Model Overview
    • PDF

    Model Overview

    • PDF

    Article Summary

    Model Introduction

    The following sections describe what the Model is, how to access it, and the structure of its main screen.

    What is the Model?

    The Model is where you set the logic and behavior of a digital process. You can perform the following actions:

    • Create transaction data
    • Associate a transaction data item with a component
    • Set data types
    • Select data values
    • Define data visibility and editability conditions
    • Apply validation rules
    • Add roles and permissions
    • Create formulas
    • Add tags and metadata

    How to Access the Model

    (See Figure 1 and Figure 2)

    There are two ways to access the Model. The first way is by clicking the Model tab (1):

    Figure 1: Model Tab

    The second way to access the Model is through the Properties section after adding a component to the canvas of a Webflow:

    1. Drag or click a component to add it to the canvas.

    Result:

    The Properties section appears on the right side of the screen (1):

    Figure 2: Properties Section

    1. On the Properties section, click the </> icon (2).
    NOTE
    • The second method is usually used for connecting components to the Model, for operational usage, please use the first method.
    • Some components, like the Grid, do not have the Model option on their Properties section because connecting it to the Model is not required.

    Model Main Screen

    NOTE
    To quickly learn about the structure of the Model main screen, watch the following video.

    Figure 3 and Table 1 describe the structure of the main screen of the Model.

    Scatter chart  Description automatically generated with medium confidence

    Figure 3: Model Main Screen

    Table 1: Model Main Screen

    Number

    Name

    Description

    Transaction Data

    • Displays the transaction data items
    • Enables to create new transaction data items using he create item… option

    Metadata

    Displays the metadata

    NOTE
    Metadata is used for analytics and reporting purposes and will not be covered in this article 

    Filter

    Enables to search transaction data items by name

    create item…

    Enables to create a new transaction data item

    Transaction Data Item Details

    • Displays general details about a selected transaction data item
    • Enables to configure the transaction data item with:
      • Data types
      • Values
      • Conditions
      • Validation Rules
      • Permissions
    NOTE

    For additional information see the Model Implementation articles

    NOTE
    For detailed information about transaction data items, see the Connecting the Model to a Webflow section and its sub-sections.

    Connecting the Model to a Webflow

    The Model is the backend of the digital process. Adding components to a canvas of a Webflow creates the structure of the digital process, but for a digital process to function, to be able to receive and display data, and to work in accordance with what you defined and specified, the components must be connected to the Model.

    Model - Transaction Data Items

    (See Figure 4)

    After adding components to a Webflow, you need to create transaction data items. The transaction data items define the data structure of the Webflow, and their main purpose is to connect components to the Model by association. All the information inputted through the Webflow components is stored on them. An item is created with a name and a specific data type that will be determined according to the type and functionality of the component that it will be associated with. For example, suppose a Webflow contains a Text Input component that customers use to input their first name. In that case, you will connect the component to the Model by creating a string type (1) transaction data item with a suitable name such as firstName (2) and associate it to the component.

    Graphical user interface, application  Description automatically generated

    Figure 4: Transaction Data

    Once the transaction data item is created, you can use it to configure additional Model features such as visibility conditions and validation rules.
    The configurations will be applied to the component associated with the transaction data item (for additional information, see the Model Implementation articles).

    NOTE
    Transaction Data Items are also used to connect PDF fields to the Model. For additional information, see the PDF Overview and Creating and Defining a PDF articles.

    Transaction Data Items - Right Click Menu

    (See Figure 5 and Figure 6)

    Right clicking a transaction data item displays a menu (1) that allows you to perform the following actions:

    Figure 5: Right Click Menu Options

    • Delete Field
    • Cut
    • Copy  

    Once an item is cut or copied, additional paste options appear (2):

    Figure 6: Additional Right Click Menu Options 

    • Paste Above
    • Paste Below 

    Transaction Data Item Details

    Figure 7 and Table 2 describe the different details of a transaction data item.

    Chart  Description automatically generated

    Figure 7: Transaction Data Item Details

    Table 2: Transaction Data Item Details

    Number

    Name

    Description


    Id

    Displays the Id of an item

    NOTE
    • The Id of an item is identical to the path of the item
    • It is not recommended to change the Id of an item


    Path

    Displays the path of an item

    NOTE
    • The path of an item is identical to the Id of the item
    • It is not recommended to change the path of an item


    Type

    Enables to set the data type of the component associated with a transaction data item:

    • object
    • string
    • boolean
    • file
    • signature
    NOTE
    For additional information, see the Filed Types article

    isArray

    Enables to specify if a component associated with a transaction data item will function as an array

    DefaultValue

    Enables to set a default value for the component associated with the transaction data item. If the component is a Checkbox the default value is checked. 

    Label

    Not in use

    Values

    Enables to set the data input method of the component associated with a transaction data item:

    • User Input (Default)
    • Formula
    • Autocomplete Service
    • Multi-option
    • Computed (Service)
    • Computed (Inline)
    • Expression
    NOTE

    For additional information about values, see the Values article.

    Condition

    Enables to set conditions that determine when the component associated with a transaction data item will be:

    • Visible or hidden
    • Editable or disable
    NOTE

    For additional information about conditions, see the Conditions article.

    Validations

    Enables to apply built-in validation rules that validate the integrity of the data received through the component associated with a transaction data item

    NOTE

    For additional information about validations, see the Validations article.

    Permissions

    Enables to apply access permissions for a component associated with a transaction data item. The permissions are:

    • full (edit)
    • readonly (view only)
    • None (not visible)
    NOTE

    The permissions will be applied to different roles created through the Process Settings screen of the Webflow (for additional information about creating roles see the Configuring a Workflow article, for a detailed information about permissions, see the Permissions article)

    Metadata

    Enables to tag a component associated with a transaction data item when conveying information to the Journey Sender

    NOTE
    For additional information, see the Journey Sender article

    Delete field

    Enables to delete the transaction data item

    How to Create Transaction Data Items?

    There are two ways to create a transaction data item:

    • Using the Model screen.
    • Using the Component Properties section.

    Creating a Transaction Data Item Using the Model Screen

    (See Figure 8 to Figure 10)

    To create a transaction data item using the Model screen, perform the following steps:

    Graphical user interface, application  Description automatically generated

    Figure 8: create item… Option

    1. Click the create item… option (1).

    Result:

    The create item… option disappears, and the item name field (2) appears:

    Graphical user interface, application  Description automatically generated

    Figure 9: item name field

    1. Click the item name field (2), input a name, and press enter.
    NOTE
    • A transaction data item name must be unique.
    • Suppose the transaction data item name contains two words or more. In that case, the first word will be written in all lowercase letters while the next words will also be written in lowercase letters excluding the first letter of each word, for example, firstName or customerFirstName.
    • Numbers, special characters such as % or &, and spaces cannot be used.
    • Some words such as name, true, and false cannot be used because they are reserved JavaScript keywords.

    Result:

    The transaction data item is saved (3), and its details appear on the right side of the screen (4):

    Graphical user interface  Description automatically generated

    Figure 10: Created Transaction Data Type Item and its Details

    NOTE

    For more information about how to use the details of a transaction data item to configure additional Model features, see the Model Implementation articles.

    Creating a Transaction Data Item Using the Properties Section

    (See Figure 11 to Figure 14)

    To create a transaction data item with data type using the Properties section, perform the following steps:

    1. Click a component (1) that was added to the canvas.
    2. Click the word appearing next to the </> icon (2).

    Figure 11: Properties Section

    1. Enter the transaction data name (3). When you are done, click the create option (4).

    Figure 12: New Name and Create Option

    NOTE
    • A transaction data item name must be unique.
    • Suppose the transaction data item name contains two words or more. In that case, the first word will be written in all lowercase letters while the next words will also be written in lowercase letters excluding the first letter of each word, for example, firstName or customerFirstName.
    • Numbers, special characters such as % or &, and spaces cannot be used.
    • Some words such as name, true, and false cannot be used because they are reserved JavaScript keywords.

     Result:

     The transaction data item is saved:

    Figure 13: Accessing the Model

    1. Click the </> icon (5).

     Result:

     The Model main screen appears with the created transaction data item (6) and its details (7):

    Graphical user interface  Description automatically generated

    Figure 14: Created Transaction Data Type Item and its Details

    NOTE
    Creating a transaction data item using the properties section of a component automatically associates the component with the transaction data item.
    NOTE
    For more information about how to use the details of a transaction data item to configure additional Model features, see the Model Implementation articles.

    How to Associate Components with a Transaction Data Item?

    (See Figure 15 to Figure 19)

    There are two ways to associate components with a transaction data item:

    • The first way as previously described in the article (see the Creating a Transaction Data Item Using the Properties Section).
    • The second way requires you to first create the transaction data item using the Model main screen:
    1. Perform the steps described in the Creating a Transaction Data Item Using the Model Screen section.

    Graphical user interface, application  Description automatically generated

    Figure 15: OK Button

    1. Click the OK button (1).

    Result:

    • The Model main screen closes.
    • The Webflow main screen appears:

    Figure 16: Properties Section

    1. Perform one of the following options:
    • Option 1:
      1. Click the word appearing next to the </> icon (2).
      2. Type the name (3) of the transaction data item you created and click it (4).

    Figure 17: Transaction Data Item Name

    Result: 

    The component is associated with the transaction data item.

    • Option 2:

    Figure 18: Accessing the Model Main Screen

    1. Click the desired component (1).
    2. Click the </> icon (2).

    Result:

    The Model main screen appears:

    Graphical user interface, application  Description automatically generated

    Figure 19: Transaction Data Item Association

    1. Click the desired transaction data item (3).
    2. Click the OK button (4).

    Result:

    The component is associated with the transaction data item.

    NOTE
    When an association is successful, the associated transaction data item will be highlighted in yellow. If the transaction data item is not highlighted, perform the association process again.

    Was this article helpful?

    What's Next