Applies to version: 2020.3.x and above; author: Jarosława Markopolska
Introduction
The MODERN form allows users to view attachments without having to download them. You can preview an attachment in two ways – in the preview window and on the form. This option is available in the most popular web browsers such as Google Chrome, Opera and Firefox, and can be supported by various file formats (e.g. .xlsx, .docx, .pdf, .png).
This article describes the functionality of the attachment preview directly on the form.
Business case
A simple invoice processing workflow has been created:
Fig. 1. Invoice processing workflow
On the “Registration” step enter the invoice details and add the attachment. Then go through the “Register” path to the “Invoice description” step and describe the invoice by entering the invoice data in the form fields.
To effectively complete the task on the step, it may be useful to preview the attached invoice on the form (the preview window may cover the form).
Configuration of the attachment preview in the form
You can change the method of displaying the attachment on the form in WEBCON BPS Designer Studio:
Fig. 2. The configuration of the form in WEBCON BPS Designer Studio
The configuration consists of two steps:
In the “Attachment preview panel” field you can preview the attachment – on the form it is the area under the transition paths panel. It can be changed by dragging this file with a mouse to the selected place on the form.
In the described example, the preview of the attachment was placed in the right panel – after clicking on the attachment, the preview will appear directly under the attachment.
Fig. 3. The preview of the attachment in the form
If you want to speed up the work of users, the preview of the attachment may be displayed immediately after loading the page. In the step edit window select the “Show first attachment on page load” option. This solution can be used if you want to always have the preview open then the option to hide the preview will be disabled.
Fig. 4. Step edition - properties
Comparison
For comparison, a window preview of the attachment is presented in Fig. 5.
Fig. 5. The attachment preview
The differences between viewing an attachment on the form and in the window are presented in the following table:
Attachment preview | Showing | Hiding | + | – |
Preview window | On demand | After clicking on the form area or the “x” button | You can see the attachment content | Overrides the form |
In the form | On demand or when opened in the browser | After refreshing the form or always visible | Work with the form while having the attachment in the background | Extends the form |
Summary
WEBCON BPS allows you to view the attachment in the form. Thanks to this there is the option to work on the form simultaneously with an open preview of the attachment.