Feature Package Customization#

The system makes use of components called models that can be created and modified. The primary types of models are:

  • Data Models that are used to capture and store data.

  • Device Models that represent components of available network devices.

A mechanism is available for higher level administrators to customize:

  • how different attributes of a form are displayed (using Field Display Policies):

    • visibility (hidden / visible / read-only) of attributes

    • field names

    • related help text

    • ordering, grouping and layout

  • how values for attributes are obtained (using Configuration Templates):

    • fixed / default values

    • derived from data in the system; optionally combined with input from users or Device Model events using pre-defined macros (see: Macros)

Field Display Policies are applied to different roles using Menu Layouts and Landing Pages. Configuration Templates are applied to different roles using Menu Layouts, Landing Pages and pre-defined workflows.

The high level process that an administrator will follow is as follows:

  1. Decide how an existing user input form should be customized. This involves an examination of the input form to identify field name, visibility, order and default values.

  2. Determine the user who requires a modified input form.

  3. Identify the User Role and Menu Layout associated with the relevant user.

  4. If the menu item to be customized shows a Field Display Policy and Configuration Template associated with the item, clone these to start their customization. There is a unique constraint on the name of the clone per hierarchy level, so the same name as the original can be used on another hierarchy, but a new name is needed at the same hierarchy.

  5. Create, or modify the cloned Field Display Policy and Configuration Template according to identified requirements to create new instances of these. Note the uniqueness constrains per hierarchy on the names of the clones.

  6. Associate the newly created Field Display Policy and Configuration Template to the menu item in the user’s Menu Layout as specified in the User Role. The Menu Layout may be created as a new Menu Layout that is only available at a specific hierarchy.