erwin Evolve 2023.1.0 - General

Use Custom Display Strings

On certain page layouts and behaviors you can now build a custom string to display the properties of your objects or associated objects.

So, instead of just showing the Name of an object, you can build a string mixing one or more property values of the object with some standard text.

For example, if you are listing Application objects, and they have a number property titled ‘Cost’, you could specify a custom string to display the Application Name, followed by the Cost – such as ‘Application 1 - $500’.

You can even show some meta data, such as the Object Type Name or Pluralname, or lookup abbreviation.

And, if you have a Custom Site which is configured to support Visual Indicators, you can display them within a Custom Display String.

A simple syntax means it’s easy to build the custom strings, using curly brackets {} to display property values and all other text being displayed as it is.

You can use custom property strings with the following layouts and behaviors:

• Accordions – including when nested

• Simple Lists

• Tables – when listing Associated Objects in a column

• List Boxes

• External Picture layout

• Visual Identity layout.

What do you want to do?

To create a Custom Display String

To create a custom display string:

1. Select the Object Type or Association Type node you want to create the string for

2. Ensure all the properties you want to include in your string are selected in the Selected Properties area

3. Select the Layout node for your page

4. Enter your custom string in the Custom Display String field, for example '{name}: ({type})' to display the object's Name, followed by a colon and its Category in brackets.

Use the following syntax rules:

• Use curly brackets {} to surround Property Type scriptnames, for example {name}

• Scriptnames must be entered in lower case

• All other characters not included in curly brackets {} will be displayed as plain text

• Use {cwobjecttype} to display the Object Type Name, for example, 'Process'

• Use {cwobjecttypes} to display the Object Type Pluralname, for example, 'Processes'

• Use '_abbreviation' after a lookup scriptname to display the Abbreviation for the drop down value, for example {type_abbreviation}

• Use '_id' after a lookup scriptname to display the ID for the drop down value, for example {type_id}.

5. Save your Site.

Use Visual Indicators inside a Custom Display String

If you have a Custom Site which is configured to support the use of Visual Indicators, you can display them directly in a Custom Display String.

To do this, simply insert the reference in the custom string using the following syntax:

{<property-type-scriptname>_image_mapping}

For example:

{type_image_mapping} or {validated_image_mapping}

The image will be displayed within the string alongside any other properties you reference.