Skip to main content

User Interface

Technology​

The web desktop user interface of CMDBuild — both in the Administration Module and in the Data Management Module — is implemented using the Sencha ExtJS framework, a JavaScript library for building interactive web applications with AJAX technology. Every operation performed by the user on the web interface is transmitted to the server code, written in Java, through calls to the standard CMDBuild REST webservice methods. The server then processes the request and translates it into operations on the PostgreSQL database.

General design criteria​

The user interface of the Management Module includes the following main elements:

  • header
  • left-side panel
  • central work area
  • popup window for managing information in a dedicated mode

The header includes:

  • on the left the application logo (to be preserved according to the CMDBuild distribution license), the user’s logo and the instance name
  • on the right an information panel containing information about the application (official website URL, useful links and credits and the copyright notice), access to the Scheduler, the group name, the preference menu, the notification list, the switch to the Administration Module and the logout function

The left-side panel includes:

  • the menu configured according to the user’s role which may include folders, classes, processes, views, dashboards, reports and custom pages
  • access to the chat

The central work area includes:

  • on the top, controls such as:
    • action buttons for managing the selected item type, for example adding elements or starting processes
    • additional controls for operations on the item type, such as quick search, complete filter selection, contextual menu, map view and more
  • below, the information organized into cards or grids (tables), with the ability to:
    • act on the header to manage columns
    • act on rows to highlight, expand details or select
    • act on details through a popup window, where available icons allow:
      • consulting all card information (data, details, notes, relations, history, attachments)
      • editing (also via double click)
      • deleting the card (logical deletion)
      • cloning the card (with or without relations)
      • opening the relation graph
      • printing the card

The popup window presents a card for viewing, inserting or editing information across its components: data, details, notes, relations, history, emails and attachments.

These elements describe the standard interface layout. Specific installations may differ.

Localization​

CMDBuild provides two types of localization — translation into the user's language:

  • first-level localization, covering only the base CMDBuild user interface (menu texts, standard buttons, headers, footers, etc.)
  • second-level localization, covering all configured elements of each vertical application (class names, attributes, domains, lookups, etc.)

First-level localization is managed using external JSON files, while second-level localization is managed through the Administration Module.

When the desired localization is available (included in the base release or prepared by the Administrator) and enabled, each operator can access the translated application by selecting a language at login.

Each operator can also set a default language in their preferences. Once defined, it will be preselected on the login form, or they can optionally choose not to display it.