Siebel CRM Desktop for Microsoft Outlook Administration Guide > Customizing Siebel CRM Desktop > Overview of Customizing Siebel CRM Desktop >

Customizing Forms

The forms_xx.xml file includes the definitions that Siebel CRM Desktop uses for forms that you customize. This file allows you to customize forms, remove fields, change field names, and set custom list views. For more information about the forms_xx.xml file, see Files in the Customization Package

A form tag describes each form. CRM Desktop includes the following customization capabilities for these files:

• Changing field labels.
• Removing fields from the form that are not applicable to the work environment.
• Identifying fields on forms.
• Designating field type. CRM Desktop supports the following:
  • Native Outlook field types, such as text box or check box
  • Custom CRM Desktop controls, such as currency control, lookup, and multiselect list
• Positioning a field on the form.
• Modifying custom CRM Desktop controls.
• Creating entirely new forms that use the look and feel of Outlook. To enter data in these forms, CRM Desktop uses fields that the user defines.
• Programmatically applying custom behavior and logic to a form or field.
• Setting Outlook view controls on a custom form to display relationships between Siebel CRM objects.
• Modifying interface elements, such as text in a system message, a dialog box, a label, or a caption.

For more information, see XML Code That Customizes Forms.

Validation Rules You Can Configure for Custom Forms

The forms.js file includes a description of the validation rules that Siebel CRM Desktop uses for the object that it displays on any form. You can configure CRM Desktop to examine the format of information that the user enters in a field and then inform the user if this information does not adhere to this format. Validation uses JavaScript functions, so you can combine these functions with JavaScript RegEx (JavaScript Regular Expressions)to configure a wide variety of validation.For more information, see Defining Validation Rules.

Business Logic That You Can Configure for Custom Forms

You can use JavaScript to implement business logic with the forms_xx.xml file.JavaScript capabilities in Siebel CRM Desktop allow you to access any field of an object, or any property of the Outlook form. You can use this access to run code on a specific event, such as opening a form, saving a form, and so on. You can configure CRM Desktop to fill fields automatically, format field values automatically, and disable or enable a control, depending on criteria.