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SearchBox How To's

How to's for the SearchBox guide.

How to Use SearchBox?​

The following steps describe how to add and configure the SearchBox control in a form.

1. Add the SearchBox to the Form​

  1. Open the form design screen.
  2. Go to the Toolbox panel.
  3. Find the SearchBox control.
  4. Drag and drop it onto the form.

2. Configure General Properties​

When the control is selected, the Property Viewer panel displays:

  • General, Label, Behavior,Appearance tab → Default values and appearance settings
  • Events tab → Actions to trigger when a search occurs

3. Define Search Behavior​

SearchBox is typically connected to other controls such as:

  • ListBox
  • ComboBox
  • Lookup
  • DataGrid

to perform filtering based on user input.

Example usage:

  • As the user types, the list is automatically filtered.
  • In the Events tab, filtering logic can be attached to events such as OnValueChanged.

Tip​

SearchBox provides a fast and efficient search experience, especially in lists containing large amounts of data.

How to Use Client Enabled?​

What is Client Enabled?​

Client Enabled is a property that defines whether a form control is active (enabled) on the client side when the form is first loaded.
If it is set to True, the control is immediately usable by the user.
If it is set to False, the control is disabled and cannot be interacted with until a specific condition or rule activates it.

This property is especially useful for controlling the user’s interaction flow and applying dynamic behaviors using the Rule Manager.

What Does It Do?​

The property allows developers to:

  • Control when a form control becomes interactive.
  • Prevent users from entering or changing data until prerequisites are met.
  • Dynamically enable or disable controls based on user input or logic.

Example Scenario — Conditional Activation​

Scenario:
A form contains a checkbox called “I Accept Terms” and a text field called “Signature.”
The goal is to make the “Signature” field inactive until the user checks “I Accept Terms.”

Steps to Implement:​

  1. Select the “Signature” field in the form editor.

  2. In the Properties panel, find the Client Enabled field.

  3. Set the value to False — the field will now be disabled by default when the form loads.

  4. Open the Rule Manager.

  5. Add a new rule:

    Condition:

Action:

  1. Save and publish the form.

Result:​

  • When the form loads, the “Signature” field is disabled.
  • Once the user checks “I Accept Terms,” the field automatically becomes active and editable.

Behavior Summary​

Property StateDescription
TrueThe control is active and ready for user interaction when the form loads.
FalseThe control is disabled at load time and can be enabled dynamically via rules or code.

Notes & Best Practices​

  • Use the Client Enabled property to manage client-side interactivity without requiring server actions.
  • Combine it with Rule Manager to define when and how controls become active.
  • Remember: if server enablement is disabled, the client cannot enable the control even if Client Enabled is set to True.
  • By default, this property is set to True (active).

Summary​

Client Enabled improves form usability by letting developers control when and how users interact with form controls.
It is essential for creating responsive, condition-based form experiences where user actions dynamically change the form’s state.

What Is SearchBox?​

A SearchBox is a user interface control that allows searching within data available on a form.
By typing into this field, the user can perform operations such as filtering, finding matching records, or narrowing down lists in the bound field or data source.

This control is particularly useful in scenarios such as:

  • Searching through long lists
  • Making filtering operations easier for end users
  • Quickly locating a specific value within data

Adding It to a Form​

In the development interface:

  1. Open the Toolbox panel while the form screen is active.
  2. Locate the SearchBox control in the list.
  3. Drag and drop it onto the form.
  4. When selected, its properties can be configured under the General and Events tabs.

Key Features​

  • Functions as a text input field.
  • Typed text triggers search or filtering on the linked data or control.
  • Provides an effective filtering mechanism to enhance user experience.

Usage Purposes​

  • Quickly finding results in data lists
  • Filtering using a search bar
  • Preventing the user from getting lost in long lists
  • Enhancing search functionality in controls like Lookup, ListBox, ComboBox, etc.