Special Functions
Manager Contents
User Contents

The Special Functions page enables drill down buttons and links to be added to various CATSWeb pages. These drill down buttons and links can perform custom tasks, as defined by the drill down link(s) associated with each button or link. Special functions are managed from the Administration section of the Manage page. Typical usages include:
  • Adding application-level links to other web sites and web-enabled systems.
  • Enabling easy user access to pre-designed custom queries or reports.
  • Implementing custom CATSWeb navigation features.

Special function drill down buttons appear in a form below the primary objects on a page. For example, the Main Page Special Functions drill down buttons appear at the bottom of the CATSWeb main page. To enable a drill down button to be visible, set its order parameter to a non-zero number in its field definitions page.

Virtual Special Functions - Advanced Topic

Virtual Special Functions are a special case. These drill down buttons do not visually appear on any form. Since they are not displayed, they do not require a non-zero order parameter to be functional. Their purpose is to serve as "targets" for other drill down links.

For example, assume that a drill down link has been configured with a data link to show a list of part numbers when clicked. The Optional Links in Results section of the drill down link definition could be configured to make the displayed part numbers be links which point to a virtual special function drill down button. Clicking on a part number in the list could then display various details of the part. The data link which retrieves details for a particular part number would be bound to the virtual special function drill down button.

In a drill down link form, specifying a Virtual Special Function drill down button as a target is always done using the following format for the Optional Links in Results parameters:
Link Field PartNum
Link to URL main.aspx?WCI=Main&WCE=DrillDown&WCU=q%3dButton1%7c*%7ef%3dXXXX%7c*%7eo%3dVirtual%7c*%7er%3dYYYY
URL Parameter Replacements XXXX={Field Name}||YYYY={Field Value}

The entry in the Link to URL field appears complex and cryptic, and it is. It should be copied from this help page into the drill down link form as-is, with only the control name (shown in bold above, "Button1") modified as appropriate. The URL Parameter Replacements entry should also be copied as-is.