Actions

Designer > Objects > {object} > Actions

Custom actions can be created and invoked when displaying data records.

About Actions

An Action can execute any of the following:

A component which is an element written in HTML and JavaScript
A page which is a standard JSP (JavaServer Page) page with custom user interface elements or an independent tab
JavaScript that uses AJAX and REST to interact with the platform

The action can run against a single record, multiple records (via More Actions), or both single and multiple records.

Single Record Actions

For a single-record action, the user visits the record and then invokes one of the action button(s) in the heading bar. (The buttons they see depend on the actions that have been implemented and the user's permissions.)

Multiple Record Actions

For multiple-record actions, the user selects records in a View, and then uses the More Actions dropdown to invoke the desired action.

Learn More

Compare to:

Working with Actions

Add an Action

Follow these steps to add an action:

Click Designer > Objects > {object name} > Actions
Click the Add Action button
Fill in the Action settings
Click [Save]

Edit an Action

Follow these steps to edit an action:

Click Designer > Objects > {object name} > Actions
Click the title of the action
Click the [Edit] button
Modify the Action settings.
Click [Save]

Delete an Action

Follow these steps to delete an action:

Click Designer > Objects > {object name} > Actions
Click the title of the action
Click the [Delete] button

Action Settings

Action Information section

Provide basic information:
Name

Unique name for the action

Use alphanumeric characters and underscores

Title

Field display label

Type
Select the type of action:
- Invoke Component
- Invoke Page
- Execute JavaScript (single-record action only)
If Invoke Page or Invoke Component was selected, select it from the list
Select the invocation point:
- Single Record: The action works on a single record
- Group Action: The action works on a group of records selected in a View
- Both: The action works on both single records and groups of records
Note: The Group Action and Both options are not present if the action type is Execute JavaScript.
Optionally, unclick the Enabled checkbox to disable the action
Optionally, click the Requires Record Selection during Group Operation checkbox (this option appears only when Group Action is selected as the invocation point)
If Execute JavaScript was selected, enter the JavaScript
Tip: Use the Template Variable Tool to get available Template Variables

Packaging Options Section

Choose whether or not allow an installer to disable the action.

Available Roles section

Select the user Roles which can execute the action. The action only appears for users in those roles.

Considerations

If Template Variables are used in the Component and JavaScript code:

The Template Variable will not be replaced if the Action is invoked from a Group Action.
The Template Variable will be replaced if the Action is invoked from a Single Record

Warning Messages:

If the Action type is Invoke Component, this warning message is displayed when the invocation point is selected as Group Action, or Both:

WARNING! Template variables used in component other than User category will not be replaced by its corresponding values if Invocation Point is Group Action/Both

Requires Record Selection during Group Operation

The Requires Record Selection during Group Operation option defines the type of Group Action to create.

If checked, the Group Action requires that a record is selected in order to execute the action
If not checked, the Group Action can execute when no records are selected

Using Template Variables

About the Template Variable Tool

Use the Template Variable tool (shown below) to insert variables for:

Actions in Components

Actions Using Execute JavaScript

Template Variable Selector

Note: In some contexts, variable names uses braces - { }. In other cases, they don't. The Template Variable Tool lets you quickly determine the format used in your current context.

Learn more: Template Variables

About Template Variables

AJAX and REST can be used to communicate with the platform, by writing JavaScript in an Action. The following implicit variables are available in the JavaScript:

object_id: A variable containing the identifier of the object
selectedRecords: An array containing one element - the identifier of the selected record

Examples

Identifier of the object that the user selected:

alert("You have selected object : " + object_id);

Dialog that shows the identifier of the first selected record:

alert("You have selected Record : " + selectedRecords[0];

Lookup a Template Variable

Choose a Category.
Category

Each category contains a number of fields. The list of categories depends on your context.
Choose a field from the Category.
Fields

Contains the available fields from the selected category.
The Variable Field is populated with the syntax for your choice
Copy the string and paste it into your work
Variable field

{$account.name}

Note: When specifying a field, you use it's internal Field Name. Not the 'Field Label that appears in the GUI.

Template Variables for Component Actions

The following template variables are available for use in Actions in Components. Some template variables are not evaluated when the action is executed. In the following table:

"Yes" indicates that the template variable is evaluated when the action is executed
"--" indicates that the template variable is not evaluated when the action is executed

A warning message is displayed when a template variable is included that is of the not evaluated type.

Category	Template Variable	Single Record	Group Action	Both Single Record	Both Group Action
Object	`{$fieldname}`	Yes	--	Yes	--
$ObjectID	`{$object_id}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
$GROUP_ACTION	`{$GROUP_ACTION.ids}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
$CUSTOM_CONTROL	`{$CUSTOM_CONTROL.[ComponentName]}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
User
	`{$user.today}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	`{$user.full_name}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	`{$user.first_name}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	`{$user.last_name}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	`{$user.email}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	`{$user.phone}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	`{$user.city}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	`{$user.state}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	`{$user.zip}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	`{$user.country}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	`{$user.title}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	`{$user.division}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	`{$user.fax}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	`{$user.mobile}`	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Template Variables for Actions Using Execute JavaScript

The following JavaScript template variables are available for use in Actions using the Execute JavaScript option. Some template variables are not evaluated when the action is executed. In the following table:

"Yes" indicates that the template variable is evaluated when the action is executed
"--" indicates that the template variable is not evaluated when the action is executed.