User Defined Tables

This feature enables you to create your own Database Tables in Ostendo. These created Tables will then allow you to:

•	Maintain your data using standard Add, Change, Delete, and Inquiry functions

•	Have data maintenance screen appear in the standard Ostendo Menu.

•	Fully integrate the Table(s) within Ostendo’s standard database structure

•	Be able to produce Reports, Views, Charts, and Inquiries

•	Allow access to Screens, Reports, etc using standard User access routine

Display and Entry Fields

New (Radio Button): If this is selected then you should enter a Table Name in the ‘Name’ field followed by clicking the ‘Create Table’ button to generate the Table ‘Header’

Existing (Radio Button): If this is selected then you should select the drop-down icon in the ‘Name’ field and selected the existing Table.

Name: This is the Name of the new or existing Table.

If the Table is being generated (‘New’ Radio Button selected) then enter the name of the table with no spaces (Example: Loan Register should be entered as either LOANREGISTER or LOAN_REGISTER). If you now click on the ‘Create Table’ button then Ostendo will precede your Table Name with OSTDEF_.

If the Table is being recalled (‘Existing’ Radio Button selected) then click on the drop-down Icon and select the existing Table. If you wish to delete the whole table then click on the adjacent ‘Drop Table’ button

Field Definitions Tab

Field Name: Enter the name of the field. This must not contain spaces nor be a ‘Reserved Word’. As there are many Reserved Words it is suggested that you enter a name that is unique. For example if the field is a Print option then you would not use the name ‘PRINT’ as that is a Reserved Word. It is better to state (say) DOCUMENTPRINT. You should note that this is the field name in the database. This can be renamed in the data entry screen (via the ‘Generate Edit View’ tab) to a more meaningful display name

Type: From the drop-down list select the format of this field. The options are:

•

VARCHAR

•

BOOLEAN

•

INTEGER

•

DATE

•	DOUBLE PRECISION

•

TIME

•

TIMESTAMP

•

BLOB

Size: Enter the maximum size of this field

Domain: If you are using an Ostendo ‘Domain’ (I.e. Values already set up in Ostendo by Development-X) then select the Domain from the drop-down list. During Data Entry the values from this Domain will be displayed for selection

Having defined the Fields within the Table you should now click on the ‘Generate Edit View’ tab to create the Edit View and define additional information

Buttons

Add: This will send the cursor to a new line for addition of a new field in the Table

Save: This will save the current data without exiting the screen

Cancel: Any changes made since the screen was opened or the last time the ‘Save’ Button was pressed will be lost.

Delete: This will delete the current line (field) from the Table. Note: This action will remove this field from the Table along with all data previously entered into this field.

Generate Edit View Tab

This tab enables you to automatically generate a View into which you can enter and edit data. (Alternatively you can go into File>Reporting Configuration>Report and View Developer and manually create it) There are four sections

•	Giving the View a Name and a Title

•	Linking a script to the View so that data validation can take place

•	Selecting a Lines Table if a Parent/Child relationship is to be created

•	Defining the Field ‘Caption’ names for display in the View

Name: Enter a unique Name by which the View will be known. (Example: LoanRegister).

Title: Enter the Name of the View. This will be presented in the Title bar of the View

Script: From the drop-down list select the Script if one has been developed to support the View. This script will have been previously created in File>Custom Scripts and be of type ‘Edit View’.

Lines Table: If you are creating a Parent/Child style View then – from the Drop-Down List - select the Table that represents the Child. This Table should already exist in the list of User-Defined Tables

(Button) Generate

Clicking on this button will use the entered Table(s) and their re-defined Field Names and generate an Edit View. You can now enter data by clicking on Custom>Edit Views and selecting this View.

The generated View can be edited by going into File>Report and View Developer

List and Detail Captions – Sub Tab

Field Name: Display only field showing each Field in the main Table.

Caption: Enter a caption against each field name. This caption will be displayed in the column heading of the ‘List’ panel and adjacent to the relevant field in the Data entry panel of the Edit View

Line Captions – Sub Tab

Field Name: Display only field showing each Field in the Lines Table.