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How to implement a back button in OutSystems screens to return the user to the previous view?

Learn how to implement a back button in OutSystems screens. Follow our step-by-step guide to improve user navigation and enhance the overall user experience.

Matt Graham, CEO of Rapid Developers

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How to implement a back button in OutSystems screens to return the user to the previous view?

Implementing a Back Button in OutSystems for Screen Navigation

 

Implementing a back button in OutSystems requires knowledge about the platform’s screen navigation system and how to utilize Actions effectively to facilitate seamless user transitions between screens. This guide provides a thorough, step-by-step approach to implementing a back button in your OutSystems screens to allow users to navigate back to the previous screen.

 

Prerequisites

 

  • An OutSystems account and access to your development environment.
  • Familiarity with the OutSystems Service Studio for application development.
  • Basic understanding of screen navigation and actions in OutSystems.

 

Understanding Navigation in OutSystems

 

  • OutSystems provides several built-in mechanisms for managing screen navigation, including the use of built-in functions.
  • The back navigation functionality can be achieved by using JavaScript or OutSystems actions to control screen transitions.
  • It is essential to consider where the back navigation should direct users, especially in complex application flows.

 

Steps to Implement a Back Button

 

Here is a step-by-step approach to implementing a back button in OutSystems:

1. Adding a Back Button to Your Screen

  • Open OutSystems Service Studio and go to the screen where you want to add a back button.
  • Drag and drop a Button widget onto your screen from the Widgets toolbox.
  • Rename the button to "Back" for identification purposes.

 

2. Using JavaScript for Navigation

  • To implement the back functionality, you can make use of a JavaScript snippet that accesses the browser’s history API.
  • Select the Back button and, in the properties, add a JavaScript trigger. Here's a simple example script:
      window.history.back();
      
  • Bind this JavaScript to the OnClick action of the Back button. This will allow the button to utilize the browser's back functionality.

 

3. Implementing a Back Action Using OutSystems Actions

  • Although JavaScript can be simple, using server actions allows better control and logic handling.
  • Create a new Client Action in your Module.
  • Use the built-in `Navigate` action that OutSystems provides if you want to go back to a specific screen rather than to the last visited screen. This requires you to know where the user should return to.
  • Configure your Client Action to call this Navigate method and provide the destination screen name, if needed.

 

4. Handling Complex Navigation Flows

  • Consider using session variables to track previously visited screens if your navigation requires returning to screens beyond the immediate prior screen.
  • Use logic in your Client Action to determine where the back button should redirect based on session or input information.

 

Testing Your Back Button Implementation

 

  • Use OutSystems Debugger to set breakpoints and check the flows and actions triggered when the back button is used.
  • Navigate through your application and observe whether clicking back returns to the intended screen.
  • Check the behavior on different browsers and devices to ensure consistent functionality.

 

Deploying and Monitoring the Application

 

  • Once confirmed, publish your module in OutSystems to make it live.
  • Monitor user navigation through OutSystems monitoring tools for additional performance insights.
  • Gather user feedback to validate if navigation is intuitive and make adjustments as needed.

 

By following these steps, you can successfully implement a back button for screen navigation in OutSystems. This implementation provides users with intuitive control over their navigation flow, enhancing the overall user experience.

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