About the Scan/Fix forms and objects utility

The Scan/Fix forms and objects utility is a FormSync utility. This utility allows you to check potentially problematic configurations for errors and inconsistencies that can interfere with the synchronization process after an upgrade. Optionally, you can also use this utility to fix any problems it finds.

This utility can be accessed from the FormSync Configurations page, using either the stand-alone version or the form version of FormSync. You can also employ it by means of Command Line Interface (CLI) commands and switches.

The Scan/Fix forms and objects utility offers three basic options for checking and fixing problems:

  • Check forms - This option looks for these problems:
    • Named GroupBox containers, which is a violation of design standards
    • FlexLayout components that lack region IDs
    • FlexLayout regions with duplicate IDs
    • FlexLayout components with invalid INDEX numbers (where the value is greater than the number of regions)
    • Conflicts between TARGET and INDEX values
    • Missing TARGET values

    When it is run, this option outputs a list of its findings that you can copy and save for further evaluation and action.

  • Fix forms - This option performs the same checks as for the Check forms option, and it also attempts to fix any problems it finds:
    • Works back through container names until it finds a non-GroupBox container, which then becomes the replacement container. If no container is found, then the container name is left blank.
      Note: This utility is not necessarily able to fix all GroupBox container problems. If a GroupBox points to itself as a container, for example, then you must resolve the problem manually.
    • Supplies region IDs for Vendor version or Site version FlexLayout components that lack region IDs. Site versions cannot be customizations of Vendor version forms.
    • Generates new names for FlexLayout regions with duplicate region IDs.
      Note: Region ID names must be unique on any given form.
    • Replaces with zeroes (0) invalid INDEX values for components (in cases where a referenced region does not exist).
    • Replaces TARGET values with named regions corresponding to the INDEXes when the INDEX and TARGET do not point to the same region.
    • Creates TARGET values with the region ID of INDEX regions where the TARGET does not exist.

    When it is run, this option outputs a list of its findings and actions that you can copy and save for further evaluation and action.

  • Fix ETX - In the database string tables, strings are often split into pieces for storage in the database columns. An ETX character is used as a placeholder for spaces in certain positions. There can be times when this ETX character is not recognized as a placeholder, which can result in the ETX character being positioned incorrectly.

    This option, then, scans for misplaced ETX characters in string tables and fixes any errors it finds. It then outputs a log of these actions for possible further evaluation and action.

  • Check Explorer shortcuts - This option checks for shortcut errors in the Explorer.
  • Fix Explorer shortcuts - This option finds shortcut errors in the Explorer and removes shortcuts where the target form does not exist.