Forms

A well-defined form makes data entry and inspection easier and faster.

1 About Forms

Forms define the Fields that are visible to users in different roles when a Record in an Object is viewed or edited. The fields in a form can be ordered and organized into sections. Labels, spacer lines, and horizontal dividers can be added to create logical groupings, and sections can be added for Quick Links and for related records (Related Information).

The Elements Sidebar helps you to configure the layout for a Form.

Considerations

Forms are associated with Objects
Multiple forms can be created for an Object
In addition to the standard forms, you can create your own custom Pages for viewing, adding, or updating a record, and select them for use in the Object Properties section: Presentation Pages.

Users that have the Customize Objects permission can edit Forms.

1.1 Default Layout

When an Object is created, the Default Layout form is created
The Default Layout cannot be deleted or renamed

1.2 Layout Configuration Options

When you create a new form layout, you have full control over the design. You can add any combination of elements from the default list, or select from a list of existing elements.

These configuration buttons are available:

[Edit Layout]
[Edit Form Script]
[Clone Layout]
[Layout Rule]

1.3 Parts of a Form

You work with elements in the form using the icons adjacent to each element.
You can add fields, sections, and other elements to the form using the controls at top left.

1.3.1 Element Icons

The element icons appear when the cursor hovers over an element in the form. Use the icons to edit the element, rearrange its position, add a script, or remove it from the form:

Considerations

The edit icon is not available for the built-in fields that are predefined for every object: Owner, date created, date modified, created by, modified by, object id, and record id.
The On Change Reset icon File:OnChangeReset icon.gif appears for a picklist field. When the picklist value changes, the fields you specify are automatically reset (cleared).
The scripting icon gives you the ability to specify JavaScript code to execute when On Change and On Focus events occur for that field. That option is only available for fields that have a "raw data" type like string or number.}}

The field-reset icon

appears in place of the scripting icon when On Change is the only event supported for the field.

1.3.2 Elements

The Elements section at top left contains things you can drag and drop into the form.

1.3.2.1 Fields

The first tab is Fields. It contains the object fields that can be put into the form.

To add a field to the form, drag it from the field list and drop it into place.

To edit the field characteristics, click the edit icon next to the field.

Common Field Display Characteristics

The list of attributes depends on the type of field. Here are the common attributes:

Field Label - The label displayed in the GUI for this field, in all forms.
Display Label - The label displayed in the GUI for this field, in this form.
Field Attributes:

None - The default.
Required - A value for this field is required in this form, even if the Basic Information for the Field itself does not specify it as Always Required.
Read Only - The field can be viewed, but not modified.

Note: If the field is defined as Always Required, and it is specified as Read Only here, then this form cannot be used to add new records, unless the field has a Default Value.

Hidden - The field is not displayed to the user. (Can be used for fields with intermediate calculations or values that depend on other selections.)

Label Position - Where the label appears relative to the data (to the left, or on top).

CSS Style for Label - How the field label is displayed.
CSS Style for Data View - How data appears when the field is not active.
CSS Style for Data Entry - How data field appears when the field is active, and the user is entering data into it.

Learn more: CSS Styling

Field Hint - A field to display in this form, overriding the hint specified in the Field definition.

(This area only displays when a hint has been specified for the Field.)

Special Field Attributes

Field Type	Attributes
Lookup	Lookup Display Type - A Popup window or a Drop Down display. Lookup Type - For a Popup display, the choices are a Standard Lookup or a Custom Page of your own design. (For a Drop Down, the choice is fixed.) Sort By - The field on which to sort the list of options presented to the user. Sort Order - Ascending or Descending. AutoCopy of Field Data

1.3.2.2 Form Controls

The second tab is Form Controls.

	Spacer	Add horizontal space between elements in a form. Field Label: The name of the element.
	Label	Add a label to a form. Field Label: The name of the element. Content: The text (and optional inline HTML) that will appear when the form is displayed.
	Horizontal Line	Add a dividing line between elements in a form. Field Label: The name of the element.
	Section	Sections divide areas in a Form for improved readability and organization Sections have a default setting to open expanded or collapsed Fields in sections can be hidden in a View, if the field contains no data Within a section, images can be displayed in the header, footer, left or right margins
	Quick Link	A Quick Link provides the ability to pass a value from a record to a website URL. For example, add a Google News lookup to an Account, or add a Facebook lookup to a Contact

1.3.3 New Section Constructors

Underneath the Elements section, there are two links you can use to create additional sections in the form, either of which can be used to display related records from another object.

New Subform

Displays as a table or spreadsheet within a record
During data entry, multiple records can be added in a Subform
For example, the Orders object can contain a Subform that lists the OrderItems
When entering an order, multiple items can be added at the same time

New Related Information section

A Related Information section is created by default in all Objects
Use this link to create (optional) additional Related Information Sections.
During data entry, you add related records one at a time by clicking the [Add] button.
When displaying a Customer object, for example, you might use the Related Information section to display past orders, and use the [Add] button to create a new one.

The prerequisite for either of these sections is the existence of a Lookup relationship that defines a one-to-many relationship. For example, since there is a Lookup from Orders to Customers, the Customer object can define a Related Information section to display a history of Customer orders.

Learn more: Object Relationships

2 Working with Forms

2.1 Form Properties

2.1.1 Basic Information

Name - Name of the Form
Use this form for -

This option appears for all forms except the default form (which is usable for everything).

Select one of:

Managing Records - View and update records on line
Printing Records - Use the form to generate a PDF
Web Forms - The form can be used as the basis for a Web Form
Mobile Access - View the form from a mobile device

2.1.2 Advanced Options

This section does not appear for a Mobile Access form.

Choose the additional functionality you want users to have when viewing a record:

Show Field Hints

Choose whether or not to show field hints when the form is displayed to add, view, or update/edit a record. (The default is to show field hints that are present.)

If this option is enabled and there is text in the Description for a field in the Form, then:

That text appears as on-screen help when the user's cursor is over the field name.
In each Form, it becomes possible to specify the Field Hint to use for that field, in that form. (That text is then displayed as the field hint, overriding the field description.)

Note: The Field Hint option is available for all field types, except for Custom Control and Lookup-Derived fields.

Show Actions - In the sidebar, display the drop down that contains additional actions.
Include Print Action - If the action list is enabled, this option includes the print-record action in the dropdown.

Show Tasks - In the sidebar, display any Tasks associated with the current record.

Show Files/Attachments - In the sidebar, display a list of files and attachments that were uploaded as part of this record. (This option is only relevant to Cases.)

Show Processes - In the sidebar, display any Processes that are attached to this record, and their status.

Show Hours Logged - In the sidebar, display the section used to show and record the number of hours spent on the current record.

Show history – In the sidebar, display the history of this record.

Show notes - In the sidebar, display the notes of this record.

2.2 Form Layout

When you click on a Form, what you see is the form layout--the way the fields are arranged, and the way they are divided into Sections.

2.2.1 Add a Field to the Layout

Drag a field from the sidebar to insert into the Form layout. You can drag the field the position you want in any of the sections.

2.2.2 Remove a Field from the Layout

To Remove a Field from a Layout:

In the Forms tab, hover the mouse over the field to remove, and click the Remove Field button in the floating toolbar

The field is removed from the layout, but it remains available in the object. Fields can be reused in this layout or any new layouts.

2.3 Clone a Form

You create a new Form by cloning an existing one. When a new Form is created, the layout design is completely customizable, and can include any combination of standard elements and Object fields.

To clone a form:

1. Go to > Customization > Objects > {object} > Forms

2. Click on the form you want to copy.

3. At the top of the page, click [Clone Layout]

4. Specify Name - The name that appears in the Forms list

5. Specify how you will use this Form:

Managing Records - An interactive form for use when adding, viewing, or updating records in the platform GUI.
Printing Records - A form that used to generate a PDF using the Print a Record operation.
Web Forms - A form that will become a Web Form in an external site.

This option only appears for a non-default form, and only when the object is designated as Web Enabled in the Object Information section of the Object Properties.
When a Web Form is accessed from a Mobile device, a Mobile-Optimized version of the Web Form is used

Mobile Access - A form that is used for Mobile Access.

(This option only appears for a non-default form, and only when Mobile Access is enabled.)

Note: Mobile Access forms have a fixed, two-column format. Converting an existing form to Mobile Access causes the form layout to be rearranged into that format.

6. Specify additional Advanced Options

The available options depend on the type of Form you created.

7. Click [Save]

The new form is created. You continue to see the form you created the clone from.

To see the new form, select it from the Object's list of Forms, which now contains the new entry.

To determine who will use the new form:

Go to > Customization > Objects > {object} > Forms
Click [Forms Assignment]
Click [Edit]
Select the roles will use the new form.
Click [Save]

Learn more: Forms Assignment

2.4 Delete a Form

Click > Customization > Objects > {object} > Forms
Click on the Form you want to delete.
At the top of the page, click [Delete]
Click the [Delete] button
Click OK to confirm deletion of this layout

3 Working with Form Sections

Working with Form Sections

4 Layout Rules

Layout Rules provide the ability to create dynamic Forms that adapt and offer additional options as data is entered.

4.1 About Layout Rules

As data is entered into a form, Layout Rules can be used to hide or show fields, buttons, and form sections, or assign an initial value to a field. They can also be used to display a message.

Sample use cases:

Show a discount button when an amount reaches some value
Hide a section to prevent access to data until after a specific date and time.

4.1.1 Conditions and Actions

Layout Rules use an IF...THEN...ELSE model to customize a form layout:

IF <some condition> is TRUE

THEN do <some action>

ELSE do <some other action>

To specify a <condition> you use the Formula Builder to create a [Formula Expression]. That expression use record fields and fields in related fields.

Either a THEN clause or an ELSE clause can be specified, or both.

The possible Actions are shown below.

4.1.2 Considerations

Each Layout Rule can include multiple actions
Actions are executed in the order in which they are displayed
Actions can be added, edited, deleted or reordered
Sections can be opened based on a condition
A condition can be applied on Add, View or Update of a Record
To be available for use in a Layout Rule, the field must not be hidden in the layout.
(If it should be hidden at times, then hide it using a Layout Rule.)
Multi Object Lookup fields cannot be used to specify criteria for a Layout Rule.
Learn more: Multi Object Lookup#Considerations

Note:
A field can be referenced in either:

a. A section for which Show Empty Fields in View has been disabled
(using Advanced Options in a Section), or

b. A Layout Rule condition.

But it cannot be referenced in both places.

The Reason: If the field is empty, the server removes it from the page. The Layout Rule, meanwhile, is a JavaScript function in the page. When the Layout Rule tries to test that field, an error occurs.

4.2 Working with Layout Rules

Users that have the Customize Objects permission can edit Layout Rules.

4.2.1 Adding or Editing a Layout Rule

Click the [Layout Rule] button at the top of the page.
Click the [Add New Rule] button to add a new Layout Rule,
or click the name of an existing rule to edit it.
Fill in the layout rule settings.
Click [Save]

4.2.2 Settings

Name

Name of the Layout Rule

Enabled

Check the box to enable the Layout Rule, or uncheck it to disable the Layout Rule

Description

Description of the rule

Apply rule during

Executes the Layout Rule when any of the selected actions are taken on a record in the Object
Add Record

View Record

Update Record

On Success do not continue to next Rule

Checkbox, unchecked by default
If checked, and this rule is Triggered, then any rules that follow are not processed

The order of processing rules is controlled with the [Reorder Rule] button.

If (specify the condition...)

Use the Formula Builder to define a Boolean expression that evaluates to true or false.
Optionally, specify an action to take when the expression is true

Optionally, specify an action to take when the expression is false.

Actions are displayed in rows which can be added, edited, deleted or reordered.

4.2.3 Actions

Show/Hide Sections or Fields

Disable/Enable Fields

Assign Value to Field
(Choose a field. Use the Formula Builder to create a value expression.)

Setup Value in Picklist

Display Message:

Once During Form Save Only

When Condition Matches

Show/Hide Buttons

Make Fields Required

Make Fields Not Required

Consideration:

The more the layout rules, the lesser the performance.

The following table explains the Field Display Type available in the Add New Rule page and the Actions available.

Field Display Types	Add New Rule	Actions
Field Display Types	Add New Rule	Show or Hide Sections and Fields	Disable or Enable Fields	Assign Value to Fields	Setup Value in Picklist	Display Message	Show or Hide Buttons	Make Fields Required	Make Fields Not Required
Auto Number	✔	✔	✔	✕	✕	✔	✔	✕	✕
Checkbox	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Currency	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Date	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Date Time	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Dependent Picklist	✔	✔	✔	✕	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Email Address	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
External Lookup	✕	✔	✕	✕	✕	✔	✔	✕	✕
File Field	✕	✔	✔	✕	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Formula	✕	✔	✔	✕	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Geolocation	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Global Picklist	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Image Field	✕	✔	✔	✕	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Lookup	✕	✔	✔	✕	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
*Lookup-Derived Field	✕	✔	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕
Multiple Checkboxes	✕	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Multi Object Lookup	✕	✔	✔	✕	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Multi Select Picklist	✕	✔	✔	✕	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Number	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Number with decimals	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Percentage	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Phone/Fax	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Picklist	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Radio Buttons	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Rich Text Area	✕	✔	✕	✕	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Text Area	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Text Field	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Time	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
URL	✔	✔	✔	✔	✕	✔	✔	✔	✔
Rollup Summary	✔	✔	✔	✕	✕	✔	✔	✕	✕

Note: Lookup-Derived fields cannot be created manually by the user. To configure lookup-derived fields, see Lookup-Derived Fields.

4.2.4 Reorder Layout Rules

Click the [Layout Rule] button at the top of the page.
Click the [Reorder Rule] button to change the order in which rules are executed.

4.2.5 Using Enumerated Picklists in Layout Rules

Layout Rule criteria can be specified using Enumerated Picklist Values. The Display Label is not considered valid for criteria in Layout Rules.

5 Form Scripts

5.1 About Form Scripts

Form Scripting lets you specify JavaScript code to execute when a Form is loaded or saved.

JavaScript code can be invoked at these form-level events:

On Load

This event happens when the form loads
By default, the On Load scripts are triggered on any record action (View, Add, Update)

Optionally, invoke the script on a specific action (View or Add or Update)

Learn more: Trigger on a Specific Action

On Save

This event happens when a user clicks the [Submit] button on a form
At this event, optionally perform custom front-end validations before sending the data to the server
Return false to cancel the save

Reusable Script Functions

Available to be called from the On Load or On Save event form scripts
Also available to be called from the On Change and On Focus event field scripts

Learn more:

Compare to Post Selection JavaScript and Field Scripting
Using AJAX and REST to communicate with the platform

5.2 Working with Form Scripts

Note: Please note that all the examples listed in this page are limited to the legacy AgileApps UI and not the new runtime AgileApps UI.

5.2.1 Editing Form Scripts

Follow these steps to add or change scripting in a form:

Note: To run the JavaScript in the LongJump UI and the legacy AgileApps UI, enter the script in the Legacy UI Script tab. To run the JavaScript in the New AgileApps UI, enter the script in the New UI Script tab.

Click [Form Script]
Click [Edit]
Enter or change the JavaScript in On Load Script, On Save Script, and/or Reusable Script Functions
Click [Save]

5.2.2 Writing JavaScript

Using JavaScript, you can

Reference Fields in the current form.
Use AJAX and REST to communicate with the platform.

5.3 On Load Examples

These examples perform operations when a form is loaded.

5.3.1 Add a Help Button to an Arbitrary Form

This code works for forms in all objects, including Cases, Tasks, and custom objects. And it works when adding a new record, as well as when viewing an existing record. For information about adding a help button to a form, see the tech community article Adding a Custom Button to an Arbitrary Form using Form Script.

5.3.2 Convert a Date

Create readable date string from the current date for display in the order_date field.

var v1 = new Date(); 
var v2 = new Array('Sun', 'Mon', 'Tues', 'Wed', 'Thu', 'Fri', 'Sat'); 
var v3 = new Array('Jan', 'Feb', 'Mar', 'Apr', 'May', 'Jun', 
                   'Jul', 'Aug', 'Sep', 'Oct', 'Nov', 'Dec'); 
date_string = v2[v1.getDay()] + " " + v3[v1.getMonth()] + " " + v1.getDate(); 
setTextFieldValue(_sdForm, "order_date", date_string);

5.3.3 Trigger on a Specific Action

To invoke a script On Load + Action (View, Update, Add or Clone a record):

Note: For new UI, see the section Variables and Methods Introduced in the Revamped UI in JavaScript Field Type Reference for New AgileApps User Interface

Trigger on record View:

var action = _sdForm.get(0).a.value;
if ( action == "view") {
   // java script to be triggered on the view of the record only
   ...
}

Trigger on record Update:

var action = _sdForm.get(0).a.value;
if ( action == "update") {
   // java script to be triggered on the update of the record only
   ...
}

Trigger on record Add or Clone:

var action = _sdForm.get(0).a.value; 
if ( action == "add") {
   //java script to be triggered on the add or clone of the record only
   ...
}

5.4 On Save Examples

For examples related to the On Save action, see the tech community article Perform Custom Validations using Form Script in AgileApps.

5.5 Learn More

JavaScript Field Type Reference for New AgileApps User Interface
Referencing Form Fields in JavaScript
Field Name and Field Value syntax
Use AJAX and REST to communicate with the platform in JavaScript code.
JavaScript Functions
Accessing Additional Lookup Variables in a Form

6 Field Scripts

6.1 About Field Scripts

Note: All the examples listed in this page are applicable to the old AgileApps UI and not the revamped UI.

Field scripts let you execute JavaScript when a field in a Form gets focus or its value changes.

JavaScript code can be run at these field-level events:

On Change - This event happens when a user enters a new value in a field. At this event you can change other fields based on the value a user just entered or change the formatting of the value (such as for a telephone number).
On Focus - This event happens when a user moves the focus to a field. At this event you can remind the user what to enter or temporarily change the appearance of the field (set as setting the background color).

See Field Scripting Variables for information on variable syntax.

See also:

Form Scripts for operations at the Form level
Post Selection JavaScript to use additional variables available for Lookup fields

You can add On Change or On Focus event scripts to any field except the following:

Auto Number
Custom Control
File field
Formula
Image field
Lookup
Multi object Lookup
Rich Text Area

6.2 Working with Field Scripts

6.2.1 Editing Field Scripts

Follow these steps to add or change event scripting for a field:

Note: To run the JavaScript in the LongJump UI and the legacy AgileApps UI, enter the script in the Legacy UI Script tab. To run the JavaScript in the New AgileApps UI, enter the script in the New UI Script tab.

Click the script icon () next to a field in the layout
Enter or change the JavaScript in Field On Change Script and/or Field On Focus Script
Click the Save button

6.2.2 Writing JavaScript

Using JavaScript, you can

Reference Fields in the current form.
Use AJAX and REST to communicate with the platform.

You can also use the implicit variable obj to refer to the field where the most recent event occurred.

These examples show using the implicit variable obj with these properties:

alert("Selected field's name: " + obj.name); alert("Selected field's value: " + obj.value); </syntaxhighlight>

6.2.3 On Change Examples

6.2.3.1 Check Approval Status

When a user changes an order, if a discount is given, make sure that approval_required is checked.

if (_sdForm[0].discount.value != '0') {

  setCheckboxState(_sdForm, "approval_required", true);

} </syntaxhighlight>

6.2.3.2 Capitalize a Name

When a user enters a first name, capitalize it automatically:

var upperName = _sdForm[0].first_name.value.toUpperCase();
setTextFieldValue(_sdForm, "first_name", upperName);
   // The line could also be written as:
   // obj.value = obj.value.toUpperCase();
</syntaxhighlight>

6.2.3.3 Display an Alert with Multiple Values
Display an alert dialog showing the values selected from multiple checkboxes.
:<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript" enclose="div">
var values = getMultiCheckBoxValue(_sdForm, "assets", 0); 
    // Returns a list. For example: ["Laptop", "Cellphone"]
alert( "Multi Check Box Values are: " + values);
</syntaxhighlight>

6.2.3.4 Copy a Field in the Current Record
When a user changes the job_knowledge_notes field, copy the new value to the dependability_notes field.
:<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript" enclose="div">
var note = _sdForm[0].job_knowledge_notes.value;
setTextFieldValue(_sdForm, "dependability_notes", note);
</syntaxhighlight>

6.2.3.5 Conditional Change to a Value
Change the value of a text area based on a variable.
:<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript" enclose="div">
if(obj.value == "Record1") {
    setTextFieldValue(_sdForm, "description", "First Record") 
}
if(obj.value == "Record2") {
    setTextFieldValue(_sdForm, "description", "Second Record") 
}
else {
    setTextFieldValue(_sdForm, "description", "Not first or second record") 
}
</syntaxhighlight>

Change the value of a checkbox field to true when the request amount is large enough.
:<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript" enclose="div">
if(_sdForm[0].request_amount.value > 10000) {
    setCheckboxState(_sdForm, "approval_required", true);
}
</syntaxhighlight>

6.2.4 On Focus Example
When a user moves the focus to the account name field, remind the user to enter the name capitalized.
:<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript" enclose="div">
alert("Please enter the account name in all caps");
</syntaxhighlight>

6.2.5 Grid Field Scripting
You can run JavaScript code for On Change and On Focus events in grid fields.

Follow these steps to add event scripting to a grid field:

# Click the script icon () in the column header of a field in a grid.
# Enter the JavaScript in On Change Script and/or On Focus Script.
# Click the Save button.

You can refer to these implicit variables in event scripts for grid fields:
* grid_section: current grid name used as a prefix for field names
* grid_section_row_id: current row identifier

For example, assume that you have a grid with these field names: full_name, first_name, and last_name. You can create references to the fundamental fields with the statements below:
:<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript" enclose="div">
var firstname = eval('_sdForm[0].'+grid_section+'first_name');
var lastname = eval('_sdForm[0].'+grid_section+'last_name');
</syntaxhighlight>

You can then update the full_name field automatically in an On Change event script for the first name or last name field with this code:
:<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript" enclose="div">
var fullname = firstname.value + ' ' + lastname.value;
setTextFieldValue(_sdForm, "full_name", fullname);
</syntaxhighlight>

6.3 Learn More
:* Referencing Form Fields in JavaScript
:* Field Name and Field Value syntax
:* Use AJAX and REST to communicate with the platform in JavaScript code. 
:* JavaScript Functions
:* Accessing Additional Lookup Variables in a Form