NOMADS Graphical Application

Location

Method

From the PxPlus IDE Main Launcher

Expand the Graphical Application Builder (Nomads) category. Then, expand the Utilities category and select Wizard Creation Wizard.

From the NOMADS Session Manager

From the Utilities menu, select Wizard Creation Wizard.

Progress Bar

This section extends across the top of the panel and lists the five steps for creating a wizard. A white step number against a dark red background indicates the current step being defined. A gray step number against a gray background indicates that the step is temporarily unavailable until required information has been entered first. The step number will change to white when that step becomes available for entry.

Clicking on a step number will go directly to that step without having to select intermediate steps in order. This is useful when reviewing or changing previous selections before exiting the wizard. Keep in mind that certain steps may require data before advancing to subsequent steps.

Work Area

This section is the body of the panel and consists of fields used for processing each step.

Navigation Bar

This section extends across the bottom of the panel and consists of buttons for moving through the steps.

Choose a name for the Wizard

Wizard Name

(Required) Enter a name for the wizard. This name will display at the top of the Welcome and Finish panels of the new wizard after it is created.

Example:

For the Wizard Creation Wizard utility, the Wizard Name is Wizard Creation Wizard. As a result, the Welcome panel reads Welcome to the Wizard Creation Wizard, and the Finish panel reads Wizard Creation Wizard is Complete.

Choose the program directory

Program Directory

(Required) Specify the full pathname to the directory in which the completed wizard program is to be placed. Click the Browse button to navigate to the desired directory or type the full pathname.

Choose a screen library

Screen Library

(Required) Specify the library file in which the completed wizard panels are to be placed. If the library file is located in the same directory as the Program Directory specified above, a simple screen library name can be entered. If the library file is in a different location, the full pathname must be specified by clicking the Browse button or typing the full pathname.

Note:
The library file must already exist.

Choose a short prefix for the program and panels

Short Prefix

(Required) Enter a short prefix (up to 8 characters) that will precede the names of the completed wizard program and wizard panels. Valid characters are letters A to Z and numbers 0 to 9. Special characters are not allowed.

Example:

Entering a Short Prefix of test would result in the wizard program being named test_wizard, and the wizard panels names being named test_wiz, test_wel, test_1, test_2 and test_fin.

Picture at the top of the Welcome Page

Picture Path

Specify the full pathname to the image file or corresponding expression for the image that can be optionally included on the Welcome page. This image will display in the upper left corner of the Welcome page.

If you Open the Library File in NOMADS and view the completed wizard panel, it will contain an image type control named WELCOME_IMAGE. If Picture Path is blank, then no image control will be created. Upon completion of the wizard, the image entered will be scaled and dynamic. See Image Properties.

Enter the text for the Welcome page

Enter the text to display on the Welcome page.

Help Link for the Welcome Page

Help Link Text

Enter the text to display on a Web-style Help link button that can be optionally included on the Welcome page.

If you Open the Library File in NOMADS and view the completed wizard panel, it will contain a button type control named BUTTON_HELP. If the Help Link Text is blank, then no button control will be created.

Note:
If Help Link Text is entered, then you will need to edit the BUTTON_HELP control on the WEL panel (i.e. NAME_WEL) after completing the wizard to enter the correct Help Reference (go to the User Aid tab on the button's properties window using the NOMADS Panel Designer).

Enter a short message for the end of the Finish page

Finish Text

Enter the text to display at the bottom of the Finish page.

Example:

For the Wizard Creation Wizard utility, the Finish Text at the bottom of the Finish page reads Click Finish to create the Wizard.

Define the appearance of the step titles

Text Color

Color to use for the step titles that describe each step at the top of the panel.

Define the appearance of the step buttons

Number of Steps

Number of total steps/pages (not including the Welcome page) that will be needed to create the wizard for the applicable task. The number of steps depends on the complexity of the task for which the wizard is being created. Valid values are from 2 to 8 steps.

Note:
If more than 8 steps are required, you can create a wizard with 8 steps and then add more manually. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust the width of the wizard panels using the NOMADS Panel Designer to accommodate the additional steps in the Progress Bar section.

Step Button Color

Background color to use for the step buttons in the Progress Bar section.

Active Button Color

Background color to use for the active step button. As the user progresses through each step, the corresponding step button in the Progress Bar section will change to this color.

Button Text Color

Color to use for the number (text) displayed inside the step buttons in the Progress Bar section.

Note:
If using dark colors for the Step Button Color and Active Button Color, then the Button Text Color should be a contrasting light color so that the text is clearly visible. If using light colors for the step button background, then select a dark color for the button text.

Define the appearance of the step name text

Name Text Color

Color to use for the name text that displays below the step buttons in the Progress Bar section.

Define the Step Button Names as well as the Step Titles for each step.

Step

Number of the step being defined. (This field is locked.)

Step Title

Enter the text that describes each step. This text will display at the top of the panel for that step. A maximum of 150 characters can be entered.

Note:
If the maximum 150 characters is entered, you may need to adjust the width of the corresponding TAB_TITLE control on the WIZ panel (i.e. NAME_WIZ) by using the NOMADS Panel Designer after completing the wizard.

Example:

     For the Wizard Creation Wizard utility, the title for Step 1 is defined as Step 1: Name and Location – Define the Wizard and Program names and locations.

This text is saved in the completed wizard program as stepxtitle$ (where x is the step number) or finishtitle$ (for the Finish page).

Name

Text to display below each step button. A maximum of 25 characters can be entered.

Note:
If more than 8 steps are defined or the maximum 25 characters is entered, you may need to adjust the width of the corresponding FONTED_TEXT control on the WIZ panel (i.e. NAME_WIZ) by using the NOMADS Panel Designer after completing the wizard.