Creating an API call using the Lawson Info Browser widget

Use this procedure to create an API call using the Lawson Info Browser widget.

  1. Place the widget on your canvas.

    From the Show menu, select Widget Library > Lawson Info Browser.

  2. Configure options on the General tab:
    General tab option What it means
    Title You can add a title to identify the Info Browser. For example, if you are querying for overdue unpaid invoices, you can use a name such as AP Overdue.
    Data Area

    Select the location of the data for the query.

    This value is set to the user’s current Data Area.
    Table

    Select the table that contains the data for your query.

    Note: When a table has been selected, you cannot change it. To use a different table for your query, create another instance of the Info Browser.
    View As

    Select your preferred viewing format form the available options:

    • Table
    • Chart
    • Table and chart
    Refresh Time This is only available if the user’s role allows it. This option sets a timer for the data refresh rate. You can select from None, 1, 5, 10, or 60 minutes.
    Import or Export

    After you have saved Info Browser Settings, you can Export (save) the Info Browser definition to a file so that you can open it in another canvas. For example, you can send a definition to another user or use it on a different canvas.

    For an alternate method of sharing Info Browser definitions, see Sharing service.

    The ability to Import Settings is only available when an Info Browser is initially added to the canvas.

    When you click the Import or Export buttons, the File Open or Save dialog box is displayed. Navigate to the location where you will save or open the Info Browser definition.

    If you have defined conditional styles for data that is used by a Lawson Info Browser widget, the new styles are imported or exported with the widget. For example, if the data you requested from a particular field is displayed red on your screen, that same data is also displayed in red in the Info Browser widget.

    See Creating conditional styles for more information on conditional styles.
  3. Configure options on the Data Views tab.

    By default, a data view named Default View is created. After being configured, you can modify the view name and define additional data views. After multiple data views are defined, you can switch views by selecting from the drop-down list box in the query presentation. When modifying selections on any other tab, other than the General, the tab will associate with the current selection of the Data Views list.

  4. Configure options on the Fields tab. Click Choose to open a dialog box for selecting columns (fields) to display for changing the order of the displayed columns. The first five columns in the database display by default.
    • To pick columns: Move through the list and select the columns you will use in your query. The selected columns will have a check mark.

      You can filter the list of available columns to browse through them. Filter options are available through the context menu of the filter field.

    • To change the order that columns are displayed in the query: From the bottom half of the dialog box, drag a column to your preferred location.

    • After you selected the columns, you can modify the appearance of columns by clicking the Configure icon to the left of field names. This launches the Conditional Styles wizard. See Creating conditional styles.

    • To add a field that is a calculation of two fields, click Add.

      Specify this information on the dialog box:

      • Name: The name of the new calculated field
      • Label: An additional field identifier where you can provide additional information about the new field
      • Width: The number of spaces to allow for the field
      • Decimal precision: Select 0, 2, or 4

      • Operand 1 and Operand 2: These can be a numeric field or literal value. Select the arithmetic operation (add, subtract, multiply, or divide) to perform.

        Click OK.

  5. Use the Form tab to configure a Lawson application. Select the Item Launches Form to enable the selection of a form. When you click the browse button, a list of forms available for selection is displayed. If you know the token details, specify that in the field.

    No validation is performed on this selection. If you know the token that is associated with the selected table, you can specify that token. Otherwise, to launch a different token, click Add Parameters to use the wizard that displays the map query data to the form data.

  6. By default, the table's first index is selected and its key fields are displayed. Specifying key field values on the Index tab is an alternate method of specifying query criteria and has the same effect as specifying criteria on the next tab. You can select another index if this will provide faster access to the data being queried.
    • Index: Select the index you will use for the query
    • Key Values: You can set a value for the index. Specify the value in the input box. You can specify multiple key values. Separate these values using a semi-colon (;).
  7. Use the Criteria tab to specify criteria for fields to be selected for the query. When you specify criteria for a field, you cannot filter that field in the display.
    • Select a field in the first input box, select an evaluator, and then specify a value in the input box.

    • Click Add.

      You can add additional criteria for other fields.

  8. The Conditions tab lists the conditional access defined in the database for the selected table. To select a database condition, select the box to the left of the condition name. Resting the mouse on the condition name will provide help in determining whether to select it.
  9. If Smart Links to any fields have been created, you can select these links for inclusion in the query. You can add or modify links by clicking Add or Edit. Selected links are displayed in the context menu.
  10. Click Save when you are finished configuring your query.
  11. On the Table Tab of the display, click any of the column heading to reorder the list. You can also right-click anywhere to display a context menu.

    Filter field context menus contain options for specifying filter tokens.

  12. List and column header context menu items:
    Menu item What it provides
    Filter Applies any specified filter values and re-queries the database
    Refresh Clears any specified filter values and re-queries the database with the original settings
    Save Date View Saves the selected date view with the current filter values
    Save Data View As Creates a copy of the current data view with a new name
    Custom Sort... A sort on multiple columns can be specified in a dialog that is presented.
    Show Total

    Shows or hides the total of values for the column

    This is only visible in the column header context menu and is enabled only on columns with numeric data.
    Open Item in <token> If a token was specified in the settings, and a single line is selected, it launches the form passing the keys for the selected line.
    Open Work List in <token> If a token was specified in the settings, and multiple lines are selected, it launches the form passing the keys for the selected lines and creates a Work List.
    Export to Excel If allowed by the user’s role, the list can be exported to Excel.
    Search Only enabled on a List item context menu and only if either: a) Enterprise search is available or b) Custom search APIs are defined in Lawson settings.
    Copy Cell It will copy the cell data to the Windows.
    Copy Lines It will copy the selected lines data to the Windows clipboard.
    Publish Widget... Only available for Smart Office administrators. It will export the Info Browser definition to the Predefined Widget Editor so that it can be shared in the Widget Library.
  13. If settings include an option to display a chart, the Chart Tab contains these settings:

    • Chart type: Pie, Bar, Line, Column, or Area

    • Label column: Select a field to use as a label

    • Value columns: Add one or more columns from which to retrieve values

    • Group by column: Select a column to use for grouping values

    • Group by type: Count or Sum

    • Save as default for current data view. Check this box to retain the chart settings.

  14. Right-clicking on a chart image produces a context menu with these options:

    • Filter: Same as for the list

    • Refresh: Same as for the list

    • Copy to Clipboard: Creates a .png file on the Windows clipboard suitable for pasting into a graphics editing program.

    • Save As: An alternative to sharing as mentioned below

    • To Outlook: An alternative to sharing as mentioned below

  15. With release 10.2.0, a Smart Office Sharing service is provided. This can be accessed in the Info Browser by right-clicking in the widget title bar and selecting Share from the context menu.

    • The Info Browser definition can be shared by selecting Widget. Selecting one of the available options will create a .jade file that can be used in Smart Office. These options are available:

      • Canvas shortcut

      • Collaboration

      • File system

      • Infor Document Management

      • Outlook

      • Windows

    • An image of the Info Browser display can be shared by selecting Image from the Share menu. Selecting one of the available options will create a .png file that can be shared. The available image options are:

      • Canvas shortcut

      • Collaboration

      • File system

      • Infor Document Management

      • Outlook

      • Paint

      • Printer

      • Windows