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- Self Help - Resource
Self Help - Resource
A resource is a shared object created in a project and used in 
procedure steps. It may be a file (picture, video, PDF, etc.), HTML content or a hyperlink, a form, and so on. - 
see Resource types
By defining a resource, you can:
- define the object in a unique manner;
- reuse it several times in the project;
- automatically propagate any modification to all the procedures that use it.
The resources are managed from the Explorer pane of the graphic editor and built in the Design pane. They can then be:
- added as an attachment to a step: their page layout is managed automatically by the theme associated with the procedure;
- inserted in the HTML content of the step: their page layout can be customized.
Notes
- A resource can be used only in a procedure that belongs to the current project.
Best practice
- To use the resources of another project, use the import/export functions - see Procedure
Resource types
see procedures:
- How to create a resource based on its nature
- How to use a resource in a procedure step
| Type | Description | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Files |
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| HTML content |
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| Hyperlinks |
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| Forms |
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| Connectors |
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| Subprocedures |
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Properties of a resource
Access: select the procedure in the Explorer pane of the graphic editor, then go to menu View > Properties
Toolbar
: Select the display language for the resource properties content.
: Navigate in the history of the properties viewed during the current session. Note: The history is reset for each session.
Icons contextual to the selected resource
: Open the resource.- HTML content, Form, Subprocedure resource: content displayed in the Design pane.
- Link resource: URL address displayed in the Design pane.
- File resource: opened in the program associated with it (Excel, Word, Paint, etc.).
- File resource:
: Select a new file. Its content is updated automatically everywhere it is used in the project.
: File upload.
The tabs
Info.: Information about the resource (creation date, last update date, path, size).
- Parameters > Edit parameters: Enter modifiable metadata of the resource - see Procedure
Linked resources: List of resources linked to an HTML content resource.
Variable: Describe a variable contained in a Form resource.
Used by: List of the steps, by procedure, that use the resource.
- Click any step of a procedure:
- the Design pane displays the procedure diagram; the step that uses the resource is framed in blue.
- the Description pane shows the tab in which the resource is used.
Procedures
How to create a resource
See the detailled step by step in ev Self Help
Step 1: Select the folder of the new resource
1. Expand the tree of the project to which the resource must be linked, via 
in the Explorer pane.
2. Right-click the folder in which you want to create the new resource.
Step 2: Create the resource
1. Select New from the context menu, and the type of resource to add.
see Description of the resource types
2. Fill in the resource based on its nature; click below to display the instructions.
1. Select New > File... from the context menu.
2. Name the resource.
3. Select the associated file using Browse.
4. Click Finish.
1. Select New > Text from the context menu.
2. Name the resource and press < Entrée > to confirm.
An HTML file associated with the resource is generated automatically.
3. Double-click the resource in the Explorer pane.
The Design pane opens without any content..
4. Define the content of the HTML file in the Design pane:
- Add the text:
- Use the toolbar to arrange the page layout.
- You can hide a part of the text by placing it within [ ] characters.
- Add the pictures:
- Drag&drop the files (locally or to a server) from your Windows Explorer to the Design pane.
- (Optional) Define the clickable areas using Pictures > Create a clickable area in the context menu of the picture - see Procedure
- Add the tables:
- Click
. - Define the table - see Procedure
- Click
- Drag&drop the resources from the Explorer pane to the Design pane to add them.
The HTML file is saved automatically every time content is added or modified.
1. Select New > Link from the context menu.
2. Enter the hyperlink information in the New link dialog box.
- Name: Text of the hyperlink in the Web page.
- Address:
- link to an Internet site: http://www/
- link to a messaging system: mailto:gsmith@xmail.com
- link to an Internet site: http://www/
3. Click Finish.
Form
Connector
1. In the diagram, hold down the < Ctrl > key to select all the steps to include in the subprocedure.
All the selected steps are framed in blue in the diagram.
2. Right-click any of the steps of the subprocedure and select Create a procedure from this selection from the context menu.
3. Name the subprocedure.
4. Click Finish.
The selected steps are replaced by 
.
5. (Optional) Double-click to display the content of the subprocedure.
The resource is inserted in the Explorer pane, in the selected project/folder.
How to use a resource in a 
Self Help procedure step
Step 1: Select the step in the procedure
1. Double-click the procedure in the Explorer pane.
The procedure is shown in the Design pane.
2. Click the desired step in the Design pane.
The Description pane is refreshed.
Step 2: Select the method for adding the resource
Add the resource as an attachment to the step
See the detailled step by step in ev Self Help
Caution: In this method, the page layout of the resource is automatically updated by the theme associated with the procedure.
1. Drag&drop the resource from the Explorer pane to the step selected in the Design pane.
- The icon illustrating the type of resource that was added is shown in the step frame.
- The resource is added to the Description pane, in the tab dedicated to the resource type - see Description of the tabs
Insert the resource in the step content editor
See the detailled step by step in ev Self Help
1. Drag&drop the resource from the Explorer pane to the Content tab of the Description pane, at the place where it must be displayed on the Web page.
- An area is displayed containing the name of the resource.
- The resource is added to the Description pane, in the tab dedicated to the resource type - see Description of the tabs
2. Right-click the area delimiting the resource and configure it according to its type:
- Picture file: define the clickable areas - see Procedure
- Audio file: select the display mode from among the three options given:
- Presentation options... : select the listening options in the dialog box and click Finish;
- See as link: the audio file is shown as a hyperlink in the procedure;
- See content: the audio player is shown in the procedure.
- Video file:
- HTML content:
- (Optional) Display the HTML file content in the Description pane by selecting See content from the context menu.
3. (Optional) View the step as it would appear on screen to the user:
- Click a step in the Design pane.
- Click the Preview view.
How to view the use of resources in the Self Help procedures
What resources use a given procedure?
1. Select the procedure in the Explorer pane.
2. (Optional) Display the Properties pane using the menu View > Properties.
3. Click the Uses tab of the Properties pane.
What procedures use a given resource?
1. Select the resource in the Explorer pane.
2. (Optional) Display the Properties pane using the menu View > Properties.
3. Click the Used by tab in the Properties pane.
How to modify the content of a File resource
See the detailled step by step in ev Self Help
Step 1: Select the resource to be modified
1. Open the folder of the project containing the resource must be linked, via in the Explorer pane.
2. Select the resource.
Step 2: Replace the file linked to the resource
1. (Optional) Display the Properties pane using the menu View > Properties.
2. Click in the toolbar in the Properties pane > Properties tab.
3. Select the new file using Browse in the Replace content dialog box.
4. Click Finish.
The new content of the file is automatically updated everywhere it is used in the selected project.
How to import/export a resource
See the detailled step by step in ev Self Help
Step 1: Select the project containing the resource
1. Click the project in the Explorer pane.
Step 2: Select the process to run
Import a resource from another project
1. Click File > Import....
2. Select the resource to import, via Browse in the Import projects or resources dialog box.
3. Click Finish.
The resource is added to the Explorer pane, in the selected project.
Export a resource to another project
1. Right-click the resource to export.
2. Select Export > Export as EV Self Help archive... from the context menu.
3. (Optional - If linked resources are opened) Click Yes if the There are opened editors associated with this project. message is displayed.
4. Select the option corresponding to the destination of the exported resource in the Export resources dialog box:
- To an archive:
- click Browse;
- select the location of the new archive;
- click Finish.
A .rar file containing the resource is created at the selected location.
- To another working project:
- select the project from the list of working projects displayed;
- click Finish.
The resource is added to the Explorer of the selected project.
Step 3: Use the imported / exported resource
see How to use a resource in a procedure step
How to enter the parameters of a resource
File, HTML content, Link resource
Form resource
List of predefined variables
| Variable | Content | Type of data |
|---|---|---|
| currentNode (information about the node step being viewed) | ||
| currentNode.automatic | Invisible step (without interaction) or visible step | Boolean |
| currentNode.id | Identifier of the current step | Text |
| currentNode.name | Title of the current step | Text |
| currentNode.resourcesTab | List of resources linked to the step (identifier, name, URL) | Table |
| currentNode.textId | Identifier of the Text resource corresponding to the step content | Text |
| currentNode.type | Step type (Task, Choice, etc.) | Text |
| executionContext (information about the current procedure execution) | ||
| executionContext.startScenarioTime | Procedure execution start time | Integer |
| executionContext.lastNodeDuration | Time the last step was viewed (= procedure execution end time) | Integer |
| executionContext.currentNodeTimeOnEnter | Execution time of the step being viewed | Integer |
| executionContext.sessionLess | Access to the procedure by identifying oneself/generating a direct link (= sessionLess) | Boolean |
| executionContext.isMobile | Procedure launched from a mobile theme | Boolean |
| executionContext.lang | Procedure language (e.g.: EN, FR) | Fixed character string |
| executionContext.country | Country of the language in which the procedure is run (e.g.: FR, GB, US, etc.) | Fixed character string |
| executionContext.user.login | User identifier (entered at the time of identification) | Text |
| executionContext.user.title | Identifier title (Mr./ Mrs./ Ms.) | Text |
| executionContext.user.firstName | User’s first name | Text |
| executionContext.user.lastName | User’s last name | Text |
| executionContext.user.email | User’s e-mail address | Text |
| executionContext.user.id | User’s unique identifier | Text |
| executionContext.user.groups | List of groups to which the user running the procedure belongs | Text table |
| executionContext.log | Report (Report tab content) | Text |
| executionContext.userSessionId | User session identifier if logged in from the portal | Text |
| executionContext.instanceId | Procedure execution identifier | Text |
| executionContext.expertSessionId | Expert session identifier if it generates a direct link from the editor when Test Link is clicked | Text |
| executionContext.contextId | Identifier of the current executed step | Text |
| executionContext.referrer | Procedure execution referrer URL (launched from a site, the portal, etc.) | Text |
| executionContext.userAgent | Information on the browser in which the procedure was run | Text |
| executionContext.versionId | Identifier of the version in which the procedure was run | Text |
| Other | ||
| custom | Generic global variable, empty by default, used prior to v2.6 (before the Library was created) | Text |
| stopMessage | Variable, empty by default, whose content is displayed in the Statistics message column | Text |
