To create a user-defined tab

After you name and define a data table, you can create and customize a user-defined tab based on the data fields.

Note: If you selected Auto-Create Window when you defined the table, a user-defined tab based on the table name was created automatically. If a tab was created automatically, you can modify it (see To modify a user-defined tab).

  1. Make sure all other users exit the iMIS system.
  2. Back up your data.
  3. Using the iMIS Desktop, connect to iMIS with the MANAGER logon.
  4. From Customers, select Set up module > General, and click Additional Windows to open the Customer Setup – Additional Windows window.
  5. Click Define Windows to open the Window Designer window.
  6. In the Window Designer window, name the user-defined tab, enter the table name that contains the data fields, and select the fields you want displayed on the tab. In the following example, the Name-Demo tab is created using fields from the Name_Demo table. Although the Name_Demo table contains 17 data fields, only nine fields are used for this tab. The field labels that display on the tab are the same as the data field names unless prompts are defined for the fields. In this case, the field labels display in parentheses, for example (Mobile Phone).
  7. Click New.
  8. Enter the tab name in the Current windows field.
  9. Press Tab. iMIS prompts you to confirm the creation of the new tab.
  10. Click Yes. iMIS prompts you for the table name.
  11. Enter the Table Name that contains the fields you want to use for the tab.
  12. Click Save. iMIS prompts you for the tab title.
  13. Click Save to accept the default title, or type in a different title.
  14. Click Save. The Window Designer window displays the tab name and the Available fields from the selected table.
  15. Press Tab.
  16. (optional) Enter any Access keywords, or select the Find icon to select keywords (see Limiting access and/or hiding tabs) for the tab.
  17. (Required for single-instance tabs) Enter the Number of Columns you want to display for the tab.
  18. Select a data field from the Available fields list, and click Add to move the field to the Current fields list. Repeat this step for every data field to be displayed on your tab.

    19. Note: If there is a subset of fields in your table that need to be confidential among a smaller group of users, remove them from the tab and create a new restricted-access tab containing only these confidential fields.

  19. (optional) Select a data field from the Current fields list.
  20. Click Up or Down to reorder the field as it appears on the tab.
    1. If you want a different Prompt than the one specified in the User Defined Tables window, enter the new prompt.
    2. (optional) Enable the New row option to display a field in the first column of a new row.
    3. Select the Read only option to create a special display-only field that cannot be edited.

    21. Note: Use Read only to create versions of the same tab for different user groups: one group can enter data in those fields, while another only can view the data. The Read only option requires the Access Keywords (see Limiting access and/or hiding tabs) feature.

  21. (optional) Enable the Show window fields on customer profile option to show the Current fields on the customer’s profile.
  22. Click Save. iMIS saves the tab definition and creates the tab format.
  23. Click OK if prompted to restart iMIS.
  24. Click Close to close the Window Designer window.
  25. Exit iMIS immediately for the changes to take effect.