Special Control Types Custom Fields add specialized behavior or presentation to a SmartSimple page instead of capturing simple typed data. Some run a script, some render a configurable button that opens another page, and some assemble entity data into a formatted document. Administrators choose each type from the Field Type list when creating a custom field, and each behaves differently in edit mode and view mode.
Who: Global administrators
When to Use Custom Fields: Special Control Types
Use Special Control Types when:
- A Special - Browser Script fits a page that needs custom JavaScript to run when the page loads, is saved, or a button is clicked.
- A Special - Button fits a record that needs a configurable button to open another page in the same window, a new tab, or a modal window.
- A Special - Web Page View fits content that must be assembled from entity data into a document that can be printed, exported, saved, or converted to PDF.
How Special Control Types Work
Special control types are selected from the Field Type list when a custom field is created. Unlike common input types, they do not simply store a typed value. Instead, each adds a specific behavior or display to the page where the custom field is located.
A Special - Browser Script adds JavaScript to the page and runs it in coordination with the page or with server-side System Calls. A Special - Button renders a button that opens a target page in the same window, a new tab, or a modal window. A Special - Web Page View combines an HTML template with system variables to produce a document that can be printed, exported, saved, or converted to PDF.
Special - Browser Script
The Special - Browser Script control type adds a JavaScript to the page on which it is located, and the script executes according to its Trigger Type. Programmers use this control type to create enhanced functionality. In general, browser scripts must be at the end of the page, so they should be placed sequentially at the end of the list of custom fields.
Special - Button
The Special - Button control type adds a configurable button that, when activated, can open pages within the same window, in a new tab, or within a modal window. For example, a button on a Level 1 record such as a grant can open the assignment grid, edit a user's organization profile, or create a new Level 2 record. A custom confirmation message can be shown before the target opens.
Special - Web Page View
The Special - Web Page View control type creates a document-like view built from underlying entity data. It combines HTML with system variables and supports printing, exporting, saving, and converting to PDF. The HTML template is the body of the document and typically mixes HTML tags for layout, static text, and variables that are replaced with live values when the document is generated.
The field can require a signature before finalizing the document, lock it with a password before saving or emailing, or email it directly as a PDF or HTML attachment. It can also save the document automatically to a Multiple Files field on the record, export it as a Word document, or display it in more than one language based on the reader's selection.
Resources
For more information about Special Control Types Custom Fields, see: