Build Custom eForms from Scratch

Kathy KugleTechnology ConsultantKansas State Universitykkugle@ksu.edu

Stacy WalkerProduct Managerstacy.walker@perceptivesoftware.com

Session Overview

Learn about Perceptive eForms first-hand from a Perceptive Software customer. See how they are designed from the bottom up, understand the components that are involved, and learn about customization that can be added with JavaScript for field entry validation. We will alsoexplore tips and tricks to make e-form design quicker, easier and effective for your organization.

Perceptive eForms: Components, Customization and Tips Creating in designer Writing outside of designer Customizing Tips

Create eForms in the Designer

Create custom properties Create form Publish form

Creating eForms in Forms Designer

Create form in designer

Publish eForms in Forms Designer

Publish to Forms Server and ImageNow Writes to imagenowforms.xml

Index key values Custom property IDs (if keys)

Creates data definition Form unique ImageNow

ID XML file

Publish eForms in Forms Designer

Publish to Forms Server and ImageNow Creates presentation

folder and files Stylesheet XSL CSS Images

Publish eForms in Forms Designer

Publish to Forms Server and ImageNow Creates form name

Associates data definition and presentation files

Creates document or project type Selects “is a form” Associates form Assigns custom properties

Publish eForms in Forms Designer

Publish to ImageNow only using designer Creates data definition xml Creates form ID presentation Does NOT write to imagenowforms.xml Does NOT have index keys Creates form name

Associates data definition and presentation files

Creates document or project type Assigns custom properties

Manual Form Creation

Manually create data definition and presentation files

Add in files through manage form components Data definition XML Create presentation

folder (name of form) XSL, CSS, images and

other supported files

Manually create form type Select components

Data definition XML Presentation folder

Set security

Manual Form Creation

Publish Forms from Manual Creation

To Forms Server and ImageNow Modify imagenowforms.xml

Custom properties (use ID number) Index keys

Manually create document type or project type Modify to associate with form

To ImageNow only No index keys, not distinct document Meta data for image file or other document

Customizing eForms Forms Server

imagenowforms.xml Configuration Parameters

Button text, color and position Button actions and action order Reset – fullScreenSuccess: false

Transform Parameters Save to PDF and attach to form Print to PDF

Data parameters Pass info to form

One copy of file – check in/check out

Customizing eForms Forms Server

imagenowforms.xml

Customizing eForms

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) Modify XSL

Link shared or local CSS Assign classes

JavaScript Form validation

Test online form not associated ImageNow first Link shared or local JS in XSL

Customizing eForms

JavaScript Field help text

Button for help Link to help

Customizing eForms

State information (user, queue, client type, group) JavaScript in XSL Live view in XML

Customizing eForms

Add form field types (controls) Modify XML

Add data definition nodes (tags) Modify XSL

Adding and deleting rows of a table Checkboxes Radio boxes

Must be child of div tag Use form tag in XSL for radio button dots

Customizing eForms

Internal form gives syntax errors to debug Except configuration

parameters

Use Title tag for simple hover help text in XSL on label and input tags No JavaScript needed No CSS needed No special Internet

Explorer tricks

eForms Tips eForm Security

Workflow queue properties, forms Must add each form to queue

Outside of workflow – form security is needed All users group added with view for new form

Must modify

Encoding Save as ANSI or ASCII encoded

UTF-8 with BOM (support in 6.8)

Java 1.7

eForms Tips

Custom properties Different object numbers production or test

Create properties in both Create form to have object numbers in both Switch out test numbers for production

Presentation Files (CSS, XSL) Replace (requires restarting web server) Remove, Add

Escape reserved XML characters

eForms Tips

Code for WebNow and ImageNow in JS and XSL Option elements

WebNow needs to check for null ImageNow permits only single argument

Events Use addEventListener for WebNow Use attachEvent for ImageNow

Microsoft IE requires specific Namespace (ImageNow)

eForms Tips

Code for WebNow and ImageNow in JS and XSL Get Elements

getElementsbyName needs to test for null WebNow returns null object ImageNow returns empty array

getElementsbyID needs both id and name WebNow returns null object ImageNow checks for name

Training Courses RUG ImageNow eForm Workshop

Classroom

ImageNow iScript/eForms Developer Training Classroom, virtual

ImageNow eForms Developer Training Classroom, virtual

ImageNow eForms Administrator Training Virtual, blended, e-learning

Questions?

Kathy KugleTechnology ConsultantKansas State Universitykkugle@ksu.edu

Stacy WalkerProduct Managerstacy.walker@percetivesoftware.com