Develop > Presentation layer > Customize WebSphere Commerce Accelerator, Organization Administration Console, or Administration Console
Tools framework
The tools framework defines user interface elements and functionality used to control and manipulate these elements.
There are two types of elements:
- Container
- Container elements are those which contain other elements or widgets, such as a notebook, which contains several panels.
- Base
- Base elements are those which can be placed inside a container element or used elsewhere on an HTML page, such as a dynamic list.
- Wizards
A wizard consists of a series of panels in which users can enter and manipulate data. The panels are presented in a specific sequence defined when you create the wizard.
- Notebooks
The notebook element enables you to organize and develop groups of panels for updating and creating information in a database. Notebooks are similar to wizards because there are many panels of information, organized in a table of contents. Notebooks differ from wizards because the panels are not displayed in a predefined sequence.
- Dialogs
Dialogs consist of a content frame and an action frame. Dialogs are useful for displaying summary information, confirmation information, or asking for simple input information.
- Dynamic lists
Dynamic lists display data from the database, or some other data source whose data and elements are variables. Information describing the format in which to display this data, and actions users can perform on this data, is stored in an XML file.
- Calendars
This element displays a calendar, allowing the user to specify a date, either graphically or manually. The specified date is then returned to the parent window, and placed in the correct field.
- Slosh buckets
The slosh bucket is a common visual metaphor containing two single column lists, side by side. Four buttons are place between the columns: Add, Add All, Remove, Remove All. This control is generally used to pick a subset of unique entries from a larger set of data.
- Dynamic trees
A dynamic tree organizes information in a tree layout, allowing the user to navigate the tree, as well as expand and collapse tree branches.
- Search dialogs
A search dialog is an user interface fragment that provides a common infrastructure for developing search applications.
- Universal dialog
The universal dialog is a container element that is defined in an XML file. That is, all its content such as panels, labels, and sections are specified within a single XML file.
- Element chaining
Element chaining refers to how wizard, notebook, and dialog container elements can be linked together to perform one task.
- Wizard branching
Wizard branching refers to how wizard panel flow can be altered depending on data entered in previous panels.
- Tools User Interface Center
A Tools User Interface Center provides the structural framework in which tools are presented to the user. A Tools User Interface Center consists of a menu frame and a content frame. The WebSphere Commerce Accelerator is an instance of the Tools User Interface Center. The Organization Administration Console is another example of the Tools User Interface Center.
Related concepts
WebSphere Commerce Accelerator user interface
Related tasks
Integrate tools into a Tools User Interface Center