Columns Component

Estimated Reading Time:  6 minutes

Overview

Use the Columns component to customize the layout of your module. The Columns component includes pre-made column designs and the ability to build custom column design layouts. Once you've added a Columns component to your module, blue Drag and Drop boxes appear in your chosen column design layout. Drag and drop components into these boxes to organize them into each column.

You'll find the Columns component in the Display & Layout group to the left of the Module Builder.

What You'll Learn

After completing this article, you’ll know when to use a Columns component, how to configure its settings, and how to use it in an Unqork application.

About the Configuration Window

General

A static image displaying the Columns component's configuration window.

Setting

Description

Property ID

A Property ID is the unique field ID used by Unqork to track and link components in your module.

The Property ID is how the software identifies your component. Using Property IDs lets you link components, creating logic-based configurations and API APIs (application programming interfaces) are a set of protocols and definitions developers use to build and integrate application software. APIs act as the connective tissue between products and services. calls.

Property IDs must use camel case A naming convention for computer programming. Use camelCase for Property IDs, for example: newUser, lastName, & rdoButton. (stylized as camelCase) without spaces or punctuation.

Notes Notes icon

Select this tab to display the component's Notes area. You can use notes to keep your teammates informed.

The Notes editor offers a semi-WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get) content editor. Built to look like a word processor, this editor lets you create, edit, and format your notes. Notes save when saving the component.

Display Icon Display

Select this tab to manage your component's display settings.

Advanced Icon Advanced

Select this tab to manage your component's advanced settings.

Permissions Icon Permissions

Select this tab to see the RBAC RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) is a method to control system access for authorized users. The role in RBAC refers to the levels of access employees have to a network. (role-based access control) settings of the component.

Field Tag Icon Field Tags

Assign components one-word labels to help organize, identify, and group the components in your application.

Consider an example from the API Specification Snippet: Field Tags are applied to Hidden components in the panelRequest and panelResponse Panels. The Field Tags identify the data type of parameters included in the API APIs (application programming interfaces) are a set of protocols and definitions developers use to build and integrate application software. APIs act as the connective tissue between products and services. request and response. The API Docs Dashboard tool populates with information about each parameter’s data type, identified by the Field Tag.

Field Tags act as a type of Property ID A Property ID is the unique field ID used by Unqork to track and link components in your module. group and let you group components for configuration purposes. Field Tags let you target two or more components using a simple logic component.

For example, add the Field Tag tagForDecision to multiple components in your module. Open the Inputs table of a Decisions component and reference the tagForDecision Field Tag as the input of the Decisions component. The output of the Decisions component then affects all components with the tagForDecision Field Tag.

Save your Field Tags by pressing Enter (Return) or adding a comma after each entry.

Shortcuts Icon Shortcuts

Select this tab to open the list of supported keyboard shortcuts you can use in the component settings modal. Keyboard shortcuts include:

  • Cmd + S (Mac) / Ctrl + S (PC): Save and close the component settings modal.

  • Cmd + G (Mac) / Ctrl + G (PC): Opens a search window to find specific fields and settings in the component settings modal.

  • Tab: Tab to the next field or setting in the component settings modal. This keyboard shortcut tabs left to right and top to bottom.

  • Shift + Tab: Tab to the previous field or setting in the component settings modal. The keyboard shortcut tabs from right to left and bottom to top.

  • Enter (Return): When tabbing to a Tooltip Icon (tooltip), press Enter (Return) to display the field or setting tooltip. Press Enter (Return) again to hide the tooltip.

Additional keyboard shortcuts:

  • Drop-down menus: When you Tab to a settings drop-down, use the keyboard's Up-Arrow Icon (up)/ Down-Arrow icon (down) arrows to make a selection. Then, press Enter (Return) to confirm the selection.

Documentation IconDocumentation

Select this tab to access the component documentation in Unqork's In-Product Help.

Cancel

Click this button to undo any unsaved configuration changes and return to the canvas.

Save & Close

Click this button to save all settings as configured and return to the canvas.

Display Panel

A static image dispaying the Columns component's Display settings.
(click to expand image)

Setting

Description

Formatting

Displays a list of preset column options. Click a button to select the column arrangement.

If the preset options don't fit your need, click the Custom Columns button Customize Columns button.

Disable All Nested Fields

When set to Toggle On icon (ON), all components placed inside the columns are disabled. Use this setting instead of disabling each component.

By default, this toggle is set to Toggle Off icon (OFF).

Hide All Nested Fields

When set to Toggle On icon (ON), all components inside the columns are hidden from the end-user End-users, also known as Express Users, are the individuals accessing an application through Express View. In most cases, end-users are the customers using the product.. Use this setting instead of hiding each component.

By default, this toggle is set to Toggle Off icon (OFF).

Customize Columns

A static image displaying the Columns component Display settings, the Customize Columns button is selected and the Customize Columns table is displayed.
(click to expand image)

Setting

Description

Col1/Col2/...

The individual columns. Each column can be adjusted using the Column Attribute fields. To add or remove a column, mouse over an existing column to reveal the ··· (Settings) button.

The ··· (settings) button contains the following column settings:

  • Insert Column: Adds a column to the right side of the table.

  • Delete Column: Deletes the selected column.

Column Attribute

The Column Attribute rows define the size and position of each column.

Width

The total width of the column. Your module has a total width of 12 units. For example, you could create 12 columns at a width of one unit each, or you could create two columns at a width of six units each.

Push Right

Moves all columns to the right by a specified number of units. If you push a column beyond the available width, a new row of columns starts

Move Right

Moves the individual column to the right by a specified number of units without moving the other columns. If you move one column into another column, the columns overlap.

Move Left

Moves the individual column to the left by a specified number of units without moving the other columns. If you move one column into another column, the columns overlap.

Advanced Panel

A static image dispaying the Columns component's Advanced settings.
(click to expand image)

Additional Styling

Setting

Description

Custom CSS Class

Enter a Custom CSS Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a style sheet language used for presenting how a HTML or XML document looks to end-users. Class to apply to your component. Custom CSS lets you maintain a consistent look and feel when the field or element is part of a template or multiple modules.

Updated CSS styling applies to all components that reference this custom class name.

Adding a Columns Component

In this example, you'll set up three evenly-spaced columns to ask your end-user for their first, middle, and last names. These instructions assume that you have an open module saved and with a title.

For this module, you'll need the following components:

Configure the Columns Component

This component divides your module into three evenly-spaced columns.

1. In the Module Builder, drag and drop a Columns Component Icon Columns component onto your canvas.
2. In the Property ID A Property ID is the unique field ID used by Unqork to track and link components in your module.  field, enter colDetails.
3. Under Formatting, click Three Columns Icon (three columns).

A static image displaying the Columns Component's Display settings, the Three Column button is selected.

4. Click Save & Close.

Configure the Text Field Components

Here you'll configure three Text Field components associated with your First Name, Middle Name, and Last Name fields.

1. Drag a  Text Field component onto your canvas, placing it in column1 of the colDetails Columns Component Icon Columns component.

2. In the Property ID A Property ID is the unique field ID used by Unqork to track and link components in your module. field, enter firstName.
3. In the Label Text Label Text conveys what the input component is and what information it displays. Enter the purpose of the corresponding component or field. field, enter First Name.
4. Click Save & Close.
5. Repeat this process with two more  Text Field components, placing them in column2 and column3 of the colDetails Columns Component Icon Columns component.
6. Set the Property ID A Property ID is the unique field ID used by Unqork to track and link components in your module. and Label Text for the two  Text Field components as follows:

Property ID

Label Text

middleName

Middle Name

lastName

Last Name

A static image displaying the Module Builder canvas, the Columns component contains three text fields, one in each column.

7. Save your module.

Your module looks like the following in Express View Express View is how your end-user views you application. Express View also lets you preview your applications to test your configuration and view the styling. This is also the view your end-users will see when interacting with your application. After configuring a module, click Preview in the Module Builder to interact with the module in Express View.:

Resources