Leaner repeated sections and grids
Orbeon Forms's repeated sections and grids are powerful. For example they support adding, inserting, removing, and moving repeated content freely. But in some cases, users can prefer a simpler...
View ArticleBetter numeric input on mobile
Orbeon Forms has a Number field which allows you to enter integer or decimal numbers, but until now this field didn't particularly help users enter numbers efficiently on a smartphone or tablet without...
View ArticleRemoving the "double" datatype
A while back, we explained how and why we greatly simplified the list of data types in Form Builder, and we wrote: We have reflected this in Form Builder by putting the decimal type at the top and the...
View ArticleRequired fields: more subtle than you might think
In forms parlance, a required field is a field which must contain a value, or else the form will show an error and you won't be able to save it or submit it. This is a pretty fundamental idea, and both...
View ArticleQuicker settings navigation in Form Builder
Form Builder allows you to change a control, grid or section's settings by opening a dialog. This is generally good but when you want to quickly change settings for several controls, opening and...
View ArticleFlexible custom control settings
With Orbeon Forms, all form controls share certain properties, like the control name. However, some controls take additional properties which are specific to them and which you set at design time in...
View ArticleHow do you tell users "something is going on"?
Consider the following 3 different actions a user could take while on a form:Entering a new value in a field and tabbing out of that field.Pressing the save button.Pressing the submit button. Each...
View ArticleOrbeon Forms 2016.1
Today we released Orbeon Forms 2016.1! This release comes with lots of new features and bug-fixes (in fact more than we had initially planned). We hope you'll like them!NOTE: This release was formerly...
View ArticleSpeaking JSON
JSON is the most popular format for browser/server communication. It is used more and more for all types of web services and as time goes it becomes more and more likely that you will encounter web...
View ArticleJavaScript components made easier
Orbeon Forms's toolbox, which presents the choice of form controls available when you build a form, is fully customizable. Each form control points to a file containing information about the control...
View ArticleSaying farewell to HTML tables
A very important underlying feature of Orbeon Forms is the grid. A grid groups controls in rows and columns, and can optionally repeat rows. When we first implemented grids many years ago, we used...
View ArticleNew indexes boost performance with relational databases in Orbeon Forms 2016.2
When you create a form with Form Builder and use Orbeon Forms' implementation of the persistence API for relational databases, data collected by the form at runtime is stored in a set of 4 generic...
View ArticleA stable function library for Form Runner
When using formulas or custom components with Orbeon Forms, there is often a need to access information about the current form, such as:What is the current form name?If this component currently running...
View ArticleSubmitting a PDF file to an external service
PDF icon by Double-J Design In addition to saving data to a database, Orbeon Forms can submit (or send) data to external services. If you just want to send the captured data as XML, it is very easy:Add...
View ArticleOrbeon Forms 2016.2
Today we released Orbeon Forms 2016.2! This release features several important features and enhancements. Major features and enhancements New indexes for relational database performance If you're using...
View ArticleVersioning comments
When using a relational database, Orbeon Forms supports versioning of form definitions.This means that you can publish multiple versions of a form known by its name (like the “ACME Order Form”). Data...
View ArticleOrbeon Forms 2016.2.1 PE
Today we released Orbeon Forms 2016.2.1 PE. This update to Orbeon Forms 2016.2 PE contains bug-fixes and important security fixes and is recommended for all Orbeon Forms 2016.2 PE users. Specifically,...
View ArticleOrbeon Forms 2016.1.1 PE
Today we released Orbeon Forms 2016.1.1 PE. This is an update to Orbeon Forms 2016.1 PE which contains bug-fixes and important security fixes and is recommended for all Orbeon Forms 2016.1 PE users....
View ArticleOrbeon Forms 2016.2.2 PE
Today we released Orbeon Forms 2016.2.2 PE. This update to Orbeon Forms 2016.2 PE contains bug-fixes and is recommended for all Orbeon Forms 2016.2 PE and Orbeon Forms 2016.2.1 PE users. Specifically,...
View ArticleOrbeon Forms 2016.3
We just made it: today we released Orbeon Forms 2016.3, the third and last major release of Orbeon Forms for 2016! This release introduces several important features and enhancements. Major features...
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