Develop > Presentation layer > Management Center framework > Customize the Management Center user interface > Create a new tool for the Management Center > Define OpenLaszlo classes instantiated in a tool definition class
Define views for a Management Center object
The Management Center provides the explorer view which displays items in the form of a tree. The explorer view is displayed in the left area of the Management Center and controls what is shown in the main work area. The main work area supports three types of views that display business objects: properties views, list views, and calender views.
Before you begin
Before you define views for a Management Center object, ensure that you understand the difference between the explorer view that controls what is displayed in the main work area and the list, properties, and calendar views that are displayed in the Management Center main work area:
- Explorer view
- The explorer view is a tree view that controls what is displayed in the main work area. Select a node in the explorer view to display the view that is currently associated with that node in the main work area. The content of the explorer view is divided into three parts: the Search Results node, the Active Work node, and the business object nodes.
The Search Results node appears at the top of the explorer view. When you select this node, the latest search results list view is displayed in the main work area.
The Active Work node is the parent node for all of the business objects that are currently open. Select a business object node under the Active Work node to display the properties view for that business object in the main work area.
The rest of the explorer view is reserved for nodes that represent the business objects found under the Top object. Define the Top object by declaring an instance of wcfTopObjectDefinition under the wcfBusinessObjectEditor instance. The children of the Top object can be a combination of organizational objects (defined by declaring an instance of wcfOrganizationalObjectDefinition) and primary objects (defined by declaring an instance of wcfPrimaryObjectDefinition).
To control which of these child objects are visible, declare one or more filters as children of the business object editor instance. If more than one filter is declared, the explorer view contains a filter selector that you can use to select a different filter. If the visible organizational objects or primary objects have children that match the criteria for the current filter selection, you can expand the tree node and view the child objects. When you select a node that represents a child of the Top object, the current navigation list view for the selected object is displayed in the main work area. Define navigation list views by declaring instances of wcfNavigationListDefinition as children of the wcfPrimaryObjectDefinition or wcfOrganizationalObjectDefinition instance that describes the business object.
- List view
- A list view lists objects in the form of a table, providing information about the object, within table cells (for example, a list of promotions, showing the name, start and end dates, and status). Reorder, hide, or show columns in the list view. If information is editable make changes directly from the list view.
List views are defined by extending the wcfGrid class.
- Properties view
- A properties view allows you to edit all the details of a single object (for example, a detailed view of all the criteria for a promotion). The properties view can contain entry fields, check boxes, radio buttons, lists, tables, collapsible groups, and tabs. Access the properties view by creating a new object or by opening an existing object.
Your object's properties view should be an extension of wcfObjectProperties.
- Calendar view
- A calendar view shows details about an object from a scheduling perspective, using horizontal bar graphs (for example, a scheduling view showing the duration of a promotion). Calendar views are available in the Promotions and Marketing tools.
A calendar view is a specific type of list view. Your object's calendar view should be an extension of wcfGanttGrid.
- Define the explorer view for a Management Center tool
The explorer view is a tree view that you can use to control what is displayed in the main work area. Select a node in the explorer view to display the view that is currently associated with that node in the main work area.
- Define a list view
A list view lists objects in the form of a table, providing selected information about the object, within table cells (for example, a list of promotions, showing the name, start and end dates, and status). Reorder, hide, or show columns in the list view. If information is editable make changes directly from the list view.
- Define a properties view for a business object
A properties view shows all of the details for a business object. You can edit an existing object, or create a new instance of one (for example, a detailed view of all the criteria for a promotion) within a properties view.
- Define a calendar view
A calendar view shows details about an object from a scheduling perspective, using horizontal bar graphs (for example, a scheduling view showing the duration of a promotion). Calendar views are available in the Promotions and Marketing tools.
Related concepts
Management Center user interface
Related tasks
Create a new tool for the Management Center
Define OpenLaszlo classes instantiated in a tool definition class