Action Panels

Action Panels add interactivity to your Models on the web. The action Panel calendar is different to the graph Panel calendar. The action Panel allows you to select dates whilst the graph panel displays date ranges

They fall into the following 5 categories:

Controls

This includes many general purpose tools such as buttons, drop downs and tick box lists.

The Button control can be configured for a variety of purposes including generic actions such as save and refresh, navigation actions such as back a page, repository actions such as create, edit or delete an element, and security actions such as login.

Editing Elements

These Panels allow users to edit the data from their Repository on the web.

Navigation

The Navigation Panels allow users to navigate from one Model to another.

Security

These Panels and buttons are preconfigured solutions to control user management and security.

Web Page: These Panels work in the background of your Model when in the web. Once they have been set up, they don't require any further interaction. These Panels allow you to add custom code, store variable values, and refresh selected Panels. These Panels have to be on the model area, but can't be seen by end users.

How to Add an Action Panel

Navigate to the Insert section on the Home tab in the ribbon, click on the “Actions” drop down and select the control you want to use. Placing the control on the Model will display the control's configuration Panel properties.

This is demonstrated in the short video clip below:

Graph Panels

Graph Panels display information about your elements in a more illustrative way.

Gauges

These Panels display the values of a measure. This includes assorted line and dial gauges, thermometers and traffic lights.

Graphs and Charts

These Panels include basics charts such as Columns, Pie, and Bar, as well as more specialist charts such as Radial, Radar, Network and Clock Face. A more customisable chart is available (the General Chart).

Info Panels

The Datatable Info Panel allows you to display SQL data on your model.

Maps

These Panels are different formats of maps. The Google Map and Microsoft Map will run on the web but both need an API key to work in Business Architect. Open Street Map includes the ‘new’ version of the World Map.

How to Add a Graph Panel

Navigate to the insert section in the Home tab on the ribbon. Click on “Graphs” Panel to open the drop down menu, select the Graph you want to use and then place it on the Model. The Panel will initially show the flip side, allowing you to configure it, and specify where the graph will get its content from. 

This is demonstrated in a short video clip as shown below:

Info Panels

Info Panels are tables which show information about Elements and Links. Information the Panel can show includes related Elements, Field values, matrices, Measures, queries and Smart Columns. They can also be used to show single values or specific items of information on their own. Info Panels are a quick way to add a small table to you Model. Using a matrix instead gives you greater control on the web.

How to Add an Info Panel

Navigate to the Insert section on the Home tab, click on 'Panels' to open the drop down menu and select the Panel you want to use. Placing it on the Model will display the configuration Panel allowing you to set the content by clicking 'Information Shown'.

This is demonstrated in the short video clip below:

“Add Info Panel” is the basic Info Panel option and is used in the majority of cases. “Add Elements Manually” allows you to drag Elements onto the Panel, and “Add Icon of Subject” displays your selected Element icon. “Add matrix Panel” adds a matrix to your Model.