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(1) Define the Data

- Support Ticket Tutorial -​

Every app needs a solid foundation to organize and maintain data. Our Support Ticket app will require two types of data:

  • a Codebook, which is a static list of predefined values; and
  • Entities, which can be stored, manipulated and queried in the app database.

0. Create App​

The shell for the app needs to be created before you can start to build it.
On the workspace, at the top of the side panel, click + Create App.
Give it a name, like Support Ticket App.
Click Create Application.
When you return to the workspace, in the new App Overview, click Edit Application.

1. Create the Codebook Static List​

Support Tickets are often defined according to severity: Critical, Major, Normal and Minor. These will not change so they should be defined in a Codebook Static List.

  • At the top of the Data side panel, click (+) Create to get the general Create Dialog; click Codebook
  • Name your Codebook: Ticket Severity. Additional information will appear in the Name (plural) and Code Identifier boxes
  • The Create Display Attribute checkbox shows Name by default. This will be used as a column in the Codebook static list.
  • Click Finish

2. Add Rows to the Codebook​

The Ticket Severity codebook needs values.

  • Ticket Severity is open in the editor. Otherwise, it can be found in the Codebooks subsection
  • Click Edit Entries
  • Populate the TicketSeverity grid with values for Code and Name. Copy and paste the grid below:
CRITICALS1-Critical
MAJORS2-Major
NORMALS3-Normal
MINORS4-Minor
  • Click OK to close the dialog box
  • Save changes: Ctrl + S

3. Create the Entities​

Entities are where the data is stored. Attributes provide detailed definitions for parts of the entities.

  • At the top of the Data side panel, click (+) Create; click Entity
  • Name your Entity: Ticket
  • Set the Display Icon to Tag. (i.e., type the word into the search bar or scroll through the drop-down menu)
  • Mark the Create Display Attribute checkbox. Click in the text box. Type: Title. This will create an attribute and set it as a display expression for entity records.
  • Click Next

  • The Create Pages box has the following preselected: Create Page, Detail Page and List Page. These pages will be generated and used in the User Interface section (see below)
  • Click Finish

4. Reference the Entity to the Codebook​

The Ticket Severity codebook needs to be connected to the Ticket entity.

  • In the Ticket Entity Data Definition > References section, click Add Reference
  • Set Name to: Ticket Severity
  • Set Reference Type to: Codebook
  • Set Referenced to: Ticket Severity
  • Set Default Codebook Value to: NORMAL
  • Click Save
  • Save Changes: Ctrl + S

5. Add Attributes​

There are many additional definitions that can be added as Attributes. For example, it would be useful to know the user who created the Support Ticket, when and, if it is critical, a detailed description of the issue.

  • In the Ticket entity, in the Data Definition > Attributes section, click Add multiple
  • Set Attribute Name to: Created By
  • Set Type to: User
    More Attributes are created the same way:
  • Set Attribute Name to: Created Date
  • Set Type to: Date and Time 
  • Set Attribute Name to: Description
  • Set Type to: Rich-text Markdown
  • Click Add Attributes
  • Save changes: Ctrl + S

6. Set Default Values​

Created By and Created Date can be further defined. These definitions will establish values for the user and the date when a Support Ticket is created.

We want to set the currently logged in user as Created By and the current date and time as Created Date.

Add Default values:

  • In the Data Definition > Attributes section, click the Created By attribute
  • Mark the Default Value checkbox. A dialog box opens. Set it to the following:
(ticket, db, ctx) => ctx.User
  • Click OK
  • Click Close

  • Click the Created Date attribute
  • Mark the Default Value checkbox. A dialog box opens. Set it to the following:
(ticket, db, ctx) => DateTime.Now
  • Click OK
  • Click Close
  • Save changes: Ctrl + S