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In this section you will create the file list. The list to be created will allow filtering the displayed files by filename and description, and will also allow downloading the files simply by clicking on their names. To implement this behavior, you will use a NeXTensio list, improved with the file download trigger.
To create this page, follow the next steps:
Open the index page in Dreamweaver.
Start the Create NeXTensio List Wizard from the MX Kollection tab of the Insert panel.
Configure each step of the wizard as follows:
In the first step, select the database connection defined at the beginning of this tutorial (connFiles), the table storing the files - document_doc. Leave the form page and the number of records to display at their default values.
In the wizard's second step, you can decide which table columns to display as fields in the list. Available fields are displayed in a grid, and you can add (if missing) or remove fields. Also, by using the lower part section options, you can set each field's properties: header, maximum number of characters and method of retrieving data.
In the third step you can define what elements the filter will use for each field. As you are using only simple text-based table columns for the list, use only text fields - which are also the default options:
In the last step of the wizard you can set list related options. Since this is a simple list, leave them at their default values, or set them according to your preferences. When done, click the Finish button to close the wizard.
At this point, the list's HTML elements and server behaviors have been added to the page. By default, the NeXTensio list allows filtering and has links / buttons that allow single or multiple edit and delete. In order for the links to work however, you must have a NeXTensio Form built on the same table in the file specified in the first step of the wizard.
Before creating the form, you must finish with the list: you must add the file download capability. This means that the file name will become a link that offers the actual file for download.
To implement the download, you will use the Download File server behavior. First select the dynamic text in the list's table that displays the file name.
Next access the Download File trigger from the Server Behaviors tab > MX Kollection > File Upload menu.
Configure the dialog box that opens as follows:
First you need to define where the files are stored on the server. To do so, click on the Browse button next to the File folder text field. Select the files folder.
Next select the recordset containing the field with the file names. Since the download is applied on the list, select its recordset from the Recordset drop-down menu.
As the last action, in the Field drop-down menu, select the recordset field that stores the filenames.
Now the list allows downloading the files, simply by clicking on their names. In the next and final section of the tutorial, you will build the NeXTensio form page, allowing you to add, edit or delete files from the database and the disk.
Save the page and upload it to the server. At first, the list will be empty, as no files exist yet. After building the form and adding some files, you will have a list similar to the following image: