(New) Layer Grouping
Layer Grouping is a major new feature that allows you to bundle multiple layers into a single logical unit. Instead of managing dozens of individual layers, you can now organize them into cohesive blocks and control their visibility with a single rule.
The Benefits
-
For Designers (Efficiency)
- Unified Management: Move, organize, and manage multiple layers as one.
- Bulk Visibility: Set one restriction on a group to hide or show all its containing layers at once. No more repeating the same rule for every layer.
-
For End-Users (Experience)
- Chapter-Based Navigation: Information is organized into intuitive “chapters” rather than a flat, overwhelming list of layers.
- Improved Context: Group headers provide clear context for why a set of layers is being displayed.
- Cleaner Interface: Groups keep related data visually bundled, making the form easier to scan and understand.
- Smart Forms: Irrelevant modules are hidden in bulk, so users only see the “story” that applies to their specific data entry.
Table of Contents
- How It Works (For Users)
- How to Setup (For Designers)
- Example Scenarios
- How to Participate in the Preview
How It Works (For Users)
For Users: e.g. in Chemotion ELN MyDB view
Forms respond instantly to your input. When you pick a specific option (like a checkbox or dropdown), the system evaluates if a whole group should appear.
- Organization: Sections are visually bundled into titled chapters.
- Context: Group headers clearly label the purpose of the collection.
- Dynamics (Optional): If rules are set, entire collections appear/disappear based on your input.
Note: Grouping is valuable for organization even if you don’t use visibility rules!
How to Setup (For Designers)
Configuration is managed through the new Group & Restrictions button in the Template Designer. If you have permission to edit form templates, you can configure which fields appear in the title by following these steps:
- Open Designer: Click the Group & Restrictions button.
- Setup Groups: Click Assign to a group on layers to bundle them together.
- Apply Bulk Rules: Click the Restriction button on a Group Header.
- Choose Trigger: Select the field and value that should reveal the group.
- Save: Click Save and then Release your template changes.
Example Scenarios
Scenario 1: Mixed Hybrid Layout (Visual Organization)
Goal: Organize a long form into logical chapters while keeping primary information immediately visible and individual.
- Group A: “Facility Information” (Contains: Address, Contact, and GPS layers).
- Ungrouped Layer: “Primary Status” (Kept outside for immediate visibility).
- Group B: “Safety Logs” (Contains: Incident History and Safety Gear layers).
- Ungrouped Layer: “Final Comments”.
User Experience: The user sees a clear, structured flow where high-level categories (Facility Info, Safety Logs) act as containers, but the most critical individual layers (Primary Status) stay prominent and standalone.
Scenario 2: Conditional Chapter Visibility (Power Logic)
Goal: Only show multiple “Security Audit” layers if the “Audit Required” toggle is ON.
- The Group Way:
- Create a group called “Security Audit Block”.
- Put 5 relevant layers into this group.
- Add one restriction to the “Security Audit Block” group:
Audit Required = true.
User Experience: Instead of the form appearing cluttered with 5 empty layers, the whole “Security Audit” chapter appears instantly only when the user signifies that an audit is necessary.
How to Participate in the Preview
Follow these steps to explore the new features and share your insight:
1. 🖥️ Visit the Staging Instance
Access the preview environment at: labimotion-stage.ibcs.kit.edu
2. 🔍 Explore and Test
Try out the enhancements — see how they fit your workflow.
3. ❤️ Your Feedback Matters
Share your comments or report any issues in our GitHub Discussion Thread.
We appreciate your help in testing these new features!