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Cards: updating features

From the list of cards of a class you can access the update features of the selected card, opened in a specific popup window. The updating features available in CMDBuild allow you to insert, update and consult cards, create and view relations, check changes, send and view emails, upload and view attachments. In the grids present in the various tabs you can:

  • modify column width
  • sort columns by clicking on the header (first click ascending, second descending)
  • add or remove attributes from the grid

Card modification popup​

The first view of the card update popup is the following.

In the popup you can perform the following operations using the icons on the left:

  • view and update card information (current icon)
  • view and update children card information (details)
  • view and update card notes
  • view and update card relations
  • view card history
  • view and update emails linked to the card
  • view and update card attachments

Attributes are usually arranged on two columns. When a custom layout is configured in the Administration Module, fields can be arranged differently, as in the screenshot below.

Card TAB​

The Card tab allows you to view and update information of the current card.

In this tab you can:

  • edit the current card
  • delete the selected card (logical delete)
  • clone the current card, with optional cloning of its relations (see Cloning with relations)
  • open the relation graph
  • print the current card (PDF or ODT)
  • view any available help text in a popup

Cards with many attributes can be reorganized into data groups (e.g., General, Administrative data) using fieldsets. The fields displayed during insert or update operations are configured in the Administration Module, which defines:

  • editable fields (Editing mode: Editable)
  • read-only fields (Editing mode: Read Only)

Cards are displayed in two columns in the order defined by your administrator, unless a custom layout is configured.

Additional functionalities include:

  • tooltips with help information for each field
  • auto values on fields based of other fields
  • validation rules for inserted data
  • conditional visibility of fields based on entered values
  • quick navigation to referenced cards through a specific icon

Automatic operations may be executed when opening or confirming a card (e.g., updating other classes).

Guide to compilation​

The CMDBuild interface generates data editing forms based on the configured class.

Available field types include:

  • standard fields for characters, strings, numbers or hours
  • multi‑row text input fields (plain or formatted)
  • password fields
  • boolean fields
  • IP fields (IPv4 and IPv6)
  • date fields with calendar widget
  • LookUp fields:
    • select value from list (with filter typing)
    • reset value
  • LookUp array fields:
    • select multiple values
    • reset values
  • Reference fields where assigning a value creates a corresponding relation in the Relations TAB. Is possible to:
    • select related card (with popup in case of long lists)
    • reset value
  • link fields (URL with custom label)
  • file fields stored in the document repository and manageable in the card
  • formula fields (calculated via SQL or Groovy)

When attributes exceed the visible height, a scrollbar appears.

Lock of a card in edit​

If card‑lock is active and a user selects Edit card, the system reserves the card to that user for a configured time.
If another user tries to edit the same card during that period, an error is shown.
The card is released when the first user confirms or cancels the editing.

Widget​

Widgets, configured via the Administration Module, allow specific context operations on cards.
On a standard card you can configure the following widgets:

  • Calendar — displays deadlines or dates on a visual calendar
  • Create / modify card — displays or edits a card of another class
  • Create report — prints a selected report
  • Link card — selects one or more cards from a predefined list
  • Start workflow — starts a workflow from the current card

Custom widgets can also be implemented (ExtJS, JavaScript). Here is some further information on the above-mentioned standard widgets.

Calendar​

Displays calendar events retrieved from another class. Requires configuration of:

  • source class
  • optional filter
  • visualization date
  • field used as event title

Create modify card​

Displays a card of another class, read‑only or editable.
Requires configuration of:

  • class
  • card identifier (fixed or CQL‑parametric)

Create report​

Prints a Jasper report. Requires configuration of:

  • report name
  • output type (PDF or CSV)
  • asking parameters

Allows selecting one or more cards from a filtered list.
Commonly used to select assets during ticket creation.

Start workflow​

Starts a workflow from the current card. Requires configuration of:

  • workflow type
  • initial parameters

Cloning with relations​

When cloning a card including its relations, you can edit both the duplicated card and its relations. For each relation you can choose:

  • Ignore — relation is not cloned
  • Move — relation is moved to the cloned card
  • Clone — relation is duplicated (if cardinality allows)

Details TAB​

For certain classes it is useful to manage “master–slave” structures.
A domain with Master Detail enabled, and a reference field in the detail class pointing to the master class, enables this feature.

Multiple detail classes can appear as tabs in the card popup (e.g., installed software, peripherals, network cards).

In the Details tab you can:

  • add a new detail card (linked automatically)
  • run free‑text searches
  • switch between different detail types
  • expand rows to:
    • edit the detail card
    • display it in its own popup
    • delete it (logical delete)

Guide to compilation​

When inserting or editing a detail card, a dedicated popup is shown.
The reference to the master card is automatically filled and cannot be modified.

Notes TAB​

The Notes tab lets you view and edit notes related to the current card.
Notes are edited through an HTML editor supporting:

  • bold, italic, underline
  • font and background color
  • text alignment
  • hyperlinks
  • numbered or bullet lists
  • HTML source view
  • clean HTML
  • expand/reduce editor

Relations TAB​

The Relations tab allows you to view and create relations for the current card.
Relations are grouped by domain, and domain attributes (if present) are displayed.

You can:

  • create new relations
  • show the Relation Graph centered on the current card
  • show extended data of related cards

Grids may be initially collapsed depending on configuration.
For each relation you can:

  • navigate to the related card
  • edit the relation
  • delete the relation (logical delete)
  • edit the related card

This is an example of the interface in case you select the flag to view extended data.

Creation of a new relation​

Clicking Add relation shows the list of domains available for that class.

Select the domain and choose one or more cards to relate, depending on cardinality.

History TAB​

The History tab displays all changes made to the current card via CMDBuild update features.
CMDBuild provides complete versioning to verify changes or reconstruct past situations.

Guide to consultation​

Each version is shown as a row. You can:

  • expand or collapse versions
  • switch tabs inside each version

For each version you see:

  • start date
  • end date
  • user who applied the change

Changed attributes are highlighted in blue.
Tabs containing changes display a blue dot.

Emails tab​

The Emails tab manages email exchanges related to the card (contacts, clients, suppliers, etc.).
Both sent and received emails are shown, and new ones can be created. Other possible statuses are: draft, outgoing, error, and skipped.
Received emails are managed through the Task Manager (Read email task).

You can:

  • write a new email
  • regenerate all existing unsent emails if information used to create them has changed in the card
  • refresh the grid
  • group emails by status or sort them by date
  • expand or collapse groups

Row tools allow you to:

  • regenerate the current email
  • reply to the current email
  • send the current email
  • edit the current email
  • view the current email in a popup
  • delete the current email

When creating or editing an email you can:

  • choose a template
  • keep the email synced with card information
  • set a delivery delay
  • attach files from the system or from the CMDBuild document repository

Saving the email creates a draft; workflows send the email when the process advances.

Attachments TAB​

The Attachments tab lets you upload files to a card, view the attachment list and open documents.

CMDBuild integrates with CMIS‑compatible DMS systems, such as Alfresco or SharePoint Online.

Attachments can belong to document categories defined per class or globally.
Categories can specify:

  • min/max number of files
  • associated document class with metadata

Versioning is supported for updated files.

This is an example of the interface in case you select the flag to view extended data.

Metadata of each attachment can be viewed:

You can:

  • add attachments
  • search
  • filter on metadata
  • refresh
  • open contextual menu
  • show extended data

When expanding an attachment you can:

  • edit fields or upload a new version (major or minor)
  • delete
  • download
  • preview and download files

Upload of attachments​

Upload starts by selecting the document category.

A form then appears with:

You must:

  • fill in Code and Description
  • fill metadata fields (if defined)
  • upload one or more files (via button or drag‑and‑drop)
  • add notes

Allowed file extensions may be limited globally or by category.

Versions of attachments​

When editing a file, CMDBuild creates a new version and asks whether it is:

  • minor version (1.1, 1.2…)
  • major version (1.0, 2.0…)

For each version you can view:

  • creation date
  • last change date
  • author
  • version number
  • file name
  • description

All versions can be downloaded.