Creating Custom Objects

You must create custom objects in the following sequence:

1. Define general object information.
2. Define unique identifiers for records.
3. Define record name patterns.
4. Define phases and their transitions.
5. Add assignee roles.
6. Add items to system lookup tables.
7. Define categories.
8. Create custom lookup tables and their items.
9. Create custom fields.
10. Once the previous tasks are completed, you can perform the following tasks in parallel or in any sequence:
    • Create custom pages.
    • Configure Rules and workflow.
    • Create Document Generator templates.
11. Test the components of your custom design.

Creating Custom Pages

You can define the following types of custom pages:

• Custom object views—Layout of fields and record pages
• Wizards—An tool to guide end-user through creating or updating records
• Search views—Pages for finding and displaying lists of records
• Home pages—Provide a range of information and links in one location
• Portal panes—Components of home pages that display sets of information and links

You can create custom pages in the following sequence:

1. Define blocks.
2. Define object views.
3. (optional) Define templates for wizards.
4. Define any user groups necessary for wizard rules.
5. Define wizards.
6. Define search views.
7. Define portal panes.
8. Define home pages.

Creating Custom Object Views

Object views define the layout of fields and record pages. You can customize and assign object views for different user groups.

To successfully create object views, you should understand the following:

• Object categories, their purpose, full tree positions, how they are created, where they appear in the end-user interface, and so on. See Using Categories.
• The differences between system and custom object views. See Custom and System Views.

You can create custom object views in the following sequence:

1. Create a field specification document, including categories and display requirements for the object definition.
2. Create the custom object definition (except for system objects).
3. Create any necessary categories.
4. Create custom fields.
5. Create blocks.
6. Create object views.

XML Templates

The design of Custom Java Blocks is outside the scope of this documentation. However, if you do work with Custom Java Blocks, be aware of the XML templates available in the \utitilities\samples\screens subfolder of your program directory. By using these templates for your work, your CJBs will preserve the look and feel of "out of the box" TeamConnect.

To create custom messages

1. Open the Designer.
2. Select one of the following options:
   • For object definition-specific custom messages—Click the Go to drop-down list, and then select Object Definitions. Select the object definition for which you want to create custom messages. Click the Custom Messages tab.
   • For common custom messages—Click the System Settings drop-down list, and then select Custom Messages. If necessary, click the Custom Messages tab.
3. (optional) In the Number of entries you would like to add drop-down list, enter the number of keys with messages that you want to create.
4. In the Message Key field, enter the appropriate message key.
   
   All common custom message keys are prefixed with custom.common.; all object definition message keys are prefixed with custom. only. You do not have to enter these prefixes or the period—they are automatically added to the front of the message key when you click add more.
   
   A message key may contain up to 250 alphanumeric characters.
5. In the Default Value box, enter the appropriate message text. The message may contain up to 4000 characters. A Default Value message must have an associated message key.
6. Click add more.

To edit custom messages

Note: You cannot edit the Message Key, but you can edit the associated Default Value message.

Click the check-box for the Default Value that you want to edit, and then click edit. Make the appropriate changes and then click ok.

To delete custom messages

Click the check-box for the Message Key that you want to delete, and then click delete. Deleted keys are no longer available when you re-import localized date into TeamConnect.