16.5 Controlling Navigation Using Branches

This section explains how to add a branch to an application. A branch is an instruction to link to a specific page, procedure, or URL after a given page is submitted. For example, you can branch from page 1 to page 2 after page 1 is submitted.

See Also:

"Utilizing Cross Page Utilities"

16.5.1 Creating a Branch in Page Designer

To create a branch in Page Designer:

  1. Navigate to the page. See "Viewing a Page in Component View".

  2. In either the Rendering or Processing tab, locate the node where the process will occur. Right-click Branches and select Create Branch.

    Process attributes display in the Property Editor.

    Tip:

    The Messages tab displays a red or yellow badge to identify messages you need to address. Selecting a message displays the associated attribute in the Property Editor. You must address red error message before you can save.

  3. View all attributes in the Property Editor. Select Show All from the Property Editor Menu.

    Tip:

    To learn more about an attribute, select the attribute in the Property Editor and click the Help tab in the center pane.

  4. For Identification, Name - Specify the name of the branch for easy identification by developers.

  5. For Execution Options:

    1. Sequence - Specify the sequence for this component. The sequence determines the order of evaluation.

    2. Point - Select the point in the processing at which this branch action is considered.

  6. For Behavior, Type - Select a page branch type.

    The attributes that display in the Property Editor depend on the branch type you select. To learn more, click the Help tab.

    If Type is Page or URL (Redirect) - Click the Target field and edit the attributes in the Link Builder Target dialog.

  7. For Conditions:

    1. When Button Pressed - To execute this branch only when the user clicks a specific button, select a button from the list. You can incorporate this button condition with other conditions to further refine when this branch executes.

    2. Condition Type - Select a condition type from the list that must be met in order for this component to be rendered or processed.

  8. Click Save.

See Also:

"About the When Button Pressed Attribute," "Creating Pre-Rendering Branches, Computations, and Processes," and "Creating Page Submission Branches, Validations, Computations, and Processes"

16.5.2 Creating a Branch in Component View

You create a branch by running the Create Branch Wizard and specifying the branch point and branch type.

To create a branch:

  1. Navigate to the page. See "Viewing a Page in Component View".

  2. Under Branches, click the Create icon.

    The Create Branch Wizard appears.

  3. For Branch Attributes:

    1. Name - Specify the name of the branch for easy identification by developers.

    2. Sequence - Specify the sequence for this component. The sequence determines the order of evaluation.

    3. Branch Point - Select a branch point. Options include:

      • On Submit: Before Computation - Branching occurs before computations, validations, or processing. Use this option for buttons that should not invoke processing (for example, a Cancel button).

      • On Submit: Before Validation - Branching occurs after computations, but before validations or processing. If a validation fails, page processing stops, a rollback is issued, and the page displays the error. Because of this default behavior, you do not need to create branches to accommodate validations. However, you may want to branch based on the result of a computation (for example, to a previous branch point).

      • On Submit: Before Processing - Branching occurs after computations and validations, but before processing. Use this option to branch based on a validated session state, but before performing any page processing.

      • On Submit: After Processing - Branching occurs after computations, validations, and processing. This option branches to a URL or page after performing computations, validations, and processing. When using this option, remember to sequence your branches if you have multiple branches for a given branch point.

      • On Load: Before Header - Branching occurs before a page is rendered. This option displays another page instead of the current page or redirects the user to another URL or procedure.

    4. Branch Type - Select a branch type. The most common branch type is Branch to Page or URL.

    5. Click Next.

  4. For Target, follow the on-screen instructions. The attributes that display depend upon the selected Branch Type. To learn more, see item Help.

  5. For Branch Conditions:

    1. When Button Pressed - To execute this branch only when the user clicks a specific button, select a button from the list. You can incorporate this button condition with other conditions to further refine when this branch executes.

    2. Condition Type - Select a condition type from the list that must be met in order for this component to be rendered or processed.

  6. Click Create Branch.

See Also:

"About the When Button Pressed Attribute"

16.5.3 About Branching Conditionally

Like other controls, branches can be made conditional. To create a conditional branch, make a selection from the Condition Type list, and enter text in the expression fields to implement the condition type you choose.