AppliBuilder Functions

Working with browser scripts, i.e. Javascript functions, is an important aspect of AppliBuilder. A goal for AppliBuilder is to move a lot of the application logic to the client to make it easier for online development, and minimize the need to for server-side code. All client-side scripts are browser Javascript functions you can embed in an AppliBuilder page.

AppliBuilder relies on the browser Javascript for scripting your applications.  You will need to know some Javascript  to write page functions. For a tutorial on Javascript, visit: http://www.w3schools.com/js/default.asp

Your page scripts will consist of page functions you write, as well as library functions you may import for a given page.  You may directly import an external file to your page, using the Add Import item on the Page menu. 

Writing Page Functions

Use the Function menu to add and manage page functions.

To add a function, click Add Function in the Function menu. In the popup window, enter a function name, and optionally function arguments (without the enclosing parentheses). In the body textarea enter the function body (without the braces).  Note: When adding a body block, you will still need to give it a function name for storage in the database.

To edit or delete page functions you have created, click on View Functions in the Functions menu. Choose edit or delete for a specific function to edit or delete the function.

Using Page Functions

• Invoke functions from widget events
• Add functions to the global onloadFunctions array, to be executed after the page loads
• Invoke functions from other functions, including adding scripts you add to the page body
• Callbacks from library functions, e.g. open popup window

These page functions let you script the page and widgets to achieve a rich client experience.

Using the Function Library

AppliBuilder also supports easy import of functions from the function library, which is an extensible library of functions to make it easier to script pages. Once the function is imported, it can be used anywhere on the page where you use Javascript. The function library is designed to be a convenient catalog of functions you can import and use on your page. The library import takes care of importing the files required to use a function, but the rest is up to you. You will need to invoke these library functions from your widget events or from your own functions.  Go to the function library page for details on library functions.