When a user fills out a form, the more data that is available and prefilled onto the form, the less work the user must do. Generally a form is prefilled with client data that aligns to specific roles (Owner 1, Owner 2, Beneficiary 1, Contingent Beneficiary 1, etc.). Alternative Data Buttons can be implemented to give users the ability to select any client data that has been sent to a form, and prefill fields with it. In other words, Alternate Data Buttons lets users change field data on the fly, just by selecting a client's name.

The Alternative Data Button is the "+" (plus sign) next to a block of fields that contain alternate data. When the user clicks this button the Choose Alternate Data popup appears with the list of available records to choose from. By default, every client record output to the form (not just Owner1) will appear, including rep information. The user then clicks the desired record and that data is inserted into the data block on the form.

There are several reasons to make the Alternative Data Buttons available to users.

The user can more easily switch people into different roles
The user can fill in non-pre-filled data blocks or empty fields, with two clicks
The user can select alternate records that were not used to prefill any fields (e.g. extra addresses).

There are two types of Alternative Data Buttons in the Quik! Forms Engine: Default Alt Data Buttons, and Custom Alt Data Buttons

Default Alt Data Button & Pop-Up

Custom Alt Data Button & Pop-Up

Their differences are described below.

Configuring Custom Alternative Data Buttons

Custom Alternative Data Buttons are not on by default, and must be configured with a set of properties. There is a method in the QuikFormsEngine class called AddCustomAltDataButton that adds a Custom Button for a certain field. This method takes an object of class CustomAltButton as parameter. Its properties and associated classes are described In the table below. NOTE: Custom Alternative Data Buttons only work with text fields–not checkboxes or radio buttons.

Objects Involved

Object Name	Description	Properties

Object Name	Description	Properties
CustomAltButton	Object passed to the QuikFormsEngine method	FieldName: Required. It's the Name of the Field that will have the button next to it Title: Optional. It's the title of the popup that appears when clicking the button. If not provided, a default "Select Your Information" will be displayed Groups: Required. It's a list of CustomAltButtonGroup objects. Each object represents one entry in the popup's DropDownList XSpacing: Optional. Button's x-distance, in points, from the associated field YSpacing: Optional. Button's y-distance, in points, from the associated field
CustomAltButtonGroup	Object that represents an option in the popup's DropDownList. The group contains all data related to one record.	GroupLabel: Required. The displayed text for the option/record in the drop down list. Fields: Required. It's a list of CustomAltButtonField objects. Each object represents a field associated to the group.
CustomAltButtonField	Object that contains data related to a single field associated to the group	Name: Required. It's the Full Name of a field in the Form. Value: Required. The value that will be populated in the field when its parent group is selected from the drop down list.

Sample Use Case

Suppose we want to add a custom button next to the field 1own.H.Addr123, that will allow the user to populate all Home Address related fields. And let's say the related fields are:

1own.H.Addr123
1own.H.Addr4
1own.H.City
1own.H.State
1own.H.Zip
1own.H.Country

The way to accomplish this is by calling the QuikFormsEngine's AddCustomAltDataButton method, and passing a CustomAltButton object that will be described below. Here's a sample code snippet:

VB.NET

Sample Code

objQFE.AddCustomAltDataButton(New CustomAltButton() With {
                                          .FieldName = "1own.H.Addr123",
                                          .Title = "Select your Home Address",
                                          .Groups = New List(Of CustomAltButtonGroup) From {
                                               New CustomAltButtonGroup() With {
                                                  .GroupLabel = "Account 1",
                                                  .Fields = New List(Of CustomAltButtonField) From {
                                                  New CustomAltButtonField() With {
                                                          .Name = "1own.H.Addr123",
                                                          .Value = "Rivadavia 2134"
                                                      },
                                                      New CustomAltButtonField() With {
                                                          .Name = "1own.H.Addr4",
                                                          .Value = "Rincon 20"
                                                      },
                                                      New CustomAltButtonField() With {
                                                          .Name = "1own.H.City",
                                                          .Value = "CABA"
                                                      },
                                                      New CustomAltButtonField() With {
                                                          .Name = "1own.H.State",
                                                          .Value = "BA"
                                                      },
                                                      New CustomAltButtonField() With {
                                                          .Name = "1own.H.Zip",
                                                          .Value = "1020"
                                                      },
                                                      New CustomAltButtonField() With {
                                                          .Name = "1own.H.Country",
                                                          .Value = "Argentina"
                                                      }
                                                  }
                                              },
                                               New CustomAltButtonGroup() With {
                                                  .GroupLabel = "Account 2",
                                                  .Fields = New List(Of CustomAltButtonField) From {
                                                  New CustomAltButtonField() With {
                                                          .Name = "1own.H.Addr123",
                                                          .Value = "3625 Del Amo Blvd"
                                                      },
                                                      New CustomAltButtonField() With {
                                                          .Name = "1own.H.Addr4",
                                                          .Value = ""
                                                      },
                                                      New CustomAltButtonField() With {
                                                          .Name = "1own.H.City",
                                                          .Value = "Torrance"
                                                      },
                                                      New CustomAltButtonField() With {
                                                          .Name = "1own.H.State",
                                                          .Value = "CA"
                                                      },
                                                      New CustomAltButtonField() With {
                                                          .Name = "1own.H.Zip",
                                                          .Value = "90501"
                                                      },
                                                      New CustomAltButtonField() With {
                                                          .Name = "1own.H.Country",
                                                          .Value = "USA"
                                                      }
                                                  }
                                              }
                                          }
                                      })

C#

Sample Code

objQFE.AddCustomAltDataButton(new CustomAltButton {
	FieldName = "1own.H.Addr123",
	Title = "Select your Home Address",
	Groups = new List<CustomAltButtonGroup> {
		new CustomAltButtonGroup {
			GroupLabel = "Account 1",
			Fields = new List<CustomAltButtonField> {
				new CustomAltButtonField {
					Name = "1own.H.Addr123",
					Value = "Rivadavia 2134"
				},
				new CustomAltButtonField {
					Name = "1own.H.Addr4",
					Value = "Rincon 20"
				},
				new CustomAltButtonField {
					Name = "1own.H.City",
					Value = "CABA"
				},
				new CustomAltButtonField {
					Name = "1own.H.State",
					Value = "BA"
				},
				new CustomAltButtonField {
					Name = "1own.H.Zip",
					Value = "1020"
				},
				new CustomAltButtonField {
					Name = "1own.H.Country",
					Value = "Argentina"
				}
			}
		},
		new CustomAltButtonGroup {
			GroupLabel = "Account 2",
			Fields = new List<CustomAltButtonField> {
				new CustomAltButtonField {
					Name = "1own.H.Addr123",
					Value = "3625 Del Amo Blvd"
				},
				new CustomAltButtonField {
					Name = "1own.H.Addr4",
					Value = ""
				},
				new CustomAltButtonField {
					Name = "1own.H.City",
					Value = "Torrance"
				},
				new CustomAltButtonField {
					Name = "1own.H.State",
					Value = "CA"
				},
				new CustomAltButtonField {
					Name = "1own.H.Zip",
					Value = "90501"
				},
				new CustomAltButtonField {
					Name = "1own.H.Country",
					Value = "USA"
				}
			}
		}
	}
});

In the snippet above, we are setting a custom button that will show two records (Account 1 and Account 2). The user will see a popup after clicking the button with these two records in a drop down list. After selecting one record and clicking 'Add', the underlying fields will be populated accordingly.

User Experience

Here you can see the feature from the user's point of view. The Alt-Button displayed next to the specified field; represented by a blue '+'
Next, the Alt-Button popup will display after clicking the '+' button
Your different options are available in the Drop Down List. Each will populate the associated fields with differing data sets.

All related fields are populated after selecting a record from the Drop Down List and clicking 'Add' button.

Overload of the method AddCustomAltDataButton

Allows to add one or more CustomAltButton fields. Each one must be added like string XML in a comma separated list.

Sample of XML structure to implement overloaded method are showed below.

Sample Code

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<CustomAltButton>
   <FieldName>1own.LName</FieldName>
   <Title>Select your Home Address</Title>
   <Groups>
      <CustomAltButtonGroup>
         <GroupLabel>Account 1</GroupLabel>
         <Fields>
            <CustomAltButtonField>
               <Name>1own.H.Addr123</Name>
               <Value>Rivadavia 2134</Value>
            </CustomAltButtonField>
            <CustomAltButtonField>
               <Name>1own.H.Addr4</Name>
               <Value>Rincon 20</Value>
            </CustomAltButtonField>
            <CustomAltButtonField>
               <Name>1own.H.City</Name>
               <Value>CABA</Value>
            </CustomAltButtonField>
            <CustomAltButtonField>
               <Name>1own.H.State</Name>
               <Value>BA</Value>
            </CustomAltButtonField>
            <CustomAltButtonField>
               <Name>1own.H.Zip</Name>
               <Value>1020</Value>
            </CustomAltButtonField>
            <CustomAltButtonField>
               <Name>1own.H.Country</Name>
               <Value>Argentina</Value>
            </CustomAltButtonField>
         </Fields>
      </CustomAltButtonGroup>
      <CustomAltButtonGroup>
         <GroupLabel>Account 2</GroupLabel>
         <Fields>
            <CustomAltButtonField>
               <Name>1own.H.Addr123</Name>
               <Value>3625 Del Amo Blvd</Value>
            </CustomAltButtonField>
            <CustomAltButtonField>
               <Name>1own.H.Addr4</Name>
               <Value />
            </CustomAltButtonField>
            <CustomAltButtonField>
               <Name>1own.H.City</Name>
               <Value>Torrance</Value>
            </CustomAltButtonField>
            <CustomAltButtonField>
               <Name>1own.H.State</Name>
               <Value>CA</Value>
            </CustomAltButtonField>
            <CustomAltButtonField>
               <Name>1own.H.Zip</Name>
               <Value>90501</Value>
            </CustomAltButtonField>
            <CustomAltButtonField>
               <Name>1own.H.Country</Name>
               <Value>USA</Value>
            </CustomAltButtonField>
         </Fields>
      </CustomAltButtonGroup>
   </Groups>
   <XSpacing>50</XSpacing>
   <YSpacing>0</YSpacing>
</CustomAltButton>

Sample Use Case

VB.NET

Sample Code

Dim FName As String = "<?xml version=""1.0"" encoding=""UTF-8"" standalone=""yes""?><CustomAltButton><FieldName>1own.FName</FieldName><Title>Select your Home Address</Title><Groups><CustomAltButtonGroup><GroupLabel>Account 1</GroupLabel><Fields><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.Addr123</Name><Value>Rivadavia 2134</Value></CustomAltButtonField><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.Addr4</Name><Value>Rincon 20</Value></CustomAltButtonField><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.City</Name><Value>CABA</Value></CustomAltButtonField><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.State</Name><Value>BA</Value></CustomAltButtonField><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.Zip</Name><Value>1020</Value></CustomAltButtonField><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.Country</Name><Value>Argentina</Value></CustomAltButtonField></Fields></CustomAltButtonGroup></Groups><XSpacing>50</XSpacing><YSpacing>0</YSpacing></CustomAltButton>"

Dim LName As String = "<?xml version=""1.0"" encoding=""UTF-8"" standalone=""yes""?><CustomAltButton><FieldName>1own.LName</FieldName><Title>Select your Phone and</Title><Groups><CustomAltButtonGroup><GroupLabel>Account 1</GroupLabel><Fields><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.Phone</Name><Value>34346867</Value></CustomAltButtonField></Fields></CustomAltButtonGroup></Groups><XSpacing>50</XSpacing><YSpacing>0</YSpacing></CustomAltButton>"
objQFE.AddCustomAltDataButton(FName, LName)

C#

Sample Code

string FName = "<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?><CustomAltButton><FieldName>1own.FName</FieldName><Title>Select your Home Address</Title><Groups><CustomAltButtonGroup><GroupLabel>Account 1</GroupLabel><Fields><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.Addr123</Name><Value>Rivadavia 2134</Value></CustomAltButtonField><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.Addr4</Name><Value>Rincon 20</Value></CustomAltButtonField><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.City</Name><Value>CABA</Value></CustomAltButtonField><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.State</Name><Value>BA</Value></CustomAltButtonField><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.Zip</Name><Value>1020</Value></CustomAltButtonField><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.Country</Name><Value>Argentina</Value></CustomAltButtonField></Fields></CustomAltButtonGroup></Groups><XSpacing>50</XSpacing><YSpacing>0</YSpacing></CustomAltButton>"; 

string LName = "<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?><CustomAltButton><FieldName>1own.LName</FieldName><Title>Select your Phone and</Title><Groups><CustomAltButtonGroup><GroupLabel>Account 1</GroupLabel><Fields><CustomAltButtonField><Name>1own.H.Phone</Name><Value>34346867</Value></CustomAltButtonField></Fields></CustomAltButtonGroup></Groups><XSpacing>50</XSpacing><YSpacing>0</YSpacing></CustomAltButton>";
objQFE.AddCustomAltDataButton(FName, LName);

Configuring Default Alternative Data Buttons

Default Alternative Data Buttons display when data is provided to the form and is available for selection, and are displayed by default. If you want to suppress Default Alternative Data Buttons from appearing, set the HTMLShowAltDataButtons property to FALSE. Note that when the SetFormReadOnly property is set to TRUE, Default Alt Data Buttons will not display.

Alternative Data Button Record Blocks

Below is a list of the record blocks that are available in Alternative Data Buttons

Data Block	Included Base Fields
Contact Name	FullName Prefix FName MName LName Suffix
Social Security Number	SSN TaxID EmpTaxID
Address	FullAddr Addr123 CityStateZip Addr1 Addr2 Addr3 Addr4 City State Zip Country County ForeignRoute
Phone	Phone Fax Mobile Pager Other
Email	Email
Identification	ID IDCountry IDState IDExpire IDIssueDate IDCopied IDType IDTypeOther IDVerified IDVerifiedNotes IDVerifyMethod
Representative Numbers	RepNumber RepNumber2 RepNumber3 RepNumber4 RepNumber5 RepNumber6 RepNumber7 RepNumber8 RepNumber9 RepNumber10 RepNumber11 RepNumber12 RepNumber13 RepNumber14 RepNumber15 RepLicNum RepLicNum1 RepLicNum2 RepLicNum3 RepLicNum4 RepLicNum5 RepLicNum6 RepLicNum7 RepLicNum8 RepLicNum10 RepLicNum9 RepLicNum11 RepLicNum12 RepLicNum13 RepLicNum14

How To Add Additional Default Alternative Data Button Records

To add records to the alternative data buttons that are not being used to prefill other roles on the form, there is a parent field name that is reserved for up to 20 different alternate records. Use the parent name "##altclient" in front of any fields you want to prefill with the "##" being replaced by an instance number between 1 and 20. In other words, you can add up to 20 altclient records to the form with any base fields that are used in Default Alternative Data Buttons (name, address, phone, etc.). For example:

Sample Alternate Client Record 1

Sample Code

objQFE.AddFieldToForm("1altclient.FName", _
"Henry", _
QuikFormsEngine.QFD.FieldReadOnly.Read_Only, _
QuikFormsEngine.QFD.FieldVisibility.Visible) 
objQFE.AddFieldToForm("1altclient.LName", _
"Ford", _
QuikFormsEngine.QFD.FieldReadOnly.Read_Only, _
QuikFormsEngine.QFD.FieldVisibility.Visible)

Sample Alternate Client Record 2

Sample Code

objQFE.AddFieldToForm("2altclient.FName", _
"Josh", _
QuikFormsEngine.QFD.FieldReadOnly.Read_Only, _
QuikFormsEngine.QFD.FieldVisibility.Visible) 
objQFE.AddFieldToForm("2altclient.LName", _
"Mandel", _
QuikFormsEngine.QFD.FieldReadOnly.Read_Only, _
QuikFormsEngine.QFD.FieldVisibility.Visible)

When the Execute method runs, the Quik! Forms Engine will look for any fields added that have a parent field name of "altclient" between 1 and 20 and treat them like any other client record. The only difference is that forms are not designed with fields that start with "##altclient" as a parent field so these records will never prefill the form. The main reason to use "altclient" as the parent name is to ensure your alternate records are calculated like any other field (i.e. "1altclient.FullName" will be created automatically based on the values for "1altclient.FName" + "1altclient.MName" + "1altclient.LName").
NOTE: If you need to add more than 20 alternative data records to the form, you can use any parent field naming convention that is not already in use (e.g. "21alt" or "record4") but these records will not be output to the form with any calculated values, just the values you supply.

Quik! API Guide

Configuring Alternative Data Buttons

Default Alt Data Button & Pop-Up

Custom Alt Data Button & Pop-Up

Configuring Custom Alternative Data Buttons

Sample Use Case

VB.NET

Sample Code

C#

User Experience

Sample Code

VB.NET

Configuring Default Alternative Data Buttons

Alternative Data Button Record Blocks

How To Add Additional Default Alternative Data Button Records

Sample Alternate Client Record 1

Sample Code

Sample Alternate Client Record 2

Sample Code