Column Layout

The  ColumnLayout control renders a form group in a column-based responsive way. Depending on its size, the group is divided into one or more columns.

• XL – max. 4 columns
• L – max. 3 columns
• M – max. 2 columns
• S – 1 column

To make better use of screen space and give users a better overview without scrolling, you can balance form groups across multiple columns. The group elements are spread out into columns, depending on the number of group elements and their size.

Example:

• 4 columns and 2 groups: each group will use 2 columns.
• 3 columns and 2 groups: the larger one will use 2 columns, the smaller one 1 column.

The size of a group element will be determined by the number of visible elements assigned to it. If there are more groups than columns, every group uses only one column. So the last row of the form control will not be fully used. This will result in white space.

The form elements are spread out to the columns of a group arranged in a newspaper-like order. The position of the labels and fields depends on the size of the used column. If there is enough space, the labels are next to the fields, otherwise above the fields.

If you use the default form settings, each form group is displayed in a separate column. Depending on the size of the form group, this can mean that users need to scroll down to see the full form, even though there is unused space on the right side of the screen.

The examples show how forms with one and two form groups are displayed with and without layout balancing.

Responsive Grid Layout

The responsive grid layout is a form using a responsive grid. Depending on the available space, the groups are rendered in one or multiple columns, and the labels are rendered in the same row as the fields or above the fields. This behavior can be influenced by the properties of this layout control.

By using the responsive grid layout, the form offers a responsive layout based on a 12-column grid. There are two breakpoints, which result in three supported sizes: L, M, and S. These breakpoints are not the L, M, and S breakpoints of the page. In contrast to the page breakpoints, which react to the screen width, the breakpoints of the responsive grid layout react to the width of the form.

Note: For downward compatibility reasons, the default form layout control for the form and simple form is the column layout, not the responsive grid layout. Therefore, you need to assign the responsive grid layout manually to each form or simple form by using the layout property.

Size S reaches up to 600 px. This means that as soon as the width of the form reaches 601 px, it changes from S to M, because the default value of breakpointM is 600. The value of breakpointM is the first value of the smaller size.

The property breakpointL between sizes L and M works in the same way: Size M reaches from 601 px to 1024 px. This means that as soon as the width of the form reaches 1025 px, it changes from M to L, because the default value of breakpointL is 1024.

Also the property breakpointXL between sizes L and XL works in the same way as before: Size L reaches from 1025 px to 1440 px. This means that as soon as the width of the form reaches  1441 px, it changes from L to XL, because the default value of breakpointXL is 1440.

In general if the page width changes to a smaller size, the width of the form in the next smaller breakpoint is usually reached before the width of the page reaches its breakpoints in that size. For example the width of a form reaches breakpoints M to S before the width of the page reaches the breakpoints from M to S. This happens due to the padding of the container in which the form is placed.

Label-Field Ratio

For each size, you can define how many grid columns are used for labels (labelSpanXL, labelSpanL, labelSpanM, labelSpanS), fields (implicitly), and empty grid columns (emptySpanXL, emptySpanL, emptySpanM, emptySpanS).

The optional empty grid columns are placed after the input elements. They avoid excessive stretching of the input fields. This ratio is displayed as x:y:z, where x is the number of grids used by the labels, y stands for the fields, and z for empty columns.

We highly recommend to change the default of the label-field-ratio according to your app’s needs. For more information, see the recommended layouts in the Layout section.

One Page, One Form

If a form contains only one group, do not use a group title – instead, use the form title.

If the form is the only element on the page and if it has more than one group, you can use the group titles to capture the groups. 

If the form is one of several elements on the page, such as tables and lists, use the form title as its caption.

Various Layouts

The following sections give guidance on how to configure the form so that it meets the needs of different sizes. Depending on where you place the form, we highly recommend changing the default and using one of the following layouts according to your app’s needs.

Retain the default behavior (single column layout with a label-field ratio 12:12:0).

If you place the form in the details part of a split screen, use a single-column layout with the label-field ratio 4:7:1 (4 grid columns used by the labels, 7 grid columns used by the fields, and 1 grid column used by empty columns).

If you place the form in a full-screen app, use a single-column layout with the label-field ratio 3:5:4 (3 grid columns used by the labels, 5 grid columns used by the fields, and 4 grid columns used by empty columns).

As explained already in the section Responsiveness (Breakpoints), Size M goes down to 601 px. In this size, the 3:5:4 approach may not be wide enough for longer labels and fields. So if you expect long labels or input values, use the label-field ratio 4:8:0 (4 grid columns used by the labels, 8 grid columns used by the fields, and 0 grid columns used by empty columns).

If you place the form in a full-screen app and it contains several form groups, use a two-column layout with its label-field ratio of 12:12:0 (12 grid columns used by the labels, 12 grid columns used by the fields, and 0 grid columns used by empty columns).

If the form contains a single form group, use a single-column layout with a label-field ratio of 3:5:4 (3 grid columns used by the labels, 5 grid columns used by the fields, and 4 grid columns used by empty columns).

If the form contains multiple form groups, you can also use a two-column layout with a label-field ratio of 12:12:0 (12 grid columns used by the labels, 12 grid columns used by the fields, and 0 grid columns used by empty columns). As explained already in the section Responsiveness (Breakpoints), Size L goes down to 1025 px. In this size, long labels that are put next to the fields might not fit on smaller L-sized screens (especially in split apps). Therefore labels are put above fields.

If the form contains a single form group, use a single-column layout with a label-field ratio of 3:5:4 (3 grid columns used by the labels, 5 grid columns used by the fields, and 4 grid columns used by empty columns).

The responsive grid layout has the new property singleContainerFullSize. This property enables you to insert empty columns in your form: You can for example then set the property columnsXL to 2, fill one column with the single form group in a label-field ratio of 4:8:0 (4 grid columns used by the labels, 8 grid columns used by the fields, and 0 grid columns used by empty columns), and leave the second column empty. For more information, see also the development hint below.

If the form is put into a full-screen app, with the property singleContainerFullSize you can also set columnsXL to 3, fill one column with the single form group in a label-field ratio of 12:12:0 (12 grid columns used by the labels, 12 grid columns used by the fields, and 0 grid columns used by empty columns), and leave the second and third columns empty.

If the form contains multiple form groups, you can also use a two-column layout with a label-field ratio of 4:8:0  (4 grid columns used by the labels, 8 grid columns used by the fields, and 0 grid columns used by empty columns).

If the form is put into a full-screen app and it contains multiple form groups, you can also use a three-column layout with a label-field ratio of 12:12:0  (12 grid columns used by the labels, 12 grid columns used by the fields, and 0 grid columns used by empty columns).

If you use a three-column layout for XL screens, do not use a two-column layout for L and M screens as it could create a lot of white space. In this case, use a single-column layout instead.

Label Alignment

• We generally recommend placing the label above the field. This is the most usable option, since it best supports the reading flow and avoids unnecessary eye movements.
• If there is enough space on the screen, you can right-align the labels next to the value. Right-aligned labels minimize the gap between the label and field, and give the eye one line to scan along. Only place labels next to the value if there is also enough space to allow for longer labels in other languages.

Unit of Measurement

You can add the unit of measurement after certain input controls by using the layout options of the form. Examples of supported input controls include multi-input field, select, combo box, multi combo box, and mask input.

If you display the unit of measurement after the input control, make sure that it’s properly visualized and doesn’t wrap to the next row.

Amount Alignment

When the form is in edit mode (label-value field pairs with editable and non-editable fields), right-align amounts.

When a form is in display mode (label-value field pairs without editable fields), left-align amounts to avoid large gaps between the labels and values, and to improve readability.