify things about the widget you want to create, like the name of the widget, what data to be displayed and more.

image
Figure 76. Create widget

User can also open this create widget form at the bottom of the corresponding dashboard by using the key tvc.helium.enduser.createWidget.placeHolder.bottomPosition in tvc.properties. The default value of this is false and valid value is either true or false.

There are two types of widgets one can create, a chart widget or a table widget.

1.30.2. Charts

Create different type of charts. In the "Chart Type" field you can choose how you want the data to be displayed. You can choose from all the different chart types, e.g. Bar, Line, Pie or Donut. In the "Data Source" field you select what set of objects you want to base the chart on. The list is populated by the datasets cached in your application. In the "Chart Expression" field you choose what information you want to be displayed in the chart. You can choose from the basics and attributes of the objects from the dataset selected in the "Data Scource" field.

image
Figure 77. Create chart

For more information about charts in general, it can be found in the Chart chapter.

1.30.3. Tables

Create a basic table.

image
Figure 78. Create table

1.30.4. Edit Widgets

A user can edit their own chart/table widgets by using the edit icon in the widget. This will take the user to the edit form where you can make changes and save your edited widget.

image
Figure 79. Editable end user chart widget

1.30.5. Create Widgets with Accepted Dataset and Tables

All the Dataset and tables that are shared by config-admin will be listed in create Widget section as shown in image.

End user can use the "Valid For" field to filter the datasets and tables based on the selected business type in "Valid For" field.

The "Valid For" field lists only the business type for which the datasets or tables are available.

image
Figure 80. Shared dataset and Tables
Create Widget with existing table

Also end-users can create a table widget by pointing to an existing table. This will allow the end-user to reuse any previously created table. For example, if the end-user has already created a table for Parts, the same table can be used to create a different widget that can list the Released Parts or My InWork Parts, etc. This will only require changing the dataset.

Select existing table:

All the existing tables will be listed here, which includes self-created tables and the tables shared by Config-Admin.

image
Figure 81. Select existing Table

Choose to create new table:

Here End-users can choose to create a new table by selecting the 'create new' checkbox.

image
Figure 82. Create new table by selecting selectbox

1.30.6. Add Accepted Widgets in Dashboard

End-user can extend any dashboard to create a personalized dashboard. In this dashboard, end-user can create a new widget or add existing widget to his dashboard. End-user can also add any shared widget to his dashboard.

All the accepted widgets and existing widgets will be listed in Add Widget section as shown in image.

End user can use the "Valid For" field to filter the Widget Configs based on the selected business type in "Valid For" field.

The "Valid For" field lists only the business type for which the widgets are available in the 'Widget Configs' field.

image
Figure 83. View Shared Widget

1.31. Teams Management widget

Team can be a logical group of people, of same or different department within organization. Admin can share UI configs to teams. This will be useful as admin will not have to share the configuration to individual users. Once a user is added to team, he/she will have access to all the configurations shared with that team. If user is removed from team, he/she will no longer have access to team shared configuration

Once admin user has created a configuration as per the request from end user or team of end users. Admin needs to define a team, and he will use this widget to create and manage a team. For managing teams a new widget called 'Teams' is added to Helium admin page with below functionalities.

  • Create a Team

  • Promote a Team

  • Demote a team

  • Connect with team members to a team

  • Disconnect team members from a team

Please refer the below video for more details on Teams widget functions.