Operations
The screen layout would be rather worthless if it did not allow invoking operations. Most operations are invoked from the main menu that is configured as part of a visual perspective (see Visual Perspective).
The content of the main menu is entirely up to the configurator to define. The menu consists of menu items that can be arranged in a hierarchical structure. Some menu items (folder items) may only contain other items whereas other menu items (leaf items) may actually perform a particular operation. Configurators define the name of the menu item as well as the type of the operation that it invokes. There are a number of operation types that Aware IM offers. Arguably the most important ones are those that initiate data creation, editing, retrieval and processing. These are the following operation types:
Create Object
When a user selects a menu item of this type Aware IM shows the form that allows entering attribute values of a new instance of the specified business object (see Business Objects as Carriers of Data). When the user submits the form the new instance of the object with the entered values is created (see Data Entry and Editing). For example, the “New Account” menu item may be configured to create a new instance of the Account business object.
Run Query
When a user selects a menu item of this type Aware IM runs the specified query and shows the business objects found (see Data Retrieval and Data Presentation). For example, the “Expired Policies” menu item may be configured to run a query that looks for instances of a Policy business object with the value of State attribute equal to “Expired”.
Start Process
When a user selects a menu item of this type Aware IM starts the specified process (see Processes as Links between User Interface and Business Logic). For example, the “Transfer Funds” menu item may be configured to start the “TransferFunds” process that displays the appropriate form for the creation of FundsTransfer business object and prints out the receipt after the object has been created (and the funds have been transferred by the business rules attached to this object).
Other types of operations allow building a query dynamically, generating a report, exporting and importing business objects etc. The complete list of operation types supported by Aware IM via the main menu is available in the Setting Menu Item Properties section.