15 Launching a Manager

Before the user can use a manager, you must launch that manager in uDesigner, by using an attribute form or a detail form.

An attribute form or a detail form will enable:

• You to set up the manager for proper functioning.
• The manager to collect data.
• The application to function, by arranging or assembling the needed data.
• The adjustment of data for analyses, calculations, and other tasks.

Example

• You can design a Cost Attribute Form with fields that show additional information about a CBS code.
• You can design a Fund Attribute Form with fields that define segments and reference fields for fund codes.

An attribute form or a detail form is:

• Different from a business process form (BP form) because an attribute form or a detail form is not attached to workflows.
• For collecting information that is not relevant to the steps in a workflow.

For a company, you can design either an attribute form or a detail form, but not both.

You must create an attribute form or a detail form and import the form to the production environment before you import any BP forms or other components. Otherwise, the system uses a default attribute form for the company.

After you create an attribute form or a detail form:

• You can modify the form.
• You cannot create, or design, a new form.

The application uses an attribute form or a detail form to populate many of the pickers on BP forms. The information collected by an attribute form or a detail form is displayed to the user when the user wants to Drill Down to an item on a sheet, or to instantly shift from an overview of data to a more detailed and granular view within the same data set. For example, in a CBS code on a cost sheet, if you double-click the CBS code from the sheet, the system opens a "properties" window which contains specific information about the CBS code. This specific information in the "properties" window usually comes from an attribute or detail form.