The Query tab allows access to all Business Processes/Space/Level records, related to a Business Process, by way of Query-based Tab (QBT).
Example
If you need to see all approved Spaces related to your BP, you can use the QBT to query/fetch those records. Once a Query-based Tab (QBT) is successfully created and deployed using uDesigner, the Query Tabs appear in the Unifier required BP, in User mode.
A Query-based tab (QBT) is a mini business process log that displays a filtered list of a business process records in the tab line item list. The QBT can be used in all:
- Line Item business processes
- Cost business processes
- Space business processes
- Document-type business processes
Example
A contract QBT can display just the change orders issued against the contract. Another QBT can display only invoices against the contract. Records displayed in the QBT line item list are from the same level (shell/project or company.)
QBTs are not supported in the following business processes:
- Simple
- Resource
- Text
- Request for Bid (RFB)
- Project/Shell creation
In uDesigner, the "Query Items" is a new parent node in the Business Processes (left-hand Navigator) with two sub-nodes:
- Query Tabs
To define the QBTs that will be added to the business process. Query tabs can be created as long as the maximum number of tabs (fifteen) has not been reached.
- Summary Elements
To define summary data elements to be added to the Upper Form of the business process. The summary elements specify the type of summary information (average/count/total/maximum/minimum) that will be shown from the selected query tab, for example, the total amount of records in the tab.
As a pre-process to defining the Query tab in the business process, you need to use a reference picker in one of the upper forms of the business process, Space, or Level from where you want to create the Query tab. For defining a Query tab, click on the Query Tabs link in uDesigner, click New, and select a business process, Space, or Level. The system allows you to create a maximum of fifteen tabs in uDesigner, including the QBT.
Query-based tab enables the user to:
- View a filtered list of business process records associated with the parent business process.
Once the QBT in a business process is correctly configured and deployed, the QBT appears in the business process (User mode) for which the QBT has been configured.
- Create a new business process from the QBT in the same Project/Shell, where the parent business process resides.
Users can create new business process records from the QBT provided that the users have permission to create business process records for the Project/Shell that contains the business process.
- Copy a business process in the same location as the parent business process.
Users can copy a business process either with or without attachments. In addition, a user can copy any of the records, in the QBT, and create a new business process record.
Note: Users can copy one record at a time.
When the user copies a business process record in order to create a new business process, the new business process record contains all the information present in the copied/based business process record.. So, in case of business records with attachments, the user has the option of including or excluding (copying or not copying) the attachments when copying a business process record.
- Search for business process records based on user-entered criteria.
Users can find any record from the list of records included in the QBT.
Note: The fields available for the Find feature must be defined in the uDesigner for the business process.
Use the Properties option (log toolbar) to configure the tab. The options are:
- Line Items
- Standard
- Gauges & Meters
- Hide current tab
User-Defined Report (UDR) and Query-Based Tab
Users will be able to use the Summary Elements, from any of the QBTs, in any of the UDRs that the user wants to use if the UDR is based on the same business process record.
Query Tab and Document-type Business Process
The Document-type business processes support QBTs and Line Item tabs along with the existing standard tab.
To define the Query tab in a Document-type business process, you must add a reference picker in the Upper Form of the business process that you want to run the query against. This includes business process picker, new data definition, or business process picker for the destination business process.
When users click the Properties option, for an Upper Form on a Document-type business process, the Options tab displays the following:
- Standard Tab (for Document-type business process)
- Line Item Tab (similar options across each line item type tab)
- Query Based Tab (similar options across each QBTs)
Standard Tab (for Document-type business process)
- Hide current tab
- Add/Copy Line Items
- Remove Line Items
- Allow Modification of Line Item, except when status is
- Allow Line Item Status to be modified
- Add Attachments
- Remove Attachments
- Append Line Item Folder Structure to Auto Publish Path
- Make Attachment to a Line Item mandatory
- Allow comments
- Allow marking of comments as 'Final'
- Additional
- Allow linking Mailbox
- Attachment Source
- Unifier Folders
- My Computer
Line Item Tab (similar options across each line item type tab)
- Hide current tab
- Add/Copy Line Items
- Remove Line Items
- Allow Attachments to the line item
- Allow Modification of Line Item, except when status is
- Allow Line Item Status to be modified
- Additional
- Allow linking Mailbox
- Attachment Source
- Unifier Folders
- My Computer
Query Based Tab (similar options across each QBTs)
- Hide Tab
- Additional
- Allow linking Mailbox
- Attachment Source
- Unifier Folders
- My Computer
To create a QBT:
- Go to the Company Workspace tab, switch to the Admin mode, and click to expand the Business Processes node.
- Open a line item, or a Cost business process.
- In Query Items node, select Query Tabs.
- Click New to create a new query tab, and then define query conditions for the tab in Item Logs.
You can click New or Copy to create a record.
To view, or use, a QBT
- Go to the parent business process log in Project/Shell.
- Open a record to view the QBT.
Note: The source business process of the QBT must be active in order for the tab to display.
See the following for more information about creating QBTs.