Custom Widgets: your own widgets on the Summary tab
Custom Widgets let you decide what is shown on the Summary tab of a record. You can add lists of related records, for
example open tasks on a project, chosen fields of the record, and a box for writing comments, emails and SMS. With Own
layout you can also move the built-in widgets, such as Key Fields and Comments, choose the number of columns, and build
the whole page yourself.
Administrators set up the widgets per module. All users see them on the records.
What you can do
- Show related records: list records from one or more related modules, with your own columns (also from linked
records), sorting, grouping and filter.
- Take the columns from a list filter: the widget shows the filter's columns, order, labels and widths, so one filter
controls both the list view and the widget.
- Show only the record's own records: for example only the organization's own sales orders, not also orders whose
contact works there.
- Show a widget only when relevant: for example only on companies that have a membership of a certain type.
- Choose the look of a list: a clean list or a table with header and lines, with or without view and edit icons, and
with long rows on one line or wrapped.
- Show the number of records and the rest of the list: a count in the header, a "View all" link to the related tab, or
a "Load more" button.
- Show records from a hierarchy: the records of parent or child records, for example the membership lines of the
company group or the contacts at related companies, instead of or together with the record's own.
- Limit reference choices: when a record is added from a list, let a field such as Contact offer only the contacts of
the company (and its group) in a dropdown.
- Show and edit fields of the record: a Fields widget with chosen fields, for example the addresses, edited directly
in the widget.
- Build widgets in advance: untick Active to keep a widget without showing it, and tick it when it is needed.
- Arrange the whole page: with Own layout, choose 1 to 6 columns and move the built-in widgets (Key Fields, Documents,
Activities, Comments and others) between the custom widgets, or leave them out.
- Create records quickly: add a quick create row at the top of a list.
- Mark records as done: tick a checkbox on a row. Completed records are shown struck through.
- Write from the record: add a composer for comments, emails and SMS.
Set up a widget
1. Go to Settings > App Management > Custom Widgets.
2. Choose the module under Select Module.
3. Click Add Widget and choose the type under Select type of widget.
4. Fill in the settings below and click Save.
5. Drag the widget to the column and position you want. Use the pencil icon to edit a widget and the trash icon to
delete it.
To build a widget in advance, untick Active before you save it. The widget is kept but not shown on the records, in both
the classic and the new interface. In the list it is dimmed and marked Inactive. Edit it and tick Active when it should
be shown.
Own layout: move the built-in widgets
By default, the built-in widgets of a module (for example Key Fields and Documents on the left, Activities and Comments
on the right) are shown at the top of their column, and custom widgets are added below them.
Tick Own layout at the top of the page to place everything yourself for the selected module. The first time, the
module's built-in widgets are added to the list as Built-in widget entries, in their standard places, so the page looks
the same as before. Choose the number of Columns (1 to 6) and drag the entries to change the order or column. To leave
out a built-in widget, untick Active or delete it; add it again with Add Widget > Built-in widget.
Untick Own layout to go back to the standard layout; your arrangement is kept. With Own layout, Hide Default Widgets is
not used, and built-in widgets that are not in the list are not shown.
The columns and order also apply in the new interface for Key Fields, Documents, Activities and Comments. Other built-in
widgets, such as Tickets or Milestones on projects, are only shown in the classic interface.
Related module
Shows a list of related records.
| Setting | Description | |---|---| | Label | The widget title. | | Limit of entries | Number of records shown before
the user loads more. | | Related module | One or more modules to list. The module must be related to the selected
module. Required. | | Columns | The fields shown for each record, in the order of the chips (drag to change it). Under
From a reference field, you can also pick fields of the linked record, for example (Organization) Name 2 on contacts.
These columns are read-only and cannot be used for sorting or grouping. | | Columns from filter | Optional. A list
filter of the related module that is shared with everyone. The widget then shows the filter's columns, in its order,
with its labels and widths (see the article on custom filters), and Columns is hidden. Changes to the filter change this
widget. The rows are not filtered by this setting. | | Sort By | The field and order (ASC or DESC). When set, users can
also drag rows to change the order. | | Then sort by | Optional. A second field and order, used when two records have
the same value in Sort By, for example category and then first name. | | Group by | Optional. A field and order. Records
with the same value are shown together under a header with the value, for example per category or per year. The groups
come first, then Sort By within each group. | | Only records where | Optional. A reference field of the related module
that points to this module, for example Organization = this record on Sales Orders: only the organization's own orders,
not also orders whose contact works there. Default None. | | List Filter | Only show records that match a saved list
filter of the related module. None shows all related records. | | Show only when | Optional. A list filter of one of the
module's related modules. The widget is only shown on records that have at least one related record in that filter, for
example companies with a membership of a certain type. Always shows the widget on all records. | | Add button | Adds an
Add button to the widget header that opens the form for a new related record. | | Quick Create Bar | Adds a row at the
top of the list for creating a record (new interface). | | Status Field, Status Values | A dropdown field and the values
that count as completed. Rows get a checkbox, and completed records are shown struck through. | | Widget Style | Default
(list) or Timeline. | | Table style | Clean (a simple list) or Table (grey header row, border and lines between the
rows). | | Icons on each row | View and edit, View only, Edit only or None. Controls the eye and pencil icons at the
start of each row. | | Long rows | One line, scroll sideways keeps each row on one line, and the user scrolls to see
more columns. Wrap, show everything wraps the text so all columns fit in the box. | | Show count | Yes shows the number
of records in the header, for example "Contacts (201)". Default No. | | Show "View all" link | Yes (default) shows a
"View all (N)" link under the list when there are more records than the limit. | | "Load more" button | Yes shows a
"Load more" link under the list when there are more records than the limit. Default No. | | Fallback via hierarchy field
| Optional. A field on the module that points to the same module, for example the parent organization. Empty = no
hierarchy. | | Direction, Max depth | Up follows the field (the parent), Down finds records that point to this record
(the children), Both does both. Max depth is how many levels are searched (default 5). | | Use the hierarchy | Only when
the record has none (default): the hierarchy is used only when the record has no records of its own. Always (own +
hierarchy): the record's own records plus those of the hierarchy. Only the hierarchy: only those of the hierarchy, for
example the contacts at related companies when the company's own contacts are shown in another widget. | | Restricted
reference choices | Optional, per reference field of the related module: which records the field may offer when a record
is added from the widget. See below. | | Active | Shows the widget. Untick it to keep the widget without showing it. |
Select button and Filter are not used in the new interface yet.
The new interface shows the same records and columns as the classic interface: Columns from filter, Only records where,
List Filter, Sort By, Then sort by, Group by, Show only when, the hierarchy and columns from linked records all apply.
Table style, icons, long rows, Show count, "View all" and "Load more" are only used in the classic interface; the new
interface loads more rows when the user scrolls. Without a choice, the widget looks as before.
If the filter in Columns from filter is deleted or no longer shared with everyone, the widget shows its own Columns
again.
With Group by, the limit counts records, not groups. A group can therefore continue after the user loads more records;
it does not get a second header.
To use Show only when, first create the list filter in the related module, for example a filter on membership lines with
the membership type you need.
Count, View all and Load more
The count and "View all (N)" count the same records as the list: after Only records where, List Filter, the header
filter and the hierarchy, and only records the user may see. They are updated every time the widget reloads, for example
after Add or a button.
"View all (N)" opens the record's tab for that related list. It is not shown with Only records where, with Always (own +
hierarchy) or Only the hierarchy, or when the rows come from the hierarchy, because the tab would show other records
than the widget. Use "Load more" for those widgets.
"Load more" adds the next records to the list, with the same sorting, grouping, filter and hierarchy. Buttons on the
rows and editing in place also work on the added rows. When the widget reloads, it starts again from the first records.
Records from a hierarchy
With Only when the record has none, the widget looks one level away first (parent and children), then two levels away,
and so on. The first level with records is shown.
With Always or Only the hierarchy, the widget collects the records of every level up to Max depth. Example for related
companies: related module Organizations, hierarchy field Member Of, direction Up, depth 1, Always. This shows the
company's own subsidiaries plus the other companies in the same group.
The records are combined, grouped, sorted and limited like the widget's own list. At most 200 records of the hierarchy
are read. With Only records where, each record of the hierarchy shows its own records.
Rows from another record are greyed out and have a hierarchy icon. Hover it to see which record they belong to, and
click it to open that record. The rows can still be opened, edited and used with buttons. A record that points to
itself, or a loop in the hierarchy, is handled safely.
Restricted reference choices
Use this when a field in the form should only offer records that belong to the record you are on. Example: when a
contact category is added on a company, the Contact field only offers the contacts of the company and its group.
1. Tick Add button (classic interface) or Quick Create Bar (new interface).
2. Under Restricted reference choices, find the field, for example Contact Name.
3. Choose the relation the records must have to the record you are on, for example Related via Contacts.
4. Optionally choose + the hierarchy (also the records of the parent and child records, using the widget's hierarchy
field, direction and Max depth) or + the record in a reference field (also the related records of the record in that
field).
When the user clicks Add in the widget, the field is shown as a dropdown with the allowed records instead of the search
popup. The user can type to search; at most 50 records are shown, sorted by name, and only records the user may see. If
the module has no quick create form, the full form opens with the same dropdown. The same dropdown is used when a column
with the field is edited directly in the widget, and in the new interface's Quick Create Bar.
The restriction only applies when the form is opened from this widget. Quick create from the top bar and other places is
not affected.
Buttons on the rows and in the header
Buttons set up with the view Summary widget (see the article on Buttons) are shown in their own column at the end of
each row. They run on the record in the row, and only the widget refreshes afterwards.
Buttons set up with the view Summary widget header and this widget are shown in the widget's header. They run on the
record itself, like the record's own buttons (including a popup, if set up), and the widget refreshes afterwards.
Fields
Shows chosen fields of the record itself, for example the billing and shipping address and the alternative debtor, with
the label on the left and the value on the right. Users click a value to edit it directly in the widget.
| Setting | Description | |---|---| | Label | The widget title. | | Fields | The fields to show, in this order. Drag
them to change the order. | | Columns from filter | Optional. A list filter of this module that is shared with everyone:
the widget shows its fields, in its order, with its labels. | | Restricted reference choices | Per reference field of
the module: Related via a relation of this module, plus optionally + the record in a reference field. Example for the
alternative debtor's addresses: field Delivery address, related via Addresses, + the record in Alternative debtor. | |
Active | Shows the widget. Untick it to keep the widget without showing it. |
Restricted reference fields are edited with a dropdown of the allowed records, as described above. Other reference
fields are edited with the normal search field: type to search, use the search button to pick a record, or the x to
clear the field. Click the pencil icon next to a reference value to edit it, because the value itself opens the record.
After a reference field is saved, the widget reloads, so the choices of fields that depend on it ("+ the record in") are
up to date.
In the new interface, the Fields widget is shown and edited like Key Fields, with the chosen fields in their order. A
restricted reference field is saved as soon as a record is picked.
Built-in widget
Places one of the module's built-in widgets (Key Fields, Activities, Documents, Comments, …). Used only when Own layout
is on.
| Setting | Description | |---|---| | Built-in widget | Which built-in widget to show. | | Label | The name in the list.
The widget itself keeps its own title. | | Active | Shows or hides the widget. |
Composer
Lets users write comments, emails and SMS from the record.
| Setting | Description | |---|---| | Label | The widget title. | | Modules TO Include | Comments, Email and/or SMS.
Each becomes a tab in the composer. | | Submit Email As | A dropdown field on the record, for example Status on tickets.
When sending an email, the user can set a new value at the same time. | | Height | The height of the composer. | |
Active | Shows the widget. Untick it to keep the widget without showing it. |
Email recipients can be picked from the email fields of linked records, for example the contact or organization.
Other widget types
Comments and Dashboard Widget can be set up, but are not shown in the new interface yet.
Hide standard widgets
Under Hide Default Widgets, tick Comments, Activities or Documents to hide them on the selected module. This is not used
when Own layout is on; untick Active on the built-in widget instead.
Use the widgets
Open a record and go to the Summary tab. Click a row to open the record, or use Add or the quick create row to add a new
one. Use the buttons at the end of a row or in the widget's header, if any are set up. Use Load more or View all under
the list to see more records. In a Fields widget, click a value to edit it, then click Save.
Troubleshooting
A module is missing under Related module? It must be related to the selected module, so it is shown as a related list on
the record.
A widget is not shown at all? Check that Active is ticked; inactive widgets are dimmed and marked Inactive in the list.
A widget is not shown on some records? Check Show only when: the record must have at least one related record in that
list filter. Choose Always to show it everywhere.
A filter is missing under Columns from filter? Only filters of that module that are shared with everyone are listed.
Share the filter, or check the module.
The widget shows more records than the record's own? The related list can include more, for example orders whose contact
works at the organization. Choose the field under Only records where. If no field is listed for a new widget, save it
and open it again.
Fewer records than expected with a List Filter? Check the filter in the related module's list view: the widget shows the
records that match the filter, up to the limit.
No "View all" link? It is only shown when there are more records than the limit, and not with Only records where or the
hierarchy modes Always and Only the hierarchy. Use "Load more" button there.
Records from the hierarchy missing? Check the hierarchy field, the direction, Max depth and Use the hierarchy. With Only
when the record has none, the hierarchy is not used when the record has records of its own.
A reference field still shows the search popup in the Add form? Check that a relation is chosen for the field under
Restricted reference choices, that the field is in the module's quick create form, and that the form was opened with Add
in this widget.
The dropdown has no records? The record has no related records through the chosen relation. Check the relation, and +
the hierarchy or + the record in.
A value in a Fields widget cannot be edited? The field is read-only for the user.
A built-in widget disappeared after turning on Own layout? It is not in the list or not active. Add it with Add Widget >
Built-in widget, or untick Own layout to go back to the standard layout.
A column is empty in the new interface? It only has built-in widgets that are shown in the classic interface, such as
Tickets or Milestones. Move other widgets there or choose fewer columns.
No quick create row? Tick Quick Create Bar, and check that the user can create records in the related module.