Infor M3 #1 -- Custom list to prepare simple lists/reports without programming

Custom list

Custom list designer can be used to generate simple lists with aggregation or without aggregation along with the selection criteria and filters, also have a facility to add related options from 11-99 to the list so user can view more info about the selected row. This can be achieved without doing any M3 Java modifications and without writing any scripts. The advantage is zero programming.

Let’s take a scenario. We need a list where user wants to see the orders placed of a particular customer in a particular time period.

let us segregate the entire process into 5 steps

Step 1: Open CMS010, define new new Information category

• Define new Information category related to your list

• In next panel you can define the Information category properties like the master table for report, description of Information cat etc.,

Step 2 : Add Related tables, Virtual fields and Related options

Related tables

• Related tables are the tables which we use to fetch the related data by making a connection between master table and related table

• Add all related tables which we want in report by selecting Related option 11

• Write down table name and use create option, here we can configure the table properties like giving table fields a prefix (in case you want use the same table for different purposes), sequence by which tables have to be loaded (if there is any dependency on the other table’s data), fields selection (you can choose only the fields which you want from the particular table or you can choose all) which would be used in list/report

• You can add multiple related tables

Virtual fields

• Virtual fields are generally used for numeric calculations, date conversions, currency conversions, fetch details from CSYTAB, merge data of multiple fields and logical formulas

• Virtual field name should start with & and the field name must be 5 characters in size

• Add virtual fields by selecting Related option 12

• You can configure the virtual field properties in next panel like what kind of field it is, what are the inputs and what is the expected output

Related options

• Related options are used for user ease purpose, when you click on a record from the list system will take you to the related program by taking the inputs from the current record. Isn’t it easy to find more details of a record?

• Related options can be 11-99

• System uses bookmarks to open the programs

• Add related options by selecting related option 13

• In our example we are taking OIS100 as a related option

• In next panel you can configure the related option like which program to be opened if user uses this option and what is the responsible table for it. Program to be opened and the list master table must be related

Step 3 : Check field group

• All fields from master table, fields which you have added from related tables and virtual fields would be available for use. In case you want to add more then go to related tables and virtual fields to add new fields

• You can check field group using Related option 21

Step 4 : Choose a sorting order and view to be used in list

• By default you will be able to see all the sorting options and views related to your master table

• You can either select any standard sorting order and view which is suitable for your requirement or you can create your own sorting orders and views by using create option

• Use Related option 22 to check/create the sorting order/s and Related option 23 to check/create view/s

Sorting order

Views

Step 5 : Simulate list

• Use Related option 24 to simulate the list

• Choose the sorting order and view which you have created/selected to view list/report

• Based on the sorting order you have selected, you can choose the filters and the selection criteria as shown below
• Number of filters are dependent on sorting order you have selected and selection criteria can be any three columns from master table
• You can use the aggregation, on which field aggregation should happen (only keys from the sorting order are allowed)

• Once you click on apply button, you can see the data at the bottom and by using related options you can go to the programs you have defined earlier

List

Related options

• You can extract the data as a report by using tools --> Export to excel (An excel file will be downloaded)

That's it, come back here and tell us about the before-and-after. I bet you’ll have something to say!

Please let me know your thoughts in comment section below!

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Next week I’ll post about the Custom list API to fetch single/multiple records from multiple tables without M3 modifications just like MDBREADMI.

Thanks for reading!

--Saiteja Saadi