Modes of Operation
There are five distinct modes in which the ListSheet HTC can be configured, based on settings in the configuration data XML data-island. These five modes can be classified as belonging to one of three basic types: flat lists, homogeneous grouped lists, and heterogeneous grouped lists. The five modes are:
Flat List
Two-Level Homogeneous Grouped List
Three-Level Homogeneous Grouped List
List-Style Heterogeneous Grouped List
Properties-Style Heterogeneous Grouped List
Flat List
This is the most basic mode of the ListSheet HTC. The data is presented as a simple table with no expand/collapse capabilities. The id2 and id3 attributes of the column elements are not used. Also, the subobject element within the columns element is not used.
In this mode the ListSheet HTC expects a single-tiered DataXML data-island. Any extra tiers are ignored.
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Two-Level Homogeneous Grouped List
Two-level homogeneous lists are appropriate when there are two levels of data to display, and the same set of columns (specifically, column headings) can serve for the data at both levels.
Any given column need not contain data for both levels, and can be left blank or otherwise filled in such a way as to indicate that no data is expected in that column for that level of data. Some existing Commerce Server Business Desk modules use the hyphen ('-') character to indicate such a lack of data.
In two-level homogeneous grouped lists, the id2 attribute of the column (child of columns) elements are used to identify detail data in the second tier of records in the DataXML data-island. The subobject element and its embedded column elements are not used.
In this mode the ListSheet HTC expects a two-tiered DataXML data-island. Any extra tiers are ignored.
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Three-Level Homogeneous Grouped List
Three-level homogeneous lists are appropriate when there are three levels of data to display, and the same set of columns (specifically, column headings) can serve for the data at all three levels.
Any given column need not contain data for all three levels, and can be left blank or otherwise filled in such a way as to indicate that no data is expected in that column for that level of data. Some existing Business Desk modules use the hyphen ('-') character to indicate such a lack of data.
In three-level homogeneous grouped lists, the id2 and id3 attributes of the column (child of columns) elements are used to identify detail data in the second and third tiers of records, respectively, in the DataXML data-island. The subobject element and its embedded column elements are not used.
In this mode the ListSheet HTC expects a three-tiered DataXML data-island. Three is the greatest number of tiers that is supported.
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List-Style Heterogeneous Grouped List
Heterogeneous lists are appropriate where the data presented in columns in the group rows is different than the detailed data, and the sharing of column headings would not be appropriate. In list-style heterogeneous grouped lists, the detailed data is presented in what appears to be an embedded ListSheet HTC, typically displaying multiple records. Sub-items in a heterogeneous list are not selectable.
The subobject element and its column elements are used to describe the detailed data columns to be displayed. This includes the identity of the detail data to be displayed, which must exist in the second tier of records in the DataXML data-island. The id2 and id3 attributes of the (columns) column element are not used.
In this mode the ListSheet HTC expects a two-tiered DataXML data-island. Any extra tiers are ignored.
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Properties-Style Heterogeneous Grouped List
Heterogeneous lists are appropriate where the data presented in columns in the group rows is different than the detailed data, and the sharing of column headings would not be appropriate. In properties-style heterogeneous grouped lists, the detailed data is presented in what appears to be an embedded EditSheet HTC, displaying a single record. Sub-items in a heterogeneous list are not selectable.
The subobject element and its column elements are used to describe the detailed data rows to be displayed. This includes the identity of the detail data to be displayed, which must exist in the second tier of records in the DataXML data-island. The id2 and id3 attributes of the (columns) column element are not used.
In this mode the ListSheet HTC expects a two-tiered DataXML data-island. Any extra tiers are ignored.
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