IBM Workplace Forms: Guide to Building and Integrating a Sample Workplace Forms Application

64 IBM Workplace Forms: Guide to building and integrating a sample Workplace Forms application

4.2 Overview of steps: Building Stage 1 of the base scenario

The diagram in Figure 4-9 is intended to provide an overview of the key steps involved to build

the base scenario. This focuses on building the Form, the JSPs, and the Servlet.

Figure 4-9 Overview of major steps involved in building the core base scenario application

4.3 Preparing to build the form template

The form we are designing is made up of a traditional form page and three wizard pages. The

traditional form page holds all pieces of information as a summary page. The three wizard

pages are intended to guide the user through the form in a step-by-step or interview fashion.

To create the form template, we will be using the Workplace Forms Designer. The Designer's

workspace has a number of features that make it easy to create professional-looking forms

quickly. In this section you will be looking at a few of them, and exploring the workspace.

4.3.1 Wizard pages versus traditional form pages

It can be difficult for users to enter complex data into crowded traditional forms, especially if

they are unfamiliar with the rules governing the data entry. This task can be made quicker,

easier, and more consistent with less chance of error if you provide an interface for the data

entry. This interface is referred to as

wizard pages. Where traditional eForms can be crowded

and unstructured, with little room for user instruction, these pages can be used to lead the

user through the data entry process in a logical and controlled manner. The user can enter

the data in an order more suitable to their understanding, and have it displayed in a more

business-appropriate order on the traditional form. Also, users only have to enter data once in

fields that may be repeated throughout the traditional form.

-Designing the

layout

-Layout and input

items

-Calculations and

logic

-Adding to the

data model

-Security

Access Level

buttons

-- Forms access

buttons

Building and

Designing

Form

Template

1

2

3

Building the

JSPs

Building the Base Scenario – Stage 1

Building the

Servlet