We are proud to announce our first bean for Servoy: the Table-Bean. The Table-Bean is a powerful pair of two beans that allow Servoy developers to display a Servoy foundset or the result of a query as array or JSDataSet in a table bean. That means that you do not need an extra form for every tabular data that you want to display, because you can reuse the bean. If you know the datagrid bean from Servoy (“inMemDataGrid”) then the beans are just like that, but taken to the next level. Here is a screenshot:
The bean comes in two flavours, FoundsetGrid and DatasetGrid. The difference is that he foundsetGrid is “connected” to the actual foundset that was provided. Changes in the foundsetGrid are automatically updated in the underlaying table. So the foundsetGrid allows live editing of actual table data just like data on a Servoy form, while the datasetGrid does the same in a dataset that can be processed by a method if changed.
Possible uses of the bean include
display the result of complex queries in a sortable table
display aggregated data in a table
allow data entry in a way that does not match a table’s structure (for example sales estimates over 12 months)
display editable data of simple structure (for example value list tables) to save forms
reusable dialogs that show tabular data and allow multiple selection of rows
The beans offer some functionalities not even found in Servoy’s table view forms. Here is a short overview
multiple selection of rows (users can select several rows)
multiple column sort
onDoubleClick event
onRecordSelection event
onDataChange event
checkbox columns
combobox columns
number and date formats for columns
setting background color, foreground color and font for selected rows
We are currently working on support for Drag and Drop, so expect the next version to be able to allow the user to drag selected rows from one bean and drop onto the other.
Then bean is available from our website(demo versions available).
Excellent tool Patrick!
This saves me a lot of unnessesary tableview forms.
I also love the fact that I can just use whatever dataset to show a list of records.
Keep on doing the good work!
Currently I am in the process of finishing the Drag&Drop feature, which is almost done. The next step will be a web compatible version. I have had the chance to talk to the “gurus” during Servoy World 2007 and that looks like it is very well doable. So in a few days there will be version 1.1 with Drag&Drop support, then the Web.
Patrick - this looks fantastic. I use additional table views all over the place for various admin functions and data checking. This will allow me to reduce the forms count significantly! Excellent
BTW, David: since Servoy 3.5 you can create a foundset by using databaseManager.getFoundset(server, table). With that new functionality you really save forms. In older Servoy versions you need at least one form for a table to get hold of a foundset. With the new possibility, you can create a foundset for a table you do not even have a form for (but be aware that if you export the solution, that table will NOT be exported if there is not a single form based on it!).
Thanks for tips Patrick - I wasn’t aware that a table with no forms based on it is not exported - certainly one to watch out for In my current developments its not an issue but I can easily see that it might be tempting to use databaseManager.getFoundset(server, table) and your bean too of course, to create table views and forget that no forms had actually been created on that table and then wonder why the exported solution falls over!