14.4 Creating a Navigation Bar Entry

This section explains how to create and edit navigation bar entries. Navigation bar entries offer an easy way to move users between pages in an application. For example, a navigation entry enables you to display a link from an image or text. The associated page template determines the location of a navigation bar.

Topics:

See Also:

"Creating Custom Themes"

14.4.1 About Navigation Bars

A navigation bar entry can be an image, text, or an image with text beneath it. You must supply the images and text to use in the navigation bar entries.

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Description of the illustration GUID-9580E8A6-FDF9-4696-9220-3AA5E8607CBC-default.png

Navigation bars are different from other shared components in that you do not need to reference them on a page-by-page basis. If your page template includes the #NAVIGATION_BAR# substitution string, the Application Express engine automatically includes any defined navigation bars when it renders the page.

See Also:

"Understanding Sample Database Application"

14.4.2 Creating a Navigation Bar Entry

Before adding a navigation bar, you must create entries for the navigation bar. You can create a navigation bar entry from scratch or by copying an existing entry.

Topics:

14.4.2.1 Creating a Navigation Bar Entry from Scratch

To create a navigation bar entry from scratch:

  1. Navigate to the Navigation Bar Entries page:
    1. Navigate to the Workspace home page.
    2. Click the App Builder icon.
    3. Select an application.
    4. On the Application home page, click Shared Components.
    5. Under Navigation, click Navigation Bar Entries.
  2. Click Create.

    The Create Navigation Bar Entry Wizard appears.

  3. For Method, select From Scratch.
  4. For Type, select Navigation to URL.
  5. For Attributes, specify the following:
    1. Sequence - Specify the order of evaluation for this component.

      Tip:

      To review the existing entries, click the Existing Navigation Bar Entries link at the bottom of the page.

    2. Entry Label - Enter display text for this navigation bar entry.
    3. Icon Image Name - Enter an image name. For naming conventions, see field-level Help.
    4. Image ALT - Enter ALT text for navigation icons that are images. If you do not specify an image name, then this text displays.
    5. Image Height - Define the height of the image in pixels.
    6. Width - Defines the width of the image.
    7. Click Next.
  6. For Target, specify the following
    1. If the target location is a URL, specify:

      • Target is a - Select URL.

      • URL Target - Enter a URL. For example:

        http://www.yahoo.com
    2. If the target location is a page, specify:

      • Target is a - Select Page in this Application.

      • Page - Specify the target page number.

        To reset pagination, select reset pagination for this page.

        Select Printer Friendly to display the target page using the application's Printer Friendly template. Printer friendly templates optimize a page for printing.

      • Request - Enter text that defines the built-in application item called REQUEST.

      • Clear Cache - Enter the page numbers where you would like to clear the user's session state. Separate multiple entries with commas.

    3. To set session state (that is, give a listed item a value):

      • Set these items - Enter the list of application item names for which you would like to set session state. Separate multiple items with commas. Setting the session state gives the listed item a value.

      • With these values - Enter a comma-delimited list of values for the items your specified.

        You can specify static values or substitution syntax (for example, &APP_ITEM_NAME.). Note that item values passed to f?p= in the URL cannot contain a colon. Additionally, item values cannot contain commas unless you enclose the entire value in backslashes (for example, \1234,56\).

    4. Click Next.
  7. To set a condition for displaying the navigation bar entry, select a condition type.
  8. Click Create.

Tip:

In order for a navigation bar to appear, your page template must include the #NAVIGATION_BAR# substitution string. To learn more, see "Page Templates."

See Also:

14.4.2.2 Creating a Navigation Bar Entry for Feedback

Feedback is the process of gathering real-time comments, enhancement requests, and bugs from your application users. To add a feedback page to an application, you add a Feedback page.

To create a navigation bar entry for feedback:

  1. Navigate to the Navigation Bar Entries page:
    1. Navigate to the Workspace home page.
    2. Click the App Builder icon.
    3. Select an application.
    4. On the Application home page, click Shared Components.
    5. Under Navigation, click Navigation Bar Entries.
  2. Click Create.

    The Create Navigation Bar Entry Wizard appears. Each wizard page displays a series of blocks on the left, representing the sequence of steps. The highlighted block indicates the step you are performing.

  3. For Method, select From Scratch.
  4. For Type, select Feedback.
  5. For Feedback:
    1. Feedback Page - Select your feedback page.
    2. Entry Label - Enter the label of the new navigation bar entry.
    3. Display Sequence - The sequence for the new navigation bar entry. The sequence determines the order of evaluation.
  6. Click Create.

Tip:

In order for a navigation bar to appear, your page template must include the #NAVIGATION_BAR# substitution string. See"Page Templates."

See Also:

"Managing Feedback"

14.4.3 Copying a Navigation Bar Entry

To copy a navigation bar entry:

  1. Navigate to the Navigation Bar Entries page:
    1. Navigate to the Workspace home page.
    2. Click the App Builder icon.
    3. Select an application.
    4. On the Application home page, click Shared Components.
    5. Under Navigation, click Navigation Bar Entries.
  2. Click Create.

    The Create Navigation Bar Entry Wizard appears.

  3. For Method, select As a Copy of an Existing Navigation Bar and click Next.
  4. For Copy From Application, select an application and click Next.
  5. For New Names, enter the name on the new entry, and select whether to copy and subscribe.
  6. Click Copy Navigation Bar Entries.

14.4.4 Editing a Navigation Bar Entry

Once you create a navigation bar entry, you can edit it on the Navigation Bar Entries page.

To edit a navigation bar entry:

  1. Navigate to the Navigation Bar Entries page:
    1. Navigate to the Workspace home page.
    2. Click the App Builder icon.
    3. Select an application.
    4. On the Application home page, click Shared Components.
    5. Under Navigation, click Navigation Bar Entries.

      The Navigation Bar Entries page appears.

  2. Select a navigation bar entry.

    The Edit page appears.

  3. Edit the appropriate attributes.
  4. To learn more about a specific item on a page, see field-level Help.
  5. Click Apply Changes.

See Also:

"Viewing Field-Level Help"

14.4.5 Editing Multiple Navigation Bar Entries Simultaneously

To edit multiple navigation bar entries simultaneously:

  1. Navigate to the Lists page:
    1. Navigate to the Workspace home page.
    2. Click the App Builder.
    3. Select an application.
    4. On the Application home page, click Shared Components.
    5. Under Navigation, click Navigation Bar List.
  2. Select a list.
  3. Click Grid Edit at the top of the page.
  4. Edit the appropriate attributes and click Save.

14.4.6 Accessing Navigation Bar Entry Reports

You can view the Navigation Bar Entry Subscription and Navigation Bar Entry History reports by clicking the appropriate tab at the top of the Navigation Bar Entries page.

Note:

The Subscription and History buttons only appear after you create a navigation bar.

  1. Navigate to the Navigation Bar Entries page:
    1. Navigate to the Workspace home page.
    2. Click the App Builder icon.
    3. Select an application.
    4. On the Application home page, click Shared Components.
    5. Under Navigation, click Navigation Bar Entries.
  2. Click the appropriate tab:

    • Subscription - Click Subscription to access the Subscribed NavBars report. This report displays subscribed navigation bar entries in your application.

    • History - Click History to view the Navigation Bar History report. This report lists recent changes to navigation bars.