Actions

Actions defines what happens in a rule (in contrast to when or under what conditions), such as setting properties of controls, showing a message, transferring data or closing the view or form. You can add multiple actions to your rule. Select the action you need from the Actions tab. Items that are underlined are configured and items that have a dotted line still need configuration.

Use the following table to learn more about rule actions.

Type	Rule Definition	Example
Server Interaction	See Server Rules for a list of server actions	See Server Rules for examples.
SmartObject interaction	Execute a method on the View	Clear a view. Execute a SmartObject method, such as Create or Load. Execute the In error method.
SmartObject interaction	Execute a SmartObject method	Execute a SmartObject method, such as Create or Load.
SmartObject interaction	Execute a method for items that have been changed	Execute a method such as Expand or List Refresh for items that were selected.
SmartObject interaction	Execute a SmartObject method for items that have been changed	Execute the Save method for items that were changed.
SmartObject interaction	Execute a method for items that have been changed on a subview	Execute a method such as Expand or List Refresh for items selected in a subview.
SmartObject interaction	Execute a SmartObject method for items that have been changed in a subview	Execute the Save method for items changed in a subview.
SmartObject interaction	Execute a method for items that have been changed on a View on a subform	Execute a method such as Expand or List Refresh for items selected on a view opened in a subform.
SmartObject interaction	Execute a SmartObject method for items that have been changed on a View on a subform	Execute the Save method for items changed in a view opened in a subform.
SmartObject interaction	Execute a method on a control for values that are in a specific state	Use it in check box list interactions - typically many-to-many relationship usage where checked or unchecked items are created or deleted from the table.
SmartObject interaction	Execute a View method for items that are in a specific state	Use it in batch operations with Editable List views – execute a Save method for items that were added, changed, or removed.
SmartObject interaction	Execute a method on a View control for values that are in a specific state	Exposed on view level to allow you to choose a view. Use it in check box list interactions - typically many-to-many relationship usage where checked or unchecked items are created or deleted from the table.
SmartObject interaction	Execute a method on a control for values that are in a specific state on a subview	Use it in check box list interactions - typically many-to-many relationship usage where checked or unchecked items are created or deleted from the table.
SmartObject interaction	Execute a method on a control for values that are in a specific state on a View on a subform	Use it in check box list interactions - typically many-to-many relationship usage where checked or unchecked items are created or deleted from the table.
Form interaction	Execute a Form method	Execute an In error or Initialized method on a form.
Form interaction	Set the Form's properties	Allows you to change form properties at runtime, see How To: Use the Set a Form's Properties Action for an example.
Form interaction	Set a View's properties	Allows you to change view properties at runtime, see How To Set a View's Properties for an example.
Data Transfer	Populate a list control with data	Populates a list control such as a drop-down list with data. Use it if you want to refresh the control’s data.
Data Transfer	Populate a list control with cached data	Populates a list control such as a drop-down list or picker with cached data. Use it on initialize events and where you want to refresh a control with cached data. See the following topics for more information about cached data: Client side filtering (Caching data for offline use)for Drop-Down list control Client side filtering (Caching data for offline use)for Picker control
Data Transfer	Load a list control cache with data	Loads a list control cache (such as a drop-down or picker) with data. Use it on initialize events and where you want to refresh the cache data of the control. See the following topics for more information about cached data: Client side filtering (Caching data for offline use)for Drop-Down list control Client side filtering (Caching data for offline use)for Picker control
Data Transfer	Transfer data	Update the Status control with a view or form parameter.
Control interaction	Set a control's properties	Enable a Button control at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Control's Properties Action for an example.
Control interaction	Set a Form control's properties	Enable a Button control on a form at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Control's Properties Action for an example.
Control interaction	Set a View control's properties	Enable a Button control on a view at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Control's Properties Action for an example.
Control interaction	Set a subform control's properties	Enable a Button control on a subform at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Control's Properties Action for an example.
Control interaction	Set a View on a subform control's properties	Enable a Button control on a view on a subform at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Control's Properties Action for an example.
Control interaction	Set a subview control's properties	Enable a Button control on a subview at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Control's Properties Action for an example.
Control interaction	Specify edit state for View and Form controls	Allows you to configure controls and tables on a view and form as read only or editable, see How to use Rules to change the edit state of View and Form controls and tables for an example.
Control interaction	Specify edit state for subview controls	Allows you to configure controls and tables on a subview as read only or editable, see How to use Rules to change the edit state of View and Form controls and tables for an example.
Control interaction	Specify edit state for subform controls	Allows you to configure controls and tables on a subform as read only or editable, see How to use Rules to change the edit state of View and Form controls and tables for an example.
Control interaction	Specify edit state for View controls	Allows you to configure controls and tables on a view as read only or editable, see How to use Rules to change the edit state of View and Form controls and tables for an example.
Control interaction	Execute a control's method	Execute the Focus method on a control, see How To Set Focus to a Control for an example.
Control interaction	Execute a View control method	Execute the Focus method on a view control, see How To Set Focus to a Control for an example
Control interaction	Execute a subview control's method	Execute the Focus method on a subview control, see How To Set Focus to a Control for an example.
Control interaction	Execute a Form control's method that was opened in a subform	Execute the Focus method on a form control, see How To Set Focus to a Control for an example.
Control interaction	Execute a View control's method that was opened in a subform	Execute the Focus method on a view control, see How To Set Focus to a Control for an example.
Navigation	Navigate to another Form and go to a View	Open another form and show the specific view’s tab (if applicable), see How to use the Navigate to another Form Rule Action with parameters and Form state and How To Navigate to Another Form Rule Action for examples.
Navigation	Navigate to another Form and go to a tab	Open another form and show a specific tab, see How to use the Navigate to another Form Rule Action with parameters and Form state and How To Navigate to Another Form Rule Action for examples.
Navigation	Navigate to another Form	Open another form, see How to use the Navigate to another Form Rule Action with parameters and Form state and How To Navigate to Another Form Rule Action for examples.
Navigation	Navigate to another Form and execute a View method	Open another form and execute an Expand method on a view when the form opens, see How to use the Navigate to another Form Rule Action with parameters and Form state and How To Navigate to Another Form Rule Action for examples.
Navigation	Go to a tab	When a form opens, set the focus to a tab on the form.
Navigation	Go to a subform tab	When a subform opens, set the focus to a tab.
Navigation	Go to a View	When a form opens, set the focus to a view on the form.
Workflow interaction	Start a workflow	Start a workflow when you click the Save button. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the workflow.
Workflow interaction	Start a workflow on a View	Start a workflow when you click the Save button on a view. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the workflow.
Workflow interaction	Start a workflow on a subview	Start a workflow when you click the Save button on a subview. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the workflow.
Workflow interaction	Start a workflow on a subform	Start a workflow when you click the Save button on a subform. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the workflow.
Workflow interaction	Start a Workflow on a View on a subform	Start a workflow when you click the Save button on a view on a subform. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the workflow.
Workflow interaction	Open a worklist item	Open a Manager Approval worklist item. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the worklist item.
Workflow interaction	Open a worklist item on a View	Open a Manager Approval worklist item on a view. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the worklist item.
Workflow interaction	Open a worklist item on a subview	Open a Manager Approval worklist item on a subview. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the worklist item.
Workflow interaction	Open a worklist item on a subform	Open a Manager Approval worklist item on a subform. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the worklist item.
Workflow interaction	Open a worklist item on a View on a subform	Open a Manager Approval worklist item on a view on a subform. Allows you to configure input and output mappings for the worklist item.
Workflow interaction	Action a worklist item	Action the Manager Approval worklist item. Allows you to configure work item bindings such as serial number and activity name.
Workflow interaction	Action a worklist item on a View	Action the Manager Approval worklist item on a View. Allows you to configure work item bindings such as serial number and activity name.
Workflow interaction	Action a worklist item on a subview	Action the Manager Approval worklist item on a subview. Allows you to configure work item bindings such as serial number and activity name.
Workflow interaction	Action a worklist item on a subform	Action the Manager Approval worklist item on a subform. Allows you to configure work item bindings such as serial number and activity name.
Workflow interaction	Action a worklist item on a View on a subform	Action the Manager Approval worklist item on a view on a subform. Allows you to configure work item bindings such as serial number and activity name.
Browser interaction	Close the browser window	If the runtime form is opened in such a way that it can be closed via JavaScript in the browser (i.e. opened by JavaScript – such as from worklist), it closes the window. Otherwise it redirects to a blank page.
Browser Interaction	Navigate to a URL	Change the browser URL to the specific URL, such as a message form or the home portal form, see How to use the Navigate to URL Rule Action with parameters and How To Navigate to URL Rule Action for examples.
Browser interaction	Disable the Form	Disable a Performance Appraisal form when the employee clicks the Submit button.
Browser interaction	Enable the Form	Enable a Performance Appraisal form when the manager clicks the Add button.
Browser interaction	Disable the subform	Disable a Performance Appraisal subform when the employee clicks the Submit button.
Browser interaction	Enable the subform	Enable a Performance Appraisal subform when the manager clicks the Add button.
Subview interaction	Populate a list control on a subview	Populates a drop-down list on a subview
Subview interaction	Populate a list control on a subview with cached data	Populates a list control such as a drop-down list or picker on a subview with cached data. Use it on initialize events and where you want to refresh a control with cached data. See the following topics for more information about cached data: Client side filtering (Caching data for offline use)for Drop-Down list control Client side filtering (Caching data for offline use)for Picker control
Subview interaction	Load a list control cache with data on a subview	Loads a list control cache (such as a drop-down or picker) with data on a subview. Use it on initialize events and where you want to refresh the control cache with data. See the following topics for more information about cached data: Client side filtering (Caching data for offline use)for Drop-Down list control Client side filtering (Caching data for offline use)for Picker control
Subview interaction	Open a subview	Open a view in a pop-up window (subview). Specifically useful if you don't want to navigate away from the current tab. You can specify subview settings such as Title, Width and Height. See How To Set the Window Size of a subview for more information.
Subview interaction	Open a subview and execute a method	Open the Employee Details view as a subview when you click a record in the Employees List view, then load the employee's details in the subview using the Load method. Configure the Load method with the ID property of the Employees List view SmartObject to load the record.
Subview interaction	Transfer data to a subview	Update the Status control on a subview with a view parameter.
Subview interaction	Close a subview or subform	When you click the Save button on the Employee Details subview, then close the subview to return to the Employees List view.
Subview interaction	Close a subview or subform and execute a method on the view	When you click the Create button on a subview, then close the subview and refresh the parent List view.
Subview interaction	Execute a subview method	Execute the Load method on a subview.
Subform interaction	Execute a subform method	Execute the Load method on a subform.
Subform interaction	Populate a list control on a View that was opened on a subform	When you open a view on a subform, then populate a list control such as a drop-down list or picker on the view with data. Use it if you have data in a subform which should populate a list control on a view.
Subform interaction	Populate a list control on a View that was opened on a subform with cached data	When you open a view on a subform, then populate a list control such as a drop-down list or picker on the view with cached data. Use it on initialize events and where you want to refresh the control with cached data. See the following topics for more information about cached data: Client side filtering (Caching data for offline use)for Drop-Down list control Client side filtering (Caching data for offline use)for Drop-Down List control
Subform interaction	Load a list control cache with data on a View that was opened on a subform	When you open a view on a subform, then load a list control's cache (such as a drop-down or picker) with data. Use it on initialize events and where you want to refresh the control cache with data. See the following topics for more information about cached data: Client side filtering (Caching data for offline use)for Drop-Down list control Client side filtering (Caching data for offline use)for Drop-Down List control
Subform interaction	Open a subform	Open a view in a pop-up window (subform). Specifically useful if you don't want to navigate away from the current tab. You can specify subform settings such as Title, Width and Height. See How To Set the Window Size of a subview for more information
Subform interaction	Execute a View method that was opened on a subform	Execute the Load method on a view on the subform.
Subform interaction	Transfer data to a subform	Update the Status control on a subform with a view parameter.
Subform interaction	Set a subform's properties	Change the Page Color of a subform at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a Form's Properties Action for an example.
Subform interaction	Set a View on a subform's properties	Enable a view on a subform at runtime. See How To: Use the Set a View's Properties Action for an example.
Visibility	Show a control	Show the Submit control if the view is in Normal mode.
Visibility	Hide a control	Hide the Submit control if the view is in Offline mode.
Visibility	Show a control on a View on a subform	Show the Submit control on a view that you open on a subform if the view is in Normal mode.
Visibility	Hide a control on a View on a subform	Hide the Submit control on a view that you open on a subform if the view is in Offline mode.
Visibility	Show a subview control	Show the Submit control on a subview if the view is in Normal mode.
Visibility	Hide a subview control	Hide the Submit control on a subview if the view is in Offline mode.
Visibility	Enable a control	Enable the Comments control if current Workflow Activity is Review.
Visibility	Disable a control	Disable the Text control if current Workflow Activity is Print Agreement.
Visibility	Enable a subview control	Enable the Comments control on a subview if current Workflow Activity is Review.
Visibility	Disable a subview control	Disable the Text control on a subview if current Workflow Activity is Print Agreement.
Visibility	Enable a control on a View on a subform	Enable the Comments control in a view on a subform if current Workflow Activity is Review.
Visibility	Disable a control on a View on a subform	Disable the Text control in a view on a subform if current Workflow Activity is Print Agreement.
Visibility	Enable a View	When you click the New Client button, then enable the New Client view on the Client form.
Visibility	Disable a View	When the Client form initializes, then disable the New Client view.
Visibility	Enable a subview	When you click the New Client button, then open and enable the New Client subview.
Visibility	Disable a subview	When the Sales subview opens, then disable the Sales subview if the current Workflow Activity is Show Sales Report.
Visibility	Enable a View on a subform	When you click the New Client button on the Client subform, then enable the New Client view.
Visibility	Disable a View on a subform	When the Client subform initializes, then disable the New Client view.
Visibility	Disable a subform control	Disable the Text control on the Service level Agreement subform if current Workflow Activity is Print Agreement.
Visibility	Enable a subform control	Enable the Comments control on the Service level Agreement subform if current Workflow Activity is Review.
Visibility	Show a subform control	Show the Comments control on the Service level Agreement subform if current Workflow Activity is Review.
Visibility	Hide a subform control	Hide the Save control on the Service level Agreement subform if current Workflow Activity is Print Agreement.
Visibility	Hide a subform tab	Hide the Region tab on a subform if an advanced condition is true.
Visibility	Show a subform tab	Show the Region tab on the Sales subform if the current Workflow Activity is Create Region.
Visibility	Expand a View	Expand the Employees List view when the Employees form opens to show all the detail of the view. See How To Expand and Collapse View Events and Methods for an example.
Visibility	Collapse a View	Collapse the Employees List view when the Employees form opens to limit the space on the form. See How To Expand and Collapse View Events and Methods for an example.
Visibility	Expand a subview	Expand the Employees List subview to show all the detail of the view. See How To Expand and Collapse View Events and Methods for an example.
Visibility	Collapse a subview	Collapse the Employees List subview to limit the space on the view. See How To Expand and Collapse View Events and Methods for an example.
Visibility	Expand a View on a subform	Expand the Employees List view when the Employees subform opens to show all the detail of the view. See How To Expand and Collapse View Events and Methods for an example.
Visibility	Collapse a View on a subform	Collapse the Employees List view when the Employees subform opens to limit the space on the form. See How To Expand and Collapse View Events and Methods for an example.
Visibility	Hide a View on a subform	Hide the Create Employees view when the Employees subform opens.
Visibility	Show a View on a subform	Show the Create Employees view when the Employees subform opens.
Visibility	Show a View filter section	Show the filter section on the Employees List view to filter the records in the list. This is only available on List views.
Visibility	Show the subview filter	Show the filter section on the Employees List subview to filter the records in the list. This is only available on List views.
Visibility	Hide the subview filter	Hide the filter section on the Employees List subview. This is only available on List views.
Visibility	Show the filter on a View on a subform	Show the filter section on the Employees List view on the Employees subform to filter the records in the list. This is only available on List views.
Visibility	Hide the filter on a View on a subform	Hide the filter section on the Employees List view on the Employees subform. This is only available on List views.
Visibility	Hide a View filter section	Hide the filter section on the Employees List view. This is only available on List views.
Visibility	Hide a View	Hide the Create Employees view when the Employees form opens.
Visibility	Show a View	Show the Create Employees view when the Employees form opens.
Visibility	Hide a tab	Hide the Region tab when the Sales form opens.
Visibility	Show a tab	Show the Region tab when the Sales form opens.
Visibility	Show a View control	Show the Calculate control on the Sales view when the view opens.
Visibility	Hide a View control	Hide the Approve control on the New Regions view if the workflow activity is Capture Region.
Visibility	Enable a View control	Enable the Submit control on the Capture Sales view when all the fields have been completed.
Visibility	Disable a View control	Disable the Comments control on the Sales view if you want to use the control as read-only.
Visibility	Enable a Form control	Enable the Submit control on the Sales form view when all the fields have been completed.
Visibility	Disable a Form control	Disable the Comments control on the Sales form if you want to use the control as read-only.
Visibility	Show a Form control	Show the Calculate control on the Sales form when the view opens.
Visibility	Hide a Form control	Hide the Approve control on the New Regions form if the workflow activity is Capture Region.
Notifications	Get confirmation from user	When you execute the Create method then get confirmation from the user, the dialog displays OK and Cancel buttons. You can create a follow-up rule that handles the button click. If OK, rules listed after the confirmation rule continue to execute. If Cancel, those other rules do not execute. When you use the confirmation dialog rule in an IF statement, the TRUE section executes for the OK button, and the ELSE section executes for the Cancel button. Anything below and outside the IF/ELSE statement still executes. In the example below, the Clear method executes regardless of the confirmation message outcome.
Notifications	Show a message	When you action a worklist item, then show a message as confirmation. The message shows in a dialog. See How To Show a Message Rule Action for an example.
Notifications	Browse to a Message Form	When you action a worklist item, then show a message as confirmation. The message opens in a page.
Notifications	Send an e-mail	When you action a worklist item, then send an e-mail as confirmation. See How To Send An E-mail Rule Action.
Editable List Functionality	Add a new row to the editable list	When you click the New button on the Employees Editable List view a new row is added.
Editable List functionality	Edit the selected row on the editable list	When you select a row in the Employees Editable List view and then click the Edit button you can edit the selected row.
Editable List functionality	Remove the selected row from the editable list	When you select a row in the Employees Editable List view and then click the Remove button you can remove the selected row.
Editable List functionality	Add a new row to the editable list subview	When you click the New button on the Employees Editable List subview, a new row is added.
Editable List functionality	Edit the selected row on the editable list subview	When you select a row in the Employees Editable List subview and then click the Edit button, you can edit the selected row.
Editable List Functionality	Remove the selected row from the editable list subview	When you select a row in the Employees Editable List subview and then click the Remove button, you can remove the selected row.
Editable List Functionality	Add a new row to the editable list View on subform	When you click the New button on the Employees Editable List subform, a new row is added.
Editable List functionality	Edit the selected row on the editable list View on subform	When you select a row in the Employees Editable List subform and then click the Edit button, you can edit the selected row.
Editable List functionality	Remove the selected row from the editable list View on subform	When you select a row in the Employees Editable List subform and then click the Remove button, you can remove the selected row.
Editable List functionality	Apply the changes made to the row on the editable list View	When you click the Save button on the Employees Editable List view, then execute the Create method for all Added items; execute the Save method for all Changed items; and execute the Delete method for all Removed items.
Editable List functionality	Cancel the changes made to a row on the editable list View	When you click the Undo button on the Employees Editable List view, then cancel the changes made to the row on the editable list.
Editable List functionality	Apply the changes made to a row on the editable list subview	When you click the Save button on the Employees Editable List subview, then execute the Create method for all Added items; execute the Save method for all Changed items; and execute the Delete method for all Removed items.
Editable List functionality	Cancel the changes made to a row on the editable list subview	When you click the Undo button on the Employees Editable List subview, then cancel the changes made to the row on the editable list.
Editable List functionality	Apply the changes made to a row on the editable list View on a subform	When you click the Save button on the Employees Editable List view on a subform, then execute the Create method for all Added items; execute the Save method for all Changed items; and execute the Delete method for all Removed items.
Editable List functionality	Cancel the changes made to a row on the editable list View on a subform	When you click the Undo button on the Employees Editable List view on a subform, then cancel the changes made to the row on the editable list.
Rule interaction	Execute another rule	When the Submit button is clicked, then execute the When Create button is Clicked rule
Rule interaction	Stop rule execution	Stops execution of the current rule. This is typically used along with the if an error occurred condition to clearly define what happens if an error occurs at runtime, or you can use it to force a rule to stop if a specific condition is true. See Stop rule execution and continue to next execution actions for more information about using this action along with the Continue to next execution action and if an error occurred condition to manually control the execution of subsequent execution blocks.
Rule interaction	Continue to next execution	Continues to the next execution block within the current rule. Note that this action does not continue to the next rule. This is typically used along with the if an error occurred condition to force the rule to continue on to the subsequent block of actions in the same rule, after an error occurs.See Stop rule execution and continue to next execution actions for more information about using this action along with the Stop rule execution action and if an error occurred condition to manually control the execution of subsequent execution blocks.

Stop rule execution and continue to next execution actions

You can use the following actions together with the Error occurred condition to manually control the execution of subsequent execution blocks within the current rule when an error occurs:

Continue to next execution – Continues to the next execution block within the current rule. Note that this action does not continue to the next rule.
Stop rule execution – Stops execution of the current rule.

When you use the Error occurred condition in a rule and an error occurs at runtime, execution stops by default after completing the error condition's actions. You can use the Continue to next execution and Stop rule execution actions to manually control what must happen after completing the Error occurred condition block of actions. When you use the Stop rule execution action in a rule you can clearly show what happens when an error occurs, improving the discoverability and maintenance of the rule. The Continue to next execution action allows you to continue with subsequent execution blocks in the rule, even if there is an error. In other words, use the Continue to next execution action to force the rule to continue on to the next execution block after an error occurs. The example below shows how you can configure the Continue to next execution and Stop rule execution actions with an Error occurred condition to force execution to continue and stop when you want it to. It shows rule execution if an error occurs when executing the Create method.

The sequence of the rule definition execution is explained below:

When the Create Button is clicked, the Create method executes.
If an error occurs at runtime, the rule checks if there is an error handling (if an error occurred) condition. If no error handling condition is found, the rule in this example stops automatically. If it finds the error handling condition, the rule skips to the if an error occurred execution block. In our example, an error occurs at runtime which means that the then transfer data action does not execute.
Next, all actions within the if an error occurred execution block execute. We use the Continue to next execution action to force the rule to continue because we want to execute the subsequent execution blocks.
The rule then continues to the next execution block, which is the then show a message to the user action. A message is shown at runtime.
Rule execution continues to the next execution block (if an advanced condition is true). If the condition evaluates to true, the rule stops execution and no further execution blocks execute. If the advanced condition evaluates to false, the rule continues to the next execution block, executes the transfer data action and then the send an e-mail action. In our example, if we assume the condition evaluates to true, so the transfer data and send an e-mail actions do not execute.