© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Grokking the ParadigmChanging Column LayoutsDennis Dawson
Principal Technical Writer
EMC/Documentum
Grokking the Paradigm 2© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Ten Minutes’ Worth of Stuff
• Here’s what I’m gonna talk about:– Add columns to display– Remove columns from display– Rearrange columns– Tips for when thangs ain’t don’t work right
Grokking the Paradigm 3© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Changing Default Columns
• We can change the order and content of columns in any of our list controls by changing their XML configuration
Grokking the Paradigm 4© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Changing Default ColumnsUpdating myfiles_classic_component.xml
• Copy myfiles_classic_component.xml to the /custom directory (which extends myobjects_list_component)
• Copy the entire <columns> element from :/webcomponent/config/library/myobjects/myobjects_list_component.xml
• Paste it into the <component> element of our custom version of myfiles_classic_component.xml
Grokking the Paradigm 5© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Adding a Default ColumnUpdating myfiles_classic_component.xml
• Change visible to true to display a column
<column>
<attribute>r_creation_date</attribute>
<label><nlsid>MSG_CREATION_DATE</nlsid></label>
<!-- <visible>false</visible> DD 11_16_06 -->
<visible>true</visible>
</column>
Grokking the Paradigm 6© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Adding a Default ColumnRefreshing the Configuration Settings
• To refresh the configuration settings, open http://localhost:8080/webtop/wdk/refresh.jsp
• Verify in the browser column preferences
– If column preferences have never been set, changes appear automatically
– If column preferences have been set, they are stored as cookies at the browser; click Reset to Defaults to see changes
Grokking the Paradigm 7© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Adding a Default ColumnThe Result
• The my_files page after update:
Grokking the Paradigm 8© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Removing a Default ColumnUpdating myfiles_classic_component.xml
• To remove a column, set its visible attribute to false• Here, we’re removing the column for file format (content type)
<column>
<attribute>a_content_type</attribute>
<label><nlsid>MSG_FORMAT</nlsid></label>
<!-- Changed by Dennis Dawson 11-16-06
<visible>true</visible>
-->
<visible>false</visible>
</column>
Grokking the Paradigm 9© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Removing a Default ColumnThe Result
• Here’s the my_files page after update:
Grokking the Paradigm 10© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Rearranging ColumnsUpdating myfiles_classic_component.xml
• Rearrange columns by rearranging their corresponding elements in the configuration file
... <column> <attribute>r_content_size</attribute> <label><nlsid>MSG_SIZE</nlsid></label> <visible>true</visible></column><column> <attribute>r_version_label</attribute> <label><nlsid>MSG_VERSION_LABEL</nlsid></label> <visible>true</visible></column>...
Grokking the Paradigm 11© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Rearranging ColumnsThe Results
• When we refresh the configuration, version and size have swapped places:
Grokking the Paradigm 12© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
When In Doubt, Strip the Baby
• Parenting tip: When a baby won’t stop crying:– Strip it – Diaper it– Dress it– Swaddle it– Feed it– Burp it– Serenade it
Grokking the Paradigm 13© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
When In Doubt, Strip Your Application
• Programming tip: When your application won’t work:– Shut down your computer(s)– Turn on (cold boot) your computer(s)– Restart your server– Restart your browser– Delete your offline content– Clear your caches– Clear your cookies
• Strip your application back to a working version• Add your changes back in one at a time until it breaks again (so you
know why) or it works (just be glad)• Keep iterative backups
Grokking the Paradigm 14© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Multiplicitas Componatis Res Simplex
• Taken as a whole, Webtop and WDK-based applications are intricate, multifaceted feats of programming
• When you focus on any one element of the application, it’s easy to follow the logic and duplicate its behavior
• Once you grok the paradigm, enhancing and customizing complex applications becomes a series of simple steps
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
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