Configuring Siebel Business Applications > Configuring Views, Screens, and Applications > Creating and Deploying an Application >

Configuring Keyboard Shortcuts for an Application or Applet


This topic describes how to configure keyboard shortcuts. It includes the following topics:

For more information, see Adding a Keyboard Shortcut That Opens Help.

About Keyboard Shortcuts

A keyboard shortcut is a series of key sequences that Siebel CRM runs in reply to a user action. For example, the user can simultaneously press the CTRL and N keys to create a new record. For more information, see Siebel Applications Administration Guide.

Objects That Siebel CRM Uses with a Keyboard Shortcut

To create a keyboard shortcut, you configure an accelerator, which is a child of a command. Siebel CRM maps a shortcut directly to a command, so the scope of the actions that the shortcut represents applies to one of the following contexts:

  • The active applet
  • The entire application

For example, a shortcut that starts a new query uses a context on the current applet. A shortcut that calls the Site Map is independent of the current application context.

Siebel CRM must load commands into the active menu structure for the Siebel client. The command that each shortcut represents must be available to the user. For a command to be available to the user, it must be associated with the application menu or the applet menu for the currently active applet.

For more information, see Creating a Command Object.

Keyboard Shortcuts and Standard Interactivity

To allow a keyboard shortcut to work in a standard interactivity application, you must set the EnableSIFocusTracking parameter of the Application Object Manager to the default value of True. Keyboard shortcuts do not work in frameless mode. For more information, see About Standard Interactivity and High Interactivity. For more information about Application Object Manager, see Siebel System Administration Guide.

Guidelines for Creating Keyboard Shortcuts

If you create a keyboard shortcut, then use the following guidelines:

  • If the Siebel application runs in extended keyboard mode, then do not override browser functionality that the user already uses. For example, CTRL+C is a common shortcut that many users already use. It copies a text string to the clipboard in Microsoft Internet Explorer.
  • Group related shortcuts according to the key sequence. For example, to assist the user in remembering shortcuts that perform similar roles, group key sequences that start with CTRL+ALT for query management.
  • Do not map a frequently used command to a key sequence that is similar to a sequence that does a significant action that the user cannot reverse. For example, assume CTRL+Shift+X performs a log out. In this situation, do not map the CTRL+ALT+X sequence because the user might accidently press CTRL+Shift+X.
  • You use the administrative screens in the Siebel client to configure a keyboard shortcut that is related to the Siebel Communications Server. If you define a shortcut through the Siebel Communications Server administrative screens, and if this shortcut uses the same key sequence as a shortcut defined in the Siebel Repository File, then the shortcut defined through the Siebel Communications Server takes precedence. Any shortcut in the Siebel Communications Server takes precedence over any shortcut you define in Siebel Tools, and then compile to the Siebel Repository File. For more information, see Siebel CTI Administration Guide.

Creating a Keyboard Shortcut

This topic describes how to create a keyboard shortcut.

To create a keyboard shortcut

  1. In Siebel Tools, display the Command object type and all child objects of the Command object type.

    For more information, see Displaying Object Types You Use to Configure Siebel CRM.

  2. Make sure the command that you require for the shortcut exists.

    If the command does not exist, then you must add it. For more information, see Creating a Command Object.

  3. Make sure the command is included as part of the active menu hierarchy at the application or the applet level for the application contexts where the shortcut is active.
  4. In the Object Explorer, click Command.
  5. In the Commands list, locate the command you must modify.
  6. In the Object Explorer, expand the Command tree, and then click Accelerator.
  7. In the Accelerators list, add a new record using values from the following table.
    Property
    Description

    Name

    Enter a name that describes the action that the shortcut performs.

    Key Sequence

    Enter the key sequence. For example, Ctrl+Shift+O.

    Display Name

    Enter the display name.

    Browser Platform

    Choose one of the following values:

    • Extended. For extended mode only.
    • Basic. For basic mode only.
    • All. For Extended and Basic modes.
  8. Compile and test your modifications.

    For more information, see Using Siebel Tools.

Modifying or Hiding the Key Sequence

You can modify or hide the key sequence for a shortcut.

To modify or hide the key sequence for a shortcut

  1. In Siebel Tools, in the Object Explorer, click Command.
  2. In the Commands list, locate the command you must modify.
  3. In the Object Explorer, expand the Command tree, and then click Accelerator.
  4. Optional. In the Accelerators list, modify the Key Sequence property.

    For more information, see Guidelines for Creating Keyboard Shortcuts.

  5. Optional. Hide the key sequence:
    1. In the Object Explorer, expand the Accelerators tree, and then click Accelerator Locale.
    2. In the Accelerator Locales list, make sure the Display Name property is empty.

      You can hide the key sequence so that it does not display in the Siebel client. The Display Name property of the accelerator locale defines the key sequence for a shortcut. To hide the key sequence, leave this property empty.

  6. Compile and test your modifications.

    For more information, see Using Siebel Tools.

Configuring Siebel Business Applications Copyright © 2013, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.