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Kony Quantum is now HCL Volt MX. See Revised Terminology. Current Quantum users, see the important note about API naming.

Volt MX Studio Equivalents in Volt MX Iris

The Volt MX Studio product line has evolved to a new user interface and expanded functionality in Volt MX Iris. In addition to its many new and improved features, virtually all of the same functionality is available, but many of those familiar Volt MX Studio features are accessed differently in Volt MX Iris. This topic shows you how to accomplish in Volt MX Iris what you are familiar with doing in Volt MX Studio.

Note: In Volt MX Studio 6.5, you could port a project from one platform to another, and to channels within the target platform. However, issues would arise due to the wide variations in form factors from one platform and channel to another. In Volt MX Iris, universality across platforms and channels is achieved through the use of components and masters; platform porting is not supported in Volt MX Iris. For more information, See Working with Components, HCL Forge , and Masters. .

Feature Locations

The following table outlines where different features are located in the respective user interfaces of Volt MX Studio and Volt MX Iris.

FeatureKony StudioIn Volt MX Iris
Application assetsNavigator View → <App Name>Project Explorer → Assets tab
Clone AllSkins View → Clone All iconProject Explorer → Skins tab → <widget type> → right-click <skin name> (e.g. btnFocus) → Fork
CollectionsN/ALibrary Explorer → Collections
Custom WidgetsNavigator View → <App Name> → customwidgetsVoltMX IrisLibrary pane  →Widget tab  →  Custom Widget section
Emulators (configure)Emulators View → <Platform> → <Channel> → right-click emulator → EditProduct menu → Emulators & Devices Configurationor Window menu → Preferences → VoltMX Iris → Emulators
Emulators (display)Window menu → Show View → EmulatorsPreview menu → Launch Emulator
Events/ActionsEvents are added and edited by selecting a widget and then navigating to the Event section in the Widget Properties ViewGlobal actions can be created and accessed from Project Explorer → Project tab → <Channel>, and open in the Action Editor Actions created for a specific widget are accessed by selecting the widget, followed by Properties Editor → Action tab
Flex PropertiesFlex Properties ViewProperties Editor → Look tab → Flex section
Font (change)Skins view → navigate to widget type → navigate to channel and platform → double-click → Font tabSelect widget → Properties Editor → Skin tab → Fonts section
Fork a SkinSkins View → <widget type> → right-click <skin name> (e.g. btnFocus) → ForkProject Explorer → Skins tab → <widget type> → right-click <skin name> (e.g. btnFocus) → Fork or Properties Editor → Skin tab → General section →  Platform ellipsis button→ Select platforms → OK
FormsApplications View → <App Name> → formsProject Explorer → Project tab → <Channel> → Forms
Hierarchical view of forms and widgetsOutline viewProject Explorer → Project tab
ImagesApplications View → resourcesProject Explorer → Assets tab
ModulesApplications View → <App Name> → modulesProject Explorer → Project tab → Modules
Offline ServicesApplications View → <App Name> → offline servicesSet up as a service on VoltMX Foundry that is then synced locallyProject Explorer → VoltMX Foundry
PopupsApplications View → <App Name> → popupsProject Explorer → Project tab → <Channel> → Popups
Projects/ApplicationsMultiple applications can be open at one timeOnly one project can be open at a time
Review/CommentsNot AvailableProperties Editor → Review tab
Search (forms, widgets, and skins)Search menu → SearchProject Explorer → Search tab
Search (modules)Search menu → SearchEdit menu → Find/Replace (Search in VoltMX Iris)
Services in use by the applicationApplications View → <App Name> → servicesAlso:The Services ViewProject Explorer → VoltMX Foundry
SkinsThe Skins viewProject Explorer → Skins tab
Splash ScreenFile → Application Properties → Splash Screen tabOpened from Project Explorer → Project tab → <Channel>, and once opened, configured from Properties Editor → Splash Screen tab
TemplatesApplications View → <App Name> → templatesProject Explorer → Templates tab → Components
ThemesThe Skins view → Theme drop-down listProject Explorer → Skins tab → Theme drop-down list
Web_moduleApplications View → <App Name> →web_moduleHandled as a part of services in the VoltMX Foundry Console Project Explorer → Project tab → VoltMX Foundry
WidgetsWidgets PaletteLibrary Explorer → Widgets tab
Widget PropertiesWidget Properties ViewProperties Editor

Service Definition

The following table outlines where service definition features are located in the respective user interfaces of Volt MX Studio and Volt MX Iris.

Feature or TaskIn Volt MX StudioIn VoltMX Iris
Access and edit service definitionsRight-click app name in the Applications View, and then click Open Service DefinitionProject Explorer → Project tab → VoltMX Foundry → Integration → Configure New button or Use Existing button
Sync ConfigurationWindow menu → Show View → Other → Volt MX Studio → SyncConfigurationProject Explorer → Project tab → VoltMX Foundry → Synchronization

Form Editor

The following table outlines where various form editing features are located in the respective user interfaces of Volt MX Studio and Volt MX Iris.

Feature or TaskIn Volt MX StudioIn VoltMX Iris
Create a new formApplications View → <App Name> → forms → right-click <channel> → New Flex FormProject Explorer→ Project tab → <channel> → right-click Forms → New Form → Flex Form
Form editingUses the Form DesignerUses the Iris Canvas
Mapping EditorOpen the Event Editor → right-click Action Sequence → select to invoke a service, navigate to a form, or add mapping → Open Mapping EditorOpen the Action Editor → open an Action Sequence → right-click an action → Open Mapping Editor
Open a formApplications View → <App Name> → forms → <channel> → double-click formProject Explorer→ Project tab → <channel> → click Forms arrow → Click Form
Quick PreviewClick Preview in the Form Designer → select the platform and channel → open Emulators View → right-click emulator → click Open in PreviewThe Iris Canvas is always in preview mode. From the drop-down lists at the top of the canvas, select the platform, channel, and device you want
Side-by-Side viewNot availableWindow menu → Arrange → Side By Side
Toggle BVR (beyond visible range)Toggles between limiting what's viewable on the canvas to what a user would see on the screen, and displaying all application elements of a form, regardless of their positionNot availableOn the Iris Canvas, click BVR to place and view application items beyond what's visible on the device screen. Click BVR again to limit the canvas display to the device screen To pan in BVR mode, you can press the space bar and drag.  
Toggle OrientationToggles the device preview between portrait and landscape orientationsNot availableAt the top of the Iris Canvas, click the Toggle Orientation icon
Toggle ShellToggles the device preview between displaying just the screen, and displaying the device's shape and dimensions beyond the screenNot availableAt the top of the Iris Canvas, click the Toggle Shell icon

Authentication and Licensing

In Volt MX Studio, you were prompted for authentication and licensing when Volt MX Studio started. With Volt MX Iris, you are prompted for authentication and licensing when you first build a project, giving you the ability to use Volt MX Iris offline.

Best Practices for using GIT and SVN Repositories

In your development streams, we recommend the following best practices in coordinating the use of both Volt MX Iris and Volt MX Iris Classic.

  • Since both editions of Volt MX Iris use the same file format, they can share a common GIT or SVN repository.
  • You should maintain separate workspaces for Volt MX Iris projects and Volt MX Iris Classic projects.

To illustrate, your workspace work flow should look like this:

Import and Export

The following table outlines how import and export features function in the respective user interfaces of Volt MX Studio and Volt MX Iris.

Feature or IssueIn Volt MX StudioIn VoltMX Iris
File Format CompatibilitySince Volt MX Studio used the .kl file format and Iris uses the JSON file format, moving a project between one and the other required converting between the two formats, resulting in inconsistenciesBoth VoltMX Iris: VoltMX Iris and VoltMX Iris Classic: VoltMX Iris Classic uses the JSON file format for seamless importing and exporting of projects between the two.
Importation of actions from earlier versions of IrisWhen imported into Volt MX Studio, did not copy the actions of projects made with earlier versions of IrisThe "Designer Actions" created in earlier versions of VoltMX Iris, when imported into VoltMX Iris Classic, are replicated as "Developer Actions" for seamless integration and optimal functionality
Imported AssetsImported project is copied by reference but is not actually added to the workspaceImported project is copied to the workspace

Using Skins

The following table outlines differences in how skins are used in the respective user interfaces of Volt MX Studio and Volt MX Iris.

Feature or TaskIn Volt MX StudioIn VoltMX Iris
Assigning skinsAssigned from the Widget Properties through a multi-click processAssigned from the Skin tab of the Properties Editor for improved work flow
Common skins vs. widget-specific skinsWidgets, when added, automatically assume the default, common skin.Widgets, when added, are automatically assigned their own unique, widget-specific skin

Utilities

The following table describes the differences in certain utilities between Volt MX Studio and Volt MX Iris.

FeatureIn Volt MX StudioIn VoltMX Iris
Build Diff ToolApplications View → right-click App name→ Utilities → Launch Build Diff ToolDeprecated. Obsolete in VoltMX Iris
Form Merge ToolFor comparing forms and porting elements from one form to another to create functional parity across formsThis tool is deprecated since any form can be easily duplicated
Manage Custom FontsSkin View → right-click skin → Edit → Font tab → Platform Specific Font NamesCopy fonts directly into the project's Fonts folder
Platform PortingFor porting an application created in one platform to another platformDeprecated. With flex layouts, VoltMX Iris dynamically renders from one platform to another, and can be copied seamlessly to other channels

Custom Widget Import

In Volt MX Studio, custom widgets could be exported as a .zip file and then imported into a different project. This functionality is not available in Volt MX Iris. As an alternative, you can add custom widgets. For more information, see Add Custom Widgets.

Code Editor

The following table illustrates a couple of the main differences in how the Code Editor functions between Volt MX Studio and Volt MX Iris.

Feature or TaskIn Volt MX StudioIn VoltMX Iris
Code outlineDisplayed in a separate panelDisplayed inline
Syntax HighlightingPartially supportedSupported for the following languages: C, C#, C++, CSS, HTML4, HTML5, Java, JavaScript, LESS, Objective C, Python, Ruby, Sass, SCSS, XML

Search and Replace

In Volt MX Iris, you can search and replace code, and you can also jump to a code element’s definition, such as a function. For more information, see Find and Replace and Jump to the Definition of a Code Element.

Local Preview

The following table outlines the differences in how previews are handled locally between Volt MX Studio and Volt MX Iris.

Feature or TaskIn Volt MX StudioIn VoltMX Iris
Functional Preview RequestsHandled by JettyHandled by the Node.js runtime environment
Publish DestinationVoltMXServerVoltMX Foundry
Publish ModelApplications and services published individuallyIn VoltMX Foundry, you create a VoltMX Foundry app to which you add services that you publish. When you're ready to publish the VoltMX Iris app, you bind it to the VoltMX Foundry app that contains the services that you want to use. After publishing the VoltMX Iris app, it accesses the published VoltMX Foundryservices.