Extending your WebFacing application with command key actions

Information for the Advanced edition of the product This function is available only in WebSphere Development Studio Client Advanced Edition for iSeries, V5.1.2 and later.

You can define customized command keys in your WebFacing application to invoke a Struts-based WebFacing service, a JSP, or a static html page. These command keys override the existing function keys and can connect to a Web application URI or an external URL. You might have already defined a JSP or service using a Web diagram, in which case, you can use command key actions to invoke that object or service.

For more information about command keys and related WebFacing tasks, see Using Web Settings with your DDS source

To define an overriding action for a command key:
  1. In the WebFacing perspective, right-click your project, select Properties and go to Runtime > Command Key Actions.
  2. Click Add.
  3. In the Command Key field, specify or select a function key (F1 to F24).
    • If you want to reference an internal URI, specify or select a predefined WebFacing service in the Action name field. This also prefills the URI or URL field, the Target frame field, and the Button label field.
    • If you want to reference an external URL, enter the action in the Action name field and enter the external URL in the URI or URL field.
  4. In the Button label field, enter a button label for the service. If you selected a predefined WebFacing service, this field is pre-filled but you can change it.
  5. Check the Enable only when the command key is active check box to have your button appear selectively according to the related function key. Otherwise, leave the box unchecked to have your button appear on all screens.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Redeploy your WebFacing application.
  8. Restart the server.

Note: The WebFacing Tool does not give warnings if a function key is already in use.

Note: If you move any of the IBM supplied services within your Web application, you need to manually update the URI link to point to the new location.