Panels

Panels are an important concept for Infor M3 programs. Panels provide the logical sequence for moving through a program when you are viewing or updating information.

Panels run along the bottom of the form. Each panel is assigned a letter or a number, for example, B, E, F, G, 1, 2, 3 and so on, depending on the type of information they contain.

For example, a "B" panel is the browse panel for browsing through records so you can select one. "E," "F," and "G" panels are for "basic information," that is, the header information (field names and so on) that you would expect to find on a form.

Numbered panels are those that are associated with another program but which you can access from the program you are currently working with.

Letter assignments for panels are consistent throughout MForms. "B" is always Browse; "P" is always settings and so on. Panel letters appear at the top of the form with the name and referred to by both their name and letter. For example, MMS001/B appears at the top of the browse view for form MMS001 (Item Open). As you scroll through panels, you will see the letter change at the top of the screen.

Available panels

To see what panels are available, click Actions > Settings (F13) or hover (mouse-over) a field to bring up a help file that includes available panels.

You can also right-click in the panel menu at the bottom of the screen and select Add Panel from the context menu. Next hold your cursor over the Panel sequence field. The help text tells you the panels that are available.

Browsing (B panel)

The B panel shows you fields in a list format. This is typically the starting point for sessions with a form.

Viewing Basic Information (E, F or G panels)

"E," "F," and "G" panels are for "basic information," that is, the header information (field names and so on) that you would expect to find on a form.

Most of the time, unless you have made a change to panel sequence, you will be in browse mode (B panel) when you open a form.

There are several ways to view Basic Information. You must always select a record (row) first, then you can, for example, select Options > Display or right-click > display or press CTRL+5.

The form opens showing complete information. Click Next to continue moving through the program.

Scrolling panels

When you are on a Browse Information or later panel, you scroll through the panel structure in several ways, including:

  • To move forward: Click Next or Enter

  • To move backward: F12 or the left-pointing arrow

Adding a panel

To add a panel to your panel view, click Actions > Settings > Panel Sequence. Click the Panel Sequence field, select the panel you want to add, and then click Add.

You can also add a panel from the context menu that appears when you right-click on the panel menu at the bottom of the screen.

Deleting a panel

There are several ways to remove a panel from your panel view, including:

  • Click Actions > Settings > Panel Sequence. Click the Panel Sequence field, select the panel you want to remove, and then click Clear.

  • You can also delete a panel from the context menu that appears when you right-click on the panel menu at the bottom of the screen. Click the small X that appears on a panel name to delete the panel.

  • Drag the panel off the small panel menu. Click on the panel icon in the menu and drag it onto the panel itself. This removes the panel.

Reordering panel sequence

There are several ways to do this.

  • From the Settings menu, click the Panel sequence field and then type the letters and numbers n the sequence you want them to appear.

  • From the panel menu at the bottom of the screen, drag and drop panel icons to the locations you want them to be.

  • You can also perform a Direct Change from the panel menu.

When you reorder panels, bear in mind that panel sequence can affect operation of the program. Make sure you know what effect reordering will have before you do it.

Performing a direct change

You can remove or reorder available panels from your view quickly from the panel view. Right-click in the panel view and from the context menu, click Direct Change.

Backspace over or use highlight+delete to remove any letters that represent panels that you do not want to see.

If you are reordering panel sequence, remove the panel number and then retype it in the position where you want it to be.

Changing panel view (from large to small)

By default, panels show a brief description along with their letters. This is known as "large" panel view. You can change to "small" panel view in which just the letters appear.

From the panel menu at the bottom of the screen, right-click in the panel and select Panel View. Select the view you want, either large or small.

Panel settings

A Settings sub-menu appears on the Action menu. This menu lets you control some panel behavior for a particular program. Changes made here affect the behavior of program panels permanently or until you change them again. Changes made in other ways (for example, using the small panel menu at the bottom of the screen) are active only during the during the current session.