Configure the navigate to URL action

Use the Navigate to URL action when you want to open a URL or web page. For example, adding a button on a form that opens a new browser tab to display a particular web page. You can open the target URL in the same browser window, a new tab in the same browser, or a modal dialog window (similar to a pop-up dialog). Typically, the navigation action happens after an event such as clicking a button.

This example uses an event, condition, and action to open a separate window that displays exchange rates. As part of the rule configuration, you add a Parameter to the Base URL, to show exchange rates for a specific amount.

For information on navigating to another form see: Configure the Navigate To Another Form Action.

Example: Clicking the Exchange Rates button on a view starts the Navigate to a URL rule. Notice that the Base URL configuration includes a parameter that passes the Expense Amount entered to the URL. In this way, you see the correct exchange rate table when the target site opens.
Form Event

Try it yourself!

Configuring the rule

Find the Navigate to a URL action in the Browser Interaction group. (If you want to navigate to another form, tab, or view, see the actions in the Navigation group.)

Rule breakdown
In this example, the rule is When Exchange Rates is Clicked. (Exchange Rates is the name of a button on the parent form that you click to view exchange rates.) The rule contains a condition that checks if there is a value in the Expense Amount Text Box. If the condition is true (there is a value in the text box), the Navigate to a URL action executes. If the condition is false, nothing happens.
Navigate to a URL Rule

Item	Rule	Notes
A	Condition	The condition checks if the Expense Amount Text Box control has a value.
B	Action	The Navigate to a URL action executes and opens the web site configured as the Base URL. As part of the configuration, the Expense Amount Text Box value is transferred to a parameter, then appended to the Base URL. This results in the target web site opening with the rate table for the expense amount displayed. If there is no value in the Expense Amount Text Box after clicking the Exchange Rates button, nothing happens.

Rules consist of events, conditions and actions. A valid rule contains at least one action.

Events define when the rule should run, such as when a button is clicked, or when the form loads. (Events are optional, you can define "event-less" rules that you can call from other rules.)
Conditions define whether the rule should run. If the criteria are true, continue the rule, and if the criteria are not met, stop the rule. For example, a condition might evaluate a form to confirm that required fields have content. (Conditions are optional - not all rules will require conditions.)
Actions define what the rule should do. For example, show a message, start a workflow, or enable a form field. Rules can contain multiple actions that are run in sequence or in parallel.

Parent form

Follow the steps below to configure the Navigate to a URL rule. This example uses a form called Navigate Form, containing a view called Navigate Item View with a text box for entering an expense amount, and a button to open the exchange rates web site.

The view contains two controls used in this example: Expense Amount text box and Exchange Rates button.
Navigate Form

Edit the Navigate Item View and go to the Rules tab. Click Add Rule.
Every rule must begin with an event. In this example, the event that executes the rule is clicking the Exchange Rates button. With the Events tab active, click When a control on the View raises an event to add it to the rule definition pane. Click the select control link and select Exchange Rates. The select event link automatically changes to the default action for buttons: Clicked.
Next, add a condition. You want this rule to execute if the Expense Amount Text Box contains a value. Click the Conditions tab, click a control contains a value, and select Expense Amount Text Box.
Now, you are ready to add the navigation action. Click the Actions tab, click Navigate to a URL and click configure.

There are four sections on this screen: Configure URL, Configure Parameters, Preview, and Context Browser.
Navigate to a URL Screen

Section	Setting	Use
Configure URL	Provide the starting URL of the web site you want to navigate to. Select how you want to open the target web site.	Base URL Enter the URL of the target web site. You can add parameters in the Configure Parameters section to further filter your target site. Open In Current Window: Opens the target site in the same window as your form. New Window (or Tab): Opens the target site in a new browser tab. Parent Window: Opens the target site in the parent window/frame. In most instances, choosing this option is the same as choosing Current Window. However, when using forms in an iframe (in SharePoint for example) this option provides the functionality to run the URL outside the SmartForms frame. Modal Dialog Window: Opens the target site as a pop-up dialog. You must close the dialog before continuing. For more information on configuring this setting, see: Modal Dialog Window.
Configure Parameters	Configure parameters to use in the query string of the URL. You can type values or drag properties from the Context Browser, or use a combination of typed values and properties.	To add a new parameter, click Add, then enter a name and a value.
Preview	This section displays the URL (base URL plus parameters).	Use the preview pane to check your target URL.
Context Browser	The Context Browser contains references, variables, functions, and SmartObject properties. At runtime, references and variables are replaced with live data.	Click and drag items from the Context Browser into any text box. For example, you can use Context Browser properties to form the base URL or as parameter values.

For the Base URL, enter
https://www.x-rates.com/table/
and for the Open In value, select Modal Dialog Window. We want to open the external site as a pop-up window.
Next, you configure a parameter that queries exchange rates and returns a table of rates based on US dollars, for the amount you enter into the Expense Amount Text Box. In the Configure Parameters section, click Add. Enter
from
for the Name and
USD&amount=
for the Value.
The first query parameter is from. You hard-code the query value to be USD (US dollars). Then, you add a second query parameter, amount, and use a property from the Context Browser as its value. At runtime, the property will contain the amount you entered into the Expense Amount Text Box.
Expand the Context Browser and drag the Navigate Item View > Controls > Expense Amount Text Box property to the end of the Value string. (See the image below the tip box as a guide.)
Generally speaking, URL query strings follow a pattern where the first query parameter is defined by a "?" and subsequent query parameters are defined by "&". One suggestion for determining the parameters you need for a URL string is to open the target site where it shows the results you want. Review the URL to determine how the target site breaks down your query along with the query names. For example, in the image below, the rate exchange site uses "?from=USD" as a starting point (where the first query "from" requires US dollars) followed by "&amount=" where the next query "amount" filters results based on exchange rates for $100.
The final section is Preview. Here you see the Base URL with any parameters you added. Click OK to save the configuration and click OK to save and exit the rule designer. Click Finish to save and exit the view.

Testing the rule

Run your view, enter an amount in the Expense Amount text box and click the Exchange Rates button. Notice the website opens in a pop-up dialog and shows USD exchange rates for the amount you entered.

Modal Dialog Window Options

The Modal Dialog Window opens in a separate browser window from the parent, much like a dialog box or pop-up. Modal dialog windows require interaction of some kind before you can continue. For example, a Save-As modal dialog window requires you to click Save or Cancel before you can continue. The Modal Dialog Window has a Close button that you click to return to the previous form. Click the ellipsis next to the Modal Dialog Window option on the Navigate to a URL screen to open the options. Note that not all browsers behave according to the settings below. See Considerations for more details.
Modal Dialog Window Configuration

Section	Setting	Notes
A	Size	Sets the initial height and width of the dialog. Resizable: This option allows you to resize the dialog after it opens. To keep the dialog at fixed dimensions, uncheck this option.
B	Position	Sets the top and left margins to the dialog. Center Dialog: When checked, this option positions the dialog in the center of the screen. When unchecked, you can set the spacing above and left of the dialog. Top: Sets the spacing between the top of the screen and the dialog. Left: Sets the spacing between the left side of the screen and the dialog.
C	General	Sets the status bar visibility. Show Status Bar: This option allows you to hide or show the status bar in the dialog. To show the status bar, check this option.