Adding paragraphs to place rich text in a layout cell or header

By referencing a paragraph rule ( Rule-HTML-Paragraph rule type), a cell in the layout can present rich text, which can include the results of JSP tags and stream processing. Unlike a label, display text in a paragraph can be longer than 64 characters. (You can add paragraphs to headers as well as to cells.)

Follow these instructions to present the paragraph, with contents defined by a paragraph rule. Optionally, you can identify a pop-up section to appear when users hold the mouse pointer over the paragraph cell.

Use a paragraph rather than a label to present the formatted text provided by a paragraph rule.

1. Drag and drop the Paragraph control

Paragraphs can appear in any cell.

On the Design tab, from the Data display list, drag Paragraph onto the work area.

If the destination cell is not empty, the dropped paragraph replaces the current contents of the cell. Click the gear icon to display the Cell Properties panel.

2. Complete the Cell Properties panel

Complete the Cell Properties panel that appears. Click the "change" link to select a different control.

Field Description
Paragraph Select or enter the second key part — Purpose value — of a paragraph rule. The system uses the Applies To key part of the current rule to find the paragraph rule during rule resolution at runtime. Click the Open icon to create a new paragraph rule.
Wrap text Select the check box to have the text wrap at the cell margins. If this is cleared, text longer than the available width of the paragraph will not display.
Read only Leave cleared in most cases. Paragraphs, like labels, are always presented in read-only mode. Select to cause the paragraph to be presented with read-only styles always, or based on a When condition, even when the enclosing layout is in read-write mode. Complete the field that appears to modify the effect of this check box.
Display advanced presentation options
  • Use heading styles – Select this check box to have the paragraph use heading styles.

  • Cell width – You can set a fixed width for the cell, in pixels.

  • Cell height – You can set a fixed height for the cell, in pixels.

  • Instead of creating a new custom format in the skin, you can adjust elements in a cell by applying Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) helper classes. For example, you can use a CSS helper class to center an element in a cell or to double the standard right margin for the element.
    • Cell read-write classes – Click the Open helper class picker icon to specify one or more CSS helper classes to apply to this cell when the form is displayed in read-write mode. You can enter several helper classes, separated by a space. Alternatively, you can enter the name of a custom style to apply to this cell.
    • Cell read-only classes – Click the Open helper class picker icon to specify one or more CSS helper classes to apply to this cell when the form is displayed in read-only mode. You can enter several helper classes, separated by a space. Alternatively, you can enter the name of a custom style to apply to this cell.
    • Inline style (not for production use) – You can use this field to define an inline style by entering CSS code. However, entering an inline style results in a guardrail warning. For maintainability and reuse, the recommended approach is to use read-write or read-only classes.
    For more information, see CSS helper classes.
Visibility Select one of the available options:
  • Always (default): This option has the paragraph appear or be hidden based on the visibility of the enclosing section or flow action when the form is first presented or is refreshed. The system checks this condition only once.
  • Condition (expression) : In the field that appears you can provide a simple expression based on the comparison of a pair of constants, properties, or both, combined by Boolean operators, such as .Color="Red". You can combine the expression with a when condition rule or another expression using the && and || operators. However, as a best practice, click the Open expression builder icon and create the expression by using the Expression Builder. See Using the Condition Builder to configure dynamic UI actions.

    Check the Reserve space when hidden check box to have a blank area appear in the section when the paragraph is hidden.

  • Condition (when rule) : In the field that appears provide the When Name key part of a when condition. Click the Open icon to review or create the rule.

    Check the Reserve space when hidden check box to have a blank area appear in the section when the paragraph is hidden.

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