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.