Generated User Interfaces

You can create a user interface for a configurator model by generating it, which is an action that automatically builds a UI based on the model structure.

Use one of a set of templates that determine the appearance and interactive behavior of the UI.

• Generating a UI is an optional part of model definition. If you don't generate any UIs for your model, then the default UI is used at run time.

• When you generate a UI, you select a UI template map that imparts a distinct look and feel to the UI, including navigation style. After you create the UI, you can't change the UI template map that it uses.

• When you generate a UI for a model that includes referenced models, then UIs are generated for any referenced models that don't already have their own UIs.

• You can suppress a particular model structure node from appearing in UIs that you generate by deselecting the Display in user interface check box on the UI Presentation tab of the Details region for that node. This setting doesn't suppress the node in existing UIs.

Generating a User Interface

Generated UIs are created on the User Interfaces tab of the Edit Model page of the Configurator Models work area.

1. On the Edit Configurator Model page, navigate to the User Interfaces tab.

2. Select Create from the Actions menu.

3. In the Create User Interface dialog box, enter a name for the new UI, and select a UI template map.

   Predefined UI template maps are provided for each of the navigation styles, in two versions for each style:

   • Template map with ordinary selection controls.

   • Template map with enhanced selection controls, which show more detail about the state of the selected items. For example, an icon indicates whether an item was selected by the end user or by a rule.

   • The UI template map named Single Page Navigation for Test UI with Enhanced Selection Controls is used when you test the behavior of a model with the Test Model operation. This template should never be selected for a UI that's intended for run time use with end users.

4. Click the Save and Close button.

5. A new UI is now generated automatically, following the selected template map that associates the structure of your configurator model with UI elements.

6. Select the new UI in the User Interfaces list. On the Overview tab for the UI, you can edit the name and description. You can also select the applications and languages for which your user interface is applicable.

7. Optionally, to verify that the behavior of the generated UI is what you expect, test the model, using the Test Model button.

8. If you made further changes to the UI, click Save, to save them.

Testing a User Interface

To verify that the behavior of a generated UI is what you expect, test the model.

To test a user interface:

1. Click the Test Model button. You don't have to be on the User Interfaces tab for the model.

2. In the Test Model dialog box, ensure that you select the new generated user interface that you intend to test, in the User Interface field. The selected UI isn't necessarily the UI that you're editing. By default, the previously tested UI is selected.

3. Make selections among the configuration options, and navigate through the pages of the UI. Observe how the UI functions in presenting configuration choices.

When testing a user interface, consider the following criteria.

• How effective is the navigation style (which is associated with the UI template map you chose) in reaching all parts of the model in the way that the end user expects for the product?

• Does the generated set and sequence of UI pages (which is determined by the UI template map and the model structure) enable the end user to locate and configure the most important elements of the model easily and efficiently?

• Do the generated headings and captions (which are derived from the node descriptions in the model structure) guide the end user in understanding what's to be configured?

• Are the default UI controls (which are generated by control templates) appropriate to interacting with items?

If any of these elements of the generated user interface are insufficient for your purpose, consider modifying the generated UI.