====== Items ====== The selected file /tmp/fileIy9drR could not be uploaded, because the destination sites/default/files/css/css_a91cd284035e73ba34d112bfed2f5a16.css is not properly configured. The selected file /tmp/file0yI3P3 could not be uploaded, because the destination sites/default/files/css/css_de1aa27776f1462d2b0d83a80ce4b92d.css is not properly configured. ====== Items ====== //Items are the People, Places and Things that you want your application to track. Items could also be known as "sets", "collections" or "tables".// ====== Overview ====== Items are the most basic of the 5 fundamental building blocks. They are simply sets of things that share common properties (Fields), grouped together. Items are created from the Block Creator tool, or from within the Data Navigator tool, and also with some wizards, for example the Field - Item Picker or Layout - List wizards. Items are essential to properly referencing data throughout your application. "Items" refers to the conceptual building block. "Item Type" refers to a set of items, defined by the builder. An example is "Contacts" "Item" refers a specific instance of an Item Type, usually created by the User. An example is "Tom Smith (a Contact)". ====== Creation ====== "Creating an Item Type" refers to the act of creating a category for grouping "Items". Users create Items during their normal course of usage. ===== How to Create ===== Method 1: Using the [[Block Creator]] Choose "Add Item Type" from the Block Creator Tool. The "Add Item Type Wizard" will launch in a lightbox. Method 2: from within the [[fields:query_builder|Query Builder]] Within the Query Builder you can launch the Add Item Type Wizard at any point where you are prompted for an Item Type node. For example, click on your starting point, and in the flyout choose "add block on a new level"; at the bottom of the flyout is an option to "add new Item Type". Similarly, when changing the starting point for your map to "all items of type", there is an "add new Item Type" option in that flyout. Both methods lead to the Add Item Type Wizard. ===== Wizard Questions ===== The Add Item Type Wizard asks three simple questions: - what is the name (singular) of your Item Type? - what is the name (plural) of your Item Type? - what icon do you want to use? For the first question, it is important to use the singular, not the plural version of your Item Type. For example, use "Contact", not "Contacts". The next question will ask you to add the plural name for your Item Type. You can change these names at any time. For the third question, you will be presented with a list of only 32x32 icons. Choosing one will instruct the automation which icon style to use as it automates the creation of a variety of Building Blocks. It will use 16x16, 32x32 or other icons as it needs to, all from within the image set identified by you when you chose the 32x32 icon version. ===== Automations ===== Creating a new Item Type via the Add Item Type Wizard invokes a number of automations. All automations are simply various Blocks created for you, automatically, because the chances are very high (>95%) that you will want them. As always, you can alter any Blocks that were created for you automatically. The list of Blocks automatically created include; * Search Link - automation will create "search " link that launches the corresponding page. * Search Page - automation will create "search " Page. The only column will be "View ", the View Link below. There will be an "Add " Link in the header, see below. * View Link - automation will create "view " Link. This Link will launch the "View Page". * View Page - automation will create " Info" Page. It will have a single Layout, the " Info" Layout, a Field Grid. There will be a single Field in that Layout, the " Name" Field. This field will be set automatically as the "Title Field" for this Item Type. * Edit Link - automation will create the "edit " Link. This link will launch the default Add Page. In the automated version, it will launch the View Page in Add Mode. * Add Page - this page is the same as the View Page above in Add Mode. * Item Picker Search Page - All Item pickers receive a default search page when they are created, pulled from this setting. * Application Header, Search Area - automation will add the Default Search Link for this Item Type to the list of searchable Item Types in the Application Header of inline pages. * Application Header, Add Button - automation will add the "Add " link to the flyout menu associated with the Add Button in the Application Header of inline pages. **Important note: changing these settings will only affect future automation, it will not undo or alter past automation. This means that previously automated Building Blocks will need to be manually changed if that is the desired effect. ====== Usage ====== The primary usage of Item Types is within the [[fields:query_builder|Query Builder]]. Therein, Item Types serve as the grouping and pointing mechanism for Items created by users that share simliar properties (Fields). Occasionally Item Types will be used as a method to group together other Building Blocks-for example, a list of "Fields associated with an Item Type" or a list of "Pages associated with an Item Type". Please see the [[fields:query_builder|Query Builder]] section of this manual for additional information on the use of Item Types. To edit the settings of an Item Type, you must use the [[Block Editor]] Tool. You can launch the [[Block Editor]] tool by finding the Item Type in the Reuse tab of the Block Creator Tool and clicking on the edit wrench next to the Item Type you wish to edit. Settings There are 3 tabs of settings available when editing an Item Type: * [[start:details|Details]] * [[Defaults]] * [[start:about_me|About Me]]