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Best Practice to Designing Occurrence Forms
Who is this article for?Ideagen Quality Management users accessing the system.
Ideagen Quality Management 7.5 or higher is required.
There are 4 recommendations to keep in mind when designing Occurrence forms:
- Design the form for the method of data entry
- Differences between data entry methods
- Inspect the form output as you design it
- Backup the form
1. Design for the Method of Data Entry
Occurrence forms can be used to submit data using:
- Ideagen Quality Management Windows client
- Ideagen Quality Management Web Interface
- Reporting app for iPad
It is recommended that you design the forms with the method of data entry in mind.
2. Differences Between Data Entry Methods
The table below outlines the main differences that must be considered when designing the Occurrence forms.
| Design Feature | Windows Client | Web Interface | Reporting app for iPad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Fields in a Row | No set limit to number of fields | No specific limit, but it is recommended to have no more than 4 fields in a row for display reasons | Fields are automatically stacked, no additional design consideration required |
| Number of Field Groups | No limitations | No limits to the number of groups, however you cannot place groups within a group | No limitations |
| Hiding Group Names | Names can be hidden | Names cannot be hidden | Names cannot be hidden |
| Size of Form | No limitations, scroll bars will be displayed as required | No limitations, however double scroll bars may be displayed depending on form size being displayed on a web browser | No limitations |
| Number of Columns | No limit | 4 columns max. | No limitations |
3. Inspect the Form as You Design It
It is strongly recommended that you check the form as you design it.
For example: If you are designing a form for the Web Interface then launch the form via the Web Interface at regular intervals to ensure the form is displaying as intended.
If you experience any display problems, please review the article Occurrence Forms are Distorted on the Web Interface (Classic).
4. Backup the Form
You can backup the Occurrence form from within the Ideagen Quality Management administration module. This means that if you make any major changes to the form you have a working form you can revert to should any unexpected issues occur.
To create a backup:
- Go to the Administration module, then to Form Management.
- Right click on the form you want to backup and then click New Based On...
- Name the form, ensuring the name clearly states this is for backup purposes
- If selected, uncheck Active
- Click OK.