Essentials (Siebel 7.

7)

Module 4: Working with Data

in the User Interface
Module Objectives

After completing this module you will be able to:

 Describe how data is organized behind the Siebel user
interface (UI)
 Create, modify, delete, and query for data in the UI

Why you need to know:

 Knowing these fundamental concepts and skills is
important for understanding and configuring Siebel
applications

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Business Data Stored in Database
 Each business data item is stored in a specific database table
and column
 List and form applet data come from many tables and columns

Table and columns

Record

Database

Business data item

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Business Components
 Are a collection of data in the database reorganized to reflect
the user’s business
 Organize data from the user’s business perspective for
presentation in the UI

Table and columns

Multiple records
displayed in a list
Business
components Database
work here

Single record
displayed in a form
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Lists and Forms Reference Business Components
 Each list applet or form applet references one and only one
business component

List references
one business
component

Form references
one business
component

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Business Object
 Organizes business components (BC) in relationship to each
other so that related data can be displayed in a view

List applets reference one

business component

Business
object is a
collection of
business
components

Form applets reference

one business component

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Common Business Components
 Business components representing common Siebel business
entities include:
 Account
 Opportunity
 Service request
 Contact
 Activity

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Working with Data in the Siebel UI

Creating Data

Modifying and Saving Data

Using Picklists and Multi-Value Groups

Sorting Data

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Creating Data
 Click the Menu or New button to create a new record
Click New to create
new record

Red asterisk
signifies required field

Click the Menu

button, then
select New
Record

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Modifying and Saving Data

 Modify data
 Select record field in the list or form and change it
 Save data implicitly
 Step off the record in a list or a form to commit it to the database
 Available in High Interactivity interface
 Save data explicitly
 Click Menu and select Save Record
 Keyboard: CTRL+S

Explicit save

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Using Picklists and Multi-Value Groups

 Picklist Drop-down arrow

 Select a single value for a field

in a record
Select an Account
Type for the account

 Multi-value group (MVG)

 Associate one or more values
to a field in a record
Select button
Associate members
to the account team

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Sorting Data
 Click the column headers to sort data in ascending or
descending order

Click the column header for ascending

(A – Z) or descending (Z – A) order

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Querying for Data in the Siebel UI

Inline Querying

Wildcards and Query Operators

Refine Queries

Save Queries

Query Assistant

Predefined and Saved Queries

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Inline Querying
 Create and execute queries from within dialog boxes
 Users no longer need to navigate to a separate dialog box to enter
query criteria
 Helps users quickly find the data they want within dialog boxes

Perform queries directly

in dialog boxes

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Wildcards
 Wildcards can be used to search for multiple characters
 * is a substitute for zero or more characters in a string query
 * cannot be used in date or numeric fields
 Examples:
 Ma* matches Madrid, but not San Mateo
 *Ma* matches Madrid and San Mateo

 ? Is a substitute for exactly one character in a string query

 ? cannot be used in date or numeric fields
 Examples:
 st?r matches star and stir, but not stair
 *st?r matches monster and rock star, but not tastier

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Query Operators
 Order operators can be used on numeric or date fields
 < (less than)
 > (greater than)
 = (equal to)
 <= (less than or equal to)
 >= (greater than or equal to)
 <> (not equal to) can be used on all fields
 Example:
 Find dates on or after 1/1/2003
 Date field in query is set to: >= 1/1/2003

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Query Operators Continued

 OR allows match on any one of multiple values for a field
 AND allows match on all of multiple values for a field
 Other operators include:
 NOT
 “”
 IS NULL
 IS NOT NULL
 Examples:
 Find service requests with no description entered
 Use IS NULL as query criterion in Description field in Service Request
detail applet
 Find dates on or between 1/1/2004 and 1/7/2004
 In date field of query: >=1/1/2004 AND <= 1/7/2004

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Query Operators – EXISTS()

 EXISTS() is needed to search for matches in multi-value groups
(MVGs)
 Example: Searching for the string “*Street*” in the address of an
account
 An account can have multiple addresses

MVG indicator

Search criterion

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Query Operators – EXISTS() Continued

 Search results show records where at least one value in an
MVG matches the search criteria
 Example:
 Search results include accounts with string “*Street*” in at least one
address
Query results

Record detail for AEP

Communications
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Refine Queries
 Use Refine Query to modify an existing query

2. Enter additional
or modified criteria

Original query criteria

3. Select Run Query

or click the Go button

4. Query returns all records matching both

the original and the additional criteria
1. Select Refine Query

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Save Queries
 Use the application-level Query menu to save a query

2. Name the query and click OK

1. Select Query > Save

Query As

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Query Assistant
 Provides a simplified way for users to execute queries from
anywhere in a Siebel application
 Guides users through creating a query
 Users do not have to be familiar with query syntax or operators
 Is launched by clicking the Query Assistant button after clicking
Query in a form or list

Select from lists

Select any field to build a query
from the current Queries can
screen be saved

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Predefined and Saved Queries

 Predefined queries are provided by your administrator
 Saved queries are created and saved by the user

Predefined queries

Created and saved by user

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Record Count
 Provides the total number of matching records in the query

Select Record Count

for count of records in
current query

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Text Editor
 Is an editable text area used to create, edit, or view large
amounts of text
 Is accessed by clicking the Text Editor button in the top-right
corner of a text field

Launches the Text

Editor for text fields

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Attachments
 Are files created in other applications that can be associated to
records in Siebel applications
 Can be added to records wherever the Attachments view is
available within a screen
 Drag and drop a file into the Attachments list view, or
 Use the New File or New URL button

Use New File or New

URL to create an
attachment
Drag and drop file to
create an attachment

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Summary

This module showed you how to:

 Describe how data is organized behind the Siebel user
interface (UI)
 Create, modify, delete, and query for data in the UI

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Lab
 In the lab you will:
 Use basic querying skills

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