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Overview Forms Fields Form Definitions Field Definitions Formlets Formlet Definitions Worksheets   Documents Documents Overview Document Life Cycle eForms Documentation eForms Functionality Module Exclusions

 

Overview	Top

LabVantage eForms is a solution to satisfy the requirements of any application that must collect and process data, providing:

•	Tools to build Data Entry and SDI Maintenance interfaces that replicate the appearance and layout of paper-based forms.
•	An interface with integrated features that allow easy configuration of complex client-side tasks (such as validation and dynamic display) without using JavaScript.
•	Simplified server-side processing methodologies allow complex data processing with less programmatic coding.
•	Implicit life cycles that provide preconfigured complex data collection scenarios.
•	Ability to create Worksheets. These are special Forms that bind to database records and provide features such as "live feedback" of entered data, automatic processing, and integration with other modules.

The next sections provide a broad overview of high-level components that comprise the eForm toolkit.

 

Forms	Top

Overview

A "Form" is a reusable container for an HTML form as defined by the W3C.

•	No data is associated with a Form.
•	Each Form is a template that can be used for multiple data entry sessions.

Major components of a Form:

•	Layout (appearance and structure)
•	Fields (references to data values used during data processing)
•	Groups (collections of Fields that share validation or processing dependence)
•	Sections (areas within a Form that can be hidden, protected, or repeated)
•	Elements (dynamic objects)
•	Pages (a Forms can have page breaks)

Here is an example of a simple Form:

Fields

A "Field" represents a data value with a specific identity and purpose. Fields are referenced when processing the data.

•	Input Fields are based on HTML input tags.
•	Field properties determine display, operation, processing capabilities, and validation of entered data.
•	Fields on a Form can be arranged into Groups and Sections to provide collective functionality.

Here are examples of Fields in a Form:

Form Definitions

A "Form Definition" specifies these attributes of a Form:

•	Form appearance and layout		•	Form options
•	Field properties and behaviors		•	Form processing logic

A Form Definition therefore provides LabVantage with everything needed to display and process data entered into a Form:

Business Rules	Form Appearance and Field Properties	Processing Logic
Form Maintenance Page	Form Builder	Groovy/ActionBlock Editor

Operation	Page	Access
Create and edit Form Definitions	Form Maintenance	Lab Admin → eForms → Form Definition → Form List Page → "Add" or "Edit" button
Build a Form: • Layout the Form • Create Fields • Set Field properties	Form Builder	Form Maintenance Page → "Form Builder" button
Specify and edit Processing Logic applied when data are "Submitted" to the database	Form Builder	Form Maintenance Page → "Form Builder" → Groovy/ActionBlock Editor
	Form Maintenance	Form Maintenance Page → "Form Processing" tab

When Form data are "submitted" to the database, Groovy script or Action Blocks can describe processing required on the data entered into (or generated from) the Form.

Field Definitions

A "Field Definition" is a reusuable Field that can be used in any Form. By contrast, the Fields you create in the Form Builder cannot be used in other Forms.

Operation	Page	Access Point
Create and edit Field Definitions	Formlet Maintenance	Lab Admin → eForms → Field Definitions → Field List Page → "Add" or "Edit" button

Formlets

A "Formlet" is a Form within a Form (think "nested Form"). Unlike Forms, Formlets provide no processing capabilities of their own.

Formlet Definitions

A "Formlet Definition" is a reusuable Formlet that can be used in any Form. By contrast, the Formlets you create in the Form Builder cannot be used in other Forms.

Operation	Page	Access Point
Create and edit Formlet Definitions	Formlet Maintenance	Lab Admin → eForm → Formlet Definitions → Formlet List Page → "Add" or "Edit" button

Worksheets

A "Worksheet" is a special type of Form that provides features such as:

•	Automatic Datasource creation to retrieve and load database records for selected result sets (using "Context-Driven" Worksheets).
•	Binding of Form Fields to database records.
•	"Live feedback" of entered data.
•	Automatic processing and saving.
•	Automatic, manual, and programmatic creation.
•	Integration with the Simple Instruments, AQC, and Consumables modules.

See eForm Worksheet Principles and eForm Worksheet Advanced Concepts for more information.

 

Documents	Top

Overview

A "Document" is a container for a Form.

•	A "Form" becomes a "Document" after you enter data into the Form and submit the data to the database. Think of a Document as an instance of a Form.
•	These relationships apply: • A single Form can be used to generate many Documents. • A single Document can be associated with only one Form.
•	When a Form becomes a Document, its "Document Life Cycle" begins. The Document can be saved/recalled during editing, and analyzed during its Life Cycle

Operation	Page	Access Point
Manage Documents and enter data into a Document's Form	eForm Manager	Lab Admin → eForms → eForm Manager

Document Life Cycle

A "Document Life Cycle" describes the path a Document takes from creation, through data entry, and any other steps defined to completion. For example:

Draft → Submitted → Pending Approval → Approved → Done → Locked

Document Life Cycles are determined by options you choose when creating a Form Definition. Document Life Cycles for these options are described in the eForm Document Reference. Scenarios demonstrating typical Document Life Cycles are demonstrated in the eFrom Data Entry Examples.

 

eForms Documentation	Top

These documents describe the eForm suite of tools:

	Form Definitions
	Form Builder: Overview Fields Groups Sections Pages Elements APIs
	eForm Manager
	eForm Data Entry Examples
	eForm Document Reference
	Field and Formlet Definitions
	Worksheets: eForm Worksheet Principles eForm Worksheet Advanced Concepts

 

eForms Functionality Module Exclusions	Top

eForms technology is available in all modules with these exceptions:

=

Not Available

Feature	eNotebook	eSubmission	BBEDC	Brief Description
Controlled Fields				Predefined Field Definitions for BioBanking.
Double Data Entry (DDE)				Data Entry with multiple Users.
Document Locking				Document locked by Document Manager.
Document Security Permissions for BioBanking				Define User to Study/StudySite permissions.
Document Security Restriction for BioBanking Forms				Restrict Forms based on Study/Protocol.
Document Versioning				New Version re-binds to current data.
Reconciliation Role				Reconciler for Double Data Entry (DDE).
SDI Document Relationships in Adhoc Queries				Relates an SDI to Document Form Fields.
Transient Forms				Does not save data to database.
Worksheets				Forms with Fields bound to database records.

Worksheets created with eForms technology (also known as "eWorksheets") will be deprecated in a future LabVantage release. Please plan accordingly.