Configuring Siebel eBusiness Applications > Configuring Applets >

Guidelines for Configuring Controls and List Columns

When configuring controls or list columns consider the following guidelines:

• Use the appropriate pop-up device wherever possible to ease data entry. For instance, you should associate a calendar control with a date field, and a multi-line edit box with a multi-line text field.
• In forms and lists, fields should be left aligned, except for fields displaying numeric values such as currency. These fields should be right aligned. In forms, labels should be right-aligned.
• When creating check boxes:
  • Consider whether a check box is the appropriate way to display the data. In situations where the data does not map well to a yes or no response, or where the meaning of the unchecked value is not obvious, it is better to use a list of values. For example, instead of a check box labeled Standard, use a combo box labeled Shipping Method, with a list of values containing Standard and Next Day.
  • Avoid negatives. For example, instead of Not Required, use Optional.
  • In form applets, position labels to the left of the check boxes and right-align.
• For Text controls and list columns:
  • If a calendar or calculator needs to appear for a control, set the Runtime property of the control to TRUE.
  • If a pop-up editor needs to appear, set the Popup Edit property of the control to TRUE.
  • If you want to make a list column unavailable in the user interface, set the Available property to FALSE.
  • If you want a list column to be displayed in the list by default, set the Show in List property to TRUE. However, if you want the list column to be hidden by default, but you want end users to be able to select a list column to be displayed using the Columns Displayed dialog box, set the Show in List property to FALSE.
• Display Names and Captions may need to include extra spaces to accommodate multiple translations of a given string. For more information about strings, see Using Siebel Tools.
• Controls for form applets using the "Applet Form 4 Column (Edit/New)" Web template can be associated to either a "2-Column Wide field" or a "1-Column Wide field". To associate a control to a "2-Column Wide field", you must set the HTML Width property to 412. If you do not specify an HTML Width property, the control will appear as a "1-Column Wide field" even when it is associated to a "2-Column Wide field" on a form applet.