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a!urlForPortal() Function

Function

a!urlForPortal( portalPage, urlParameters )

Returns a URL for a portal page. Edit the page in the portal object to map the rule inputs to URL parameters, set default values, or opt out of encrypting URL parameters for the page.

See Linking to Portal Pages Using URL Parameters for more information about URL parameters and how to use them to link to portal pages.

Parameters

Keyword Type Description

portalPage

Portal Page

A reference to a portal page, configured using the portal! domain. The structure of the portal reference is portal![portal name].pages.[page web address identifier]. This parameter is required.

urlParameters

Map

Use this parameter to optionally pass values to rule inputs in the interface. Use a!map() to provide a map of up to 10 URL parameter names and their associated values as key-value pairs. For example: a!map(state: "Virginia", priority: 4). View the URL parameter names by clicking the portal page reference and looking under Enabled URL Parameter(s).

Returns

Text

Usage considerations

Referencing portal pages

The portalPage parameter takes a reference to a portal page that is constructed using the portal! domain. This domain prefix is a direct object reference that removes the need to create a constant to reference a portal.

It's easy to construct a portal page reference since the portal! domain leverages typeahead to suggest a selection of existing portals. If you already know the name of your portal, you can even skip entering the domain and simply type the name of the portal for the domain and portal object reference to appear.

referencing a portal by its name

Note:  If you are unable to reference a specific portal, make sure that you have Viewer permission to the portal object.

The portal object reference combined with . dot notation allows you to directly access portal pages, which are identified in the object reference by their web address identifier.

To reference a portal page:

  1. Enter the portal! domain and select the portal.
  2. Enter . after portal!<Portal Name> to autosuggest the portal pages.
  3. Select pages to access the menu of pages configured in the portal object.
  4. Select a page's web address identifier from the dropdown to append to the pages property.

For example, the reference below refers to the Projects page on the DOT Portal.

example of referencing a portal page

When you highlight a portal page from the dropdown, Appian automatically provides additional information about the page, including:

  • Portal name.
  • Page title.
  • Page web address identifier.
  • Interface used as the page content.
  • Whether or not the page is configured to use encrypted URL parameters.
  • The URL parameters names that are enabled for the page.

You can also access this information in the expression documentation pane by clicking the portal page reference. Notice how the URL parameter names display under Enabled URL Parameter(s). This will come in handy when using the urlParameters parameter.

portal page information in the expression documentation pane

When using a portal page reference, Appian automatically shortens the reference to improve the readability of your expressions. To display the full reference, simply hover over it.

Using a!map()

To create a list of the URL parameter names and values for the urlParameters parameter, use the a!map() function to create a list of the URL parameters as key-value pairs. Use the URL parameter name configured in the Rule Input Configurations grid as the key in the key-value pair.

Tip:  Click the portal page reference to view the URL parameter names. They are listed in the expression documentation pane under Enabled URL Parameter(s).

For example:

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urlParameters: a!map(
  /*URL parameter name = county, URL parameter value = "Fairfax"*/
  county: "Fairfax",
  /*URL parameter name = active, URL parameter value = true*/
  active: true
)

This example is for illustrative purposes only. It won't work if you copy and paste it into an expression.

Error handling

This table outlines scenarios that could cause a link to error. To avoid broken links, we've implemented certain error handling. This error handling behaves differently depending on if you use a!urlForPortal() or construct the links manually using plaintext URL parameters.

Additionally, if someone changes or deletes a character in an encrypted URL parameter string, all URL parameters that don't have a default value are ignored.

If the following is used in a link... Behavior in manually constructed links Behavior in a!urlForPortal
A portal that isn't published. An error page displays. Expression evaluation error.
A URL parameter name that isn't in the Rule Input Configuration grid for the portal page, such as when the URL parameter name is misspelled. The URL parameter is ignored.

The default value will be used for any rule inputs that have it configured.
A plaintext URL parameter that doesn't have Enable in URL selected. The URL parameter is ignored.
A URL parameter value that contains more than 100 characters. The URL parameter is ignored, unless it has a default value configured.
More than 10 URL parameters. All URL parameters are ignored, unless they have a default value configured.

Generated URL structure

The structure for the generated URL is:

https://[portal-domain]/[portal web address ID]/page/[page web address ID]?[encrypted or plaintext URL parameters]

For example, a URL with plaintext URL parameters might look something like:

https://statedot.appianportals.com/projectportal/page/project-grid?county=Fairfax&active=true.

portal url example

Note that if your portal has only one page, /page/[page web address ID] won't display in the URL. However, if you manually add /page/ followed by the web address identifier, the link will still work.

By default, URL parameters are encrypted in the generated URL. If Encrypt URL parameters is turned off for the portal page, the URL parameters will display in plaintext.

Examples

Portal object references are specific to each environment. If you copy and paste these examples into an interface or expression rule, they will not evaluate. Use them for reference only.

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a!urlForPortal(
  /*Replace the portal page and URL parameters with valid references from your environment*/
  portalPage: portal!DOT Project Portal.pages.project-grid,
  urlParameters: a!map(
    county: "Fairfax",
    active: true
  )
)

If Encrypted URL parameters is turned on for the page, returns something like:

https://insurecorp.appianportals.com/dot/page/projects?$sp=AAAAAQAAAAAAAAABAAAAEJipwSTzHzI679DzFIjKqeml6sPuuyAWuAnrDIgMG7D5YVbpCLs1Aq5dZHWqbmLw2Z7wpMI6t6lnbmhP6yg7_4WSE_nNUi8WrhryW08

The encrypted characters for the URL parameter will change each time a!urlForPortal() is executed.

If Encrypted URL parameters is not turned on for the page, returns:

https://statedot.appianportals.com/projectportal/page/project-grid?county=Fairfax&active=true

You can link to a portal page using any component that a!safeLink can be used in. For example, to link to a portal page using a link component:

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a!linkField(
  labelPosition: "COLLAPSED",
  links: {
    a!safeLink(
      label: "Active Projects in Fairfax County",
      uri: a!urlForPortal(
        /*Replace the portal page and URL parameters with valid references from your environment*/
        portalPage: portal!DOT Project Portal.pages.project-grid,
        urlParameters: a!map(
          county: "Fairfax",
          active: true
        )
      )
    )
  }
)

This returns a link with label "Active Projects in Fairfax County" that uses the encrypted or plaintext link from the Link to a portal page example.

link field component

Feature compatibility

The table below lists this function's compatibility with various features in Appian.
Feature Compatibility Note
Portals Compatible
Offline Mobile Incompatible
Sync-Time Custom Record Fields Incompatible
Real-Time Custom Record Fields Incompatible

Custom record fields that evaluate in real time must be configured using one or more Custom Field functions.

Process Reports Incompatible

Cannot be used to configure a process report.

Process Events Incompatible

Cannot be used to configure a process event node, such as a start event or timer event.

a!urlForPortal() Function

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