Administrator Guide

Components

This chapter describes the components you can add to pages and how to use them.

Page components are user interface elements that can be added to pages. A page component can display data stored in the Pages repository, static content, or content keyed off of the preferences assigned to the component. You create page components by selecting from a palette of component types and then completing a wizard to define the component instance.

The following components are available by default:

Adding a Page Component to a Page

You can add a component to the bottom of the page by double-clicking the component icon. You can also add a component to a page by dragging the appropriate component icon to the location you want. As you drag the component a blue box serves as a placeholder for the component, and other components move to make room for the new component. When you drop the component where you want it, a dialog box prompts you for a title and description for the component. If the component relies on a list, you must also create a new list or select an existing one.

Component Placement

When you place components next to each other in a row, the row height is based on the height of the tallest component in the row. The horizontal space allotted for each component is divided equally between the components in the row. Components are top and left aligned within their horizontal space in the row. Here is an example:

All three golf ball images are the exactly the same, and the two record lists are exactly the same. However, you can see how the sizes of the components change depending on whether there are two or three components in the row. You can also see that the height of the first row is based on the height of the golf ball image, whereas the height of the second row is based on the height of the record list.

If you want a component to span more than one row, you need to place that component in another column. Here is an example:

This example is the same as the previous example, but with the addition of another column with a longer record list in it. Because the longer record list is in a different column, it does not affect the height of the rows in the other column (the column containing the golf ball images and shorter record lists).

Editing a Page Component

After placing a component on a page, you can change it by moving it to a new location or changing its settings:

Deleting a Page Component

If you delete a component from a page, any underlying list and its data remains available in Pages. If you need to retrieve a deleted component, you can revert to a previous version of the page that included the component.

Blog List Components

The blog list component enables you to add a blog to a page. A blog is an online journal or chronological publication of comments and information. Blogs are generally updated frequently and can be an efficient communication tool for small groups.

Image Components

The image component enables you to add an image to the page. You can point to a URL, use an uploaded image, or use an image attached to the page. For example, when viewing a record of a customer issue, you might want to display a screenshot of the issue experienced by the customer.

There are several ways to include an image:

Record List Components

The record list component enables you to add a list of records from a list to the page. A record list enables users to search for and view records. Users with the proper permissions can also edit, add, and delete records.

Here is an example record list:

Record lists are a good way to display data from lists with a significant number of fields (since each field is not represented by a table column) or large amounts of data in some or all of the fields (since the data for each field is not displayed in a single table cell).

Rich Text Components

The rich text component enables you to add formatted text to the page. After adding a rich text component, you type your text and then use the formatting toolbar to change the formatting.

RSS Feed Components

The RSS Feed component enables you to display data from an RSS data feed in your pages. For example, you might want to display recent news articles discussing your product or company.

Table Components

The table component enables you to add a table of records from a list to the page. The table automatically includes a column for each field in the associated list. A table enables users to search for, sort, and view records. Users with the proper permissions can also edit, add, and delete records.

There are three table modes, all of which enable similar functionality, but in slightly different interfaces. To learn about and see examples of the different table modes, see Table Modes.

Tables are a good way to display data from lists with a minimal number of fields (since each field is represented by a column) or small amounts of data in the fields (since the data for each field is displayed in a single table cell).

Table Modes

There are three table modes: Master/Detail, Spreadsheet, and Simple. Each table enables users to search for, sort, and view records. Users with the proper permissions can also edit, add, and delete records. The difference between the tables is the user interface.

Note:

For information on working with records, see “Records” on page 6-5. Table 5-3 Available Table Modes Table Mode Description Example Master/Detail A Master/Detail table displays the list of records as well as the record details and new record form in the table interface. When a user adds a new record or clicks a record to view or edit the details, the record fields appear below the table. Because the record details appear within the table interface rather than in page view, users will not be able to add additional content (page components, comments, or attachments) to records or see additional content that has been added to a record. If you want users to be able to view and add additional content, choose Simple mode. Use this mode for users who are comfortable filling in fields in a form and when you do not want users to be able to view or add additional content. Spreadsheet A Spreadsheet table displays the list of records in spreadsheet format and enables users to add and edit records in place. As with a Master/Detail table, users will not be able to view or add additional content. If you want users to be able to view and add additional content, choose Simple mode. Use this mode for users who are comfortable working with spreadsheets and when you do not want users to be able to view or add additional content. Simple A Simple table displays the list of records in the table interface. When a user adds a new record or clicks a record to view or edit the details, the record or new record form opens in page view. In page view, users can view and add additional content. Use this mode for users who are comfortable filling in fields in a form and when you want users to be able to view and add additional content.