The Link Items Toolbar
Many data-records in an Orixa system are linked to other records, they may link to:
* "Child records" records
* Records in the Framework Link-Tables: Comments, FileNotes and Images.
* Records in the general purpose Framework table "Links" which allows links between any data-table.
This process of linkage is a key part of the strength of Orixa, allowing it to be completely Relational in its data-operations.
To help make these links more visible and transparent to the user, Orixa automatically "surfaces" these linked-records on the Link Items Toolbar.
It is slightly confusing there is both a "Link Items Toolbar" (for all Relational data linkages) and a Links data-table which can be used to promiscuously link any record in any table, but once you have used both you will understand the process.
The Developer does not have to do anything to make the Link Items Toolbar visible. It will automatically show a graphic list of linked records. If the user clicks on any icon on the toolbar the linked record will open.
If a user does not have security access to particular records it will not allow them to be viewed, the Developer does not have to worry about controlling the Link Items Toolbar.
If a record has no linked records the Link Items Toolbar will not show.
An Edit Form showing the Link Items Toolbar
Link Items Toolbar
- A Link Items Toolbar, showing Icons for 2 linked FileNotes, 1 linked Comment and 2 linked Images records. Note that the exact icons that are used with vary from system to system.
When you hover over the icon on the Link Items Toolbar a hint will show some information about the linked record.
Settings which control the Link Items Toolbar
Links from the BusinessObject definition |
If a BusinessObject is defined with the data-fields LinkToComments, LinkToImages, "AcceptLinks" or "CreateLinks" set to true, then the App will look for records in the link-tables show them in the Link Items Toolbar. These settings can be updated in any App at any time, and the new settings will take effect as soon as a user re-connects to their App. |
Links from the Table Definition |
All the "Child-tables" of a BusinessObject will automatically be added tothe Link Items Toolbar. To set a Table to be the Child-table of anther BusinessObject, first define it as a "Child" BusinessObject, in the BusinessObjects table. Then its SQL table-definition should be changed so that the constraint which links the Child back to its parent has its DESCRIPTION set to 'Parent', as shown at 1. in the image on the left |