In some cases data updates quite frequently, and the user would typically refresh the browser screen until they see the update they're looking for. This can be time consuming and cumbersome. 

WorkflowFirst provides real-time live updates of data for selected lists. These lists will update on the screen as they're updated from anywhere in the world connected to the same system. The direction of change in numeric values will be indicated by blue or red highlighting, and the values update without interfering with the normal page operation. 

To achieve this, the browser sends a small request at a certain frequency to the server seeing if anything it is interested in has changed. When it does change, some browser-based code will find the appropriate spot in the page and update the page dynamically. 

Because of the small overhead introduced on the server when live updates are enabled, it is not on by default. Instead each list you want to see update in real-time must be enabled in the WorkflowFirst designer beforehand. 

To enable live updates, go to the Features record of the list field definition. In there select 'Live Updates' and set it to 'Yes'. 

Updates are displayed when the record is visible on the screen, either in detail, in a list, or in a sub-list that appears below a selected record. 

All updates that appear on the screen are cumulative – that is, once they update they highlight and then that highlight stays on the screen until the page is refreshed. This is a feature that enables you to be away from your desk, and when you return get an immediate indication of what has changed since you were away.