How can I use Layouts in Data Designer?

Last Revised:       Written by Veloxity CRM    Time Estimate: About 5 minutes to read. Version 2.0

Contents

What are Layouts?

Definition

Create multiple layouts for each data type. For example, when a user clicks on a specific account, what information will be displayed on the screen? How is the information formatted? Veloxity comes out of the box with predefined layouts.

  • Layouts enable you to customize different layouts for different user groups.
  • Layouts support Integrated Data Views (IDVs). IDVs allow you to include data records related to the base record (i.e. the data type you are creating the layout for) and charts in a single view.
  • Data from other records can be added to the IDV for any data type if they are hierarchically related to the base data type. (For more information, visit How can I use Data Type Relationships in Data Designer?) 
  • Layouts can also be assigned by group so that different users get different views of the data depending on their assigned group. 
  • A powerful feature of Layouts is the ability to create IDV’s that plugins can use to display a popup dialog of an IDV to users at various places in the application.

How can I use Layouts?

Use Layouts to create customized Integrated Data Views (IDVs) for your data types.

The fields that are in the user's visible layout are the fields that will show on tables.

Where can I find Layouts?

The Data Type Layouts configuration is found in Data Designer in Veloxity App Setup.

From the Main Menu, click My Profile > App Setup > Data Designer > Layouts 

Navigating Layouts

You are looking at a screenshot of Navigating Layouts in Data Designer:

Figure 1. Navigating Layouts in Data Designer. 

Layout consists of the following three main areas:

  • Layout Information and Tools: Drag and drop features onto the Layout Preview.
  • Layout Toolbar: Create, Manage, and Assign Layouts.
  • Layout Preview: Easily drag and drop features to design the data view.

How can I use Layouts?

  1. Select a Data Type to create a Layout.
  2. Click Layouts.
  3. Drag and Drop the components from Layout Information and Tools onto the Layout Preview.
  4. Drag components around the layout preview and arrange them. You can also expand the size of the components.
  5. Click OK to save the layout.
  6. Assign these layouts to specific groups.

After creating and assigning a new layout, exit App Setup. View the new layout in the CRM and start adding information.

Tip: The way you define your data type layout also defines the way tables of data appear for a data type. The layout determines the field order of your tables for that given data type.

Layout Toolbar

The Layout Toolbar enables you to create, save, and manage data type layouts. 

Create New Layout

  1. Click Create New Layout.
  2.  Enter the New Layout Details.
  3. Create a new layout using by dragging the Layout Tools onto the Layout Preview. 
  4.  Click Save.

Tip: Technically, Layouts have two names: 

  • The Layout Name is used for reference by code. It is never seen by an end user. This name cannot be changed.
  • The Display Name is the name seen by an end user.

You are looking at a screenshot demonstrating how to Create a New Layout:


Figure 2. Creating a New Layout. 

Layout Information and Tools

Layout Tools are dragged onto the Layout Preview to configure your new layout. Each tool features a comprehensive description that can be accessed by hovering over the tool name.

Details

  • Layout Name: The internal name is used for reference by code. It is never seen by an end user. The underlying name is unchangeable once defined,
  • Display Name: The name viewed by the end-user.
  • Description: An internal description of this layout.
  • Links Panel Hidden Data Types:  decide what data types you do not want to have shown in this record view
  • Links Panel Always Shown Data Types:  Are there certain data types you want to always show on the Links Panel even when they do not have links associated with them? Perhaps you want certain sections always shown to a user (even if empty) as a reminder to fill them out. Add these kinds of data types here. 
  • Hide Links Panel: Should the Links Panel be hidden for this data view? If so, click the Hide Links Panel check box.
  • Max Number of Columns: Adjust the maximum number of columns in your layout here, Components on the layout can be resized to different widths when dragged onto the palette.  By default, they can be 1, 2, 3, or 4 columns wide.  Change the number of available columns to size things to by changing the value here.  This provides more granular control of layouts.  For best results, avoid making this number too large, such as more than 8 columns.

Standard Components

The following are standard components that can be dragged onto any layout:

  • New Form
  • New Tab List
  • New Chart
  • New Search
  • New Activity Calendar
  • New Calendar
  • Recent Activity Feed
  • News Feed
  • New Hierarchy
  • New Process View


Data Fields

Data Fields available will depend on the Data Type selected. Both system created fields and fields you have configured can be displayed. Only fields marked Visible on data fields will show on this list. 

Data fields being added to a layout need to be part of a form. 

  1. First drag the New Form component onto the layout.
  2. Then then drag and drop fields onto the new form.

Linked Record Components

Hover over the tool name for a comprehensive description.

You can click to Edit Related Records Component Configuration (Details) – you can hide headers if they’re not applicable, you can change the display type (table, form cycler, tile viewer, Kanban, calendar) – if we just leave this as a table, you can determine if you wish to show key fields only (key fields are the really important fields and they display first in tables as well and they display on the links panel on the left) hide toolbars, charting options

  • Linked Ancestor Records View
  • Linked Parent Records View
  • Linked Child Records View
  • Linked Descendant Records View

Custom Components

  • Joined Records
  • Quick Activity
  • Timeline

Managing Layouts

Manage Layouts displays a list of all layouts for this data type and enables copying, deleting and marking a layout as the default layout. 

You are looking at a screenshot of Manage Layouts:

Figure 3. Manage Layouts.

Assigning Groups to Layouts

Assign Layouts enables the assignment of groups to layouts. 

  1. Select the Layout you want to assign.
  2. Drag the Group(s) to Assign from Available Groups to Assigned Groups.
  3. Click Save and Close.

You are looking at a screenshot demonstrating how to Assign Groups to Layouts:

Figure 4. Assigning Groups to Layouts.