When Views are generated by using Presentation Metadata, a different Scaffolding template is used. It takes advantage of the information generated by the conversion process when an AB Suite User Experience mode model is created from an existing AB Suite model. This information is contained in a set of XML files that are located in a folder named <SystemName>.MetaData under the converted AB Suite User Experience mode model folder. There is one XML file for each ispec and it contains all presentation related information from the original form designed in the System Modeler Painter. The Scaffolder uses this information to create more detailed Views compared to the Views generated from the DataModels.
The main difference between Views generated from the DataModels and Views generated by using Presentation Metadata are as follows:
Controls are created in the order they are found in the XML file. They are sorted based on a top-left or bottom-right arrangement of controls in the original System Modeler form. This provides you a better starting point if you want to redesign the Views based on the original design of the form.
Note: The controls are not absolutely positioned on the form as they were originally designed in the System Modeler Painter. Modern websites typically do not use absolute positioned form layouts. Instead, they employ CSS libraries, such as Bootstrap to develop fluid and responsive interfaces as per your requirement.
Control types created in the View corresponds to the control types defined in the original System Modeler form. This includes text boxes, buttons, check boxes, radio buttons, list boxes, and images.
Note: Combo boxes do not have equivalent control types in HTML. Therefore, they are generated by calling a custom ComboBoxFor() helper method that simply creates a drop-down list. The ComboBoxFor() helper method is a placeholder for extending it to a custom combo box implementation if required. This can be done in various ways, including the integration of third party combo box controls. You can decide the best approach for integrating combo boxes into your application.
Other presentation properties, such as visibility, tab order, designed lists for list boxes, button values, image names, and list details are all conveyed to the generated View from the Presentation Metadata.