How to build a master-detail interface in OutSystems to show a list and related item details?

Building a Master-Detail Interface in OutSystems to Display a List and Related Item Details

Designing a master-detail interface in OutSystems involves creating a user-friendly representation where one part of the screen shows a list of items (master), and another part displays the details of the selected item (detail). This guide provides an exhaustive, step-by-step approach to building such an interface in OutSystems.

Prerequisites

• An active OutSystems account with access to Service Studio.
• Basic understanding of OutSystems development environment and data modeling.
• Familiarity with creating web applications in OutSystems.
• Predefined data model including entities required for the master-detail view.

Understanding the Master-Detail Pattern

• The master-detail pattern is designed to display a list from which the user can choose an item.
• Upon selection, the details of the chosen item get displayed on the same screen or a different area of the interface.

Designing Your Data Model

• Open your OutSystems Service Studio and load your application.
• Go to the Data tab and ensure your entities are correctly defined. The master entity should have a relationship with the detail entity.
• Example: If creating a master-detail interface for "Orders" and "OrderDetails," ensure a relationship exists between the entities.

Creating the Master-Detail Interface

Step 1: Design the Master Screen

• Create a new Screen in your interface and name it appropriately (e.g., "OrderList").
• Drag a Table or a List widget onto the screen for displaying the list of master items.
• Bind this widget to your master entity (e.g., "Orders") through an Aggregate or Data Action.
• Customize the columns to show relevant fields such as Order ID, Date, and Customer.

Step 2: Build the Detail View

• Add a new Detail Screen that will show the details of the selected master item (e.g., "OrderDetails").
• Use an Input Parameter on this screen to receive the ID of the item selected in the master screen.
• Drag data widgets such as Forms or detailed grids onto the screen and bind them to the corresponding detail entity (e.g., "OrderDetails").
• Set the data source using an Aggregate filtered by the ID received from the master screen.
• Include additional logical elements or widgets necessary to properly display all detail information.

Linking Master and Detail Screens

• On the master screen, set an Event (such as OnClick) for each item in your list/table to navigate to the detail screen.
• Pass the selected item’s ID to the detail screen as an input parameter during navigation.
• Ensure that the detail screen logic correctly processes this parameter to display the appropriate details.

Enhancing Usability and UX

• Consider using Split-Screen UI for web applications when screen real estate allows it, effectively reducing navigation steps.
• Implement search or filter functionalities on the master screen to allow users to quickly locate master items.
• Add sorting capabilities to the master list/table to enhance the user experience.

Testing Your Master-Detail Interface

• Run your application in the OutSystems Development environment to test functionality.
• Check if selecting an item on the master screen correctly loads the detail screen with accurate information.
• Validate navigation to the detail screen, and ensure that all data-binding operations function seamlessly.

Deploying Your Completed Application

• Once verified, publish your changes to the server for full deployment.
• Consider usability testing in production-like environments to catch any anomalies.
• Continue monitoring application performance and adjust the design based on user feedback for optimal user experience.

By following these detailed steps, you can effectively create a master-detail interface in OutSystems that visually organizes complex relational data, thus improving user interaction and engagement within your application.