Defining a computed field in the DataWindow painter Design view

To define a computed field in the DataWindow painter Design
view:

Select Insert>Control>Computed
Field from the menu bar.
Click where you want to place the computed field.

If the calculation is to be based on column data that changes
for each row, make sure you place the computed field in the detail
band.

The Modify Expression dialog box displays, listing:
- DataWindow expression functions you can use in
  the computed field
- The columns in the DataWindow object
- Operators and parentheses
Enter the expression that defines the computed
field as described in “Entering the expression”.
(Optional) Click Verify to test the expression.

PowerBuilder analyzes the expression.
Click OK.

Entering the expression

You can enter any valid DataWindow expression when defining a computed field.
You can paste operators, columns, and DataWindow expression functions into the expression
from information in the Modify Expression dialog box. Use the + operator
to concatenate strings.

You can use any built-in or user-defined global function in
an expression. You cannot use object-level functions.

DataWindow expressions

You are entering a DataWindow expression, not a SQL expression
processed by the DBMS, so the expression follows the rules for DataWindow expressions. For
complete information about DataWindow expressions, see the DataWindow
Reference.

Referring to next and previous rows

You can refer to other rows in a computed field. This is particularly
useful in N-Up DataWindow objects when you want to refer to another row
in the detail band. Use this syntax:

1	<span>ColumnName</span>[<span>x</span>]

where x is an integer. 0 refers to the
current row (or first row in the detail band), 1 refers to the next
row, –1 refers to the previous row, and so on.

Examples

Table 20-1 shows
some examples of computed fields.

Table 20-1: Computed field examples
To display	Enter this expression	In this band
Current date at top of each page	`Today()`	Header
Current time at top of each page	`Now()`	Header
Current page at bottom of each page	`Page()`	Footer
Total page count at bottom of each page	`PageCount()`	Footer
Concatenation of Fname and Lname columns for each row	`Fname + " " + Lname`	Detail
Monthly salary if Salary column contains annual salary	`Salary / 12`	Detail
Four asterisks if the value of the Salary column is greater than $50,000	`IF(Salary> 50000, "****", "")`	Detail
Average salary of all retrieved rows	`Avg(Salary)`	Summary
Count of retrieved rows, assuming each row contains a value for EmpID	`Count(EmpID)`	Summary

For complete information about the functions you can use in
computed fields in the DataWindow painter, see the DataWindow Reference.

Menu options and buttons for common functions

PowerBuilder provides a quick way to create computed fields
that summarize values in the detail band, display the current date,
or show the current page number.

To summarize values:

Select one or more columns in the DataWindow
object’s detail band.
Select one of the options at the bottom of the
cascading menu: Average, Count, or Sum.

The same options are available at the bottom of the Controls
drop–down toolbar on the PainterBar.

PowerBuilder places a computed field in the summary band or
in the group trailer band if the DataWindow object is grouped. The band
is resized automatically to hold the computed field. If there is
already a computed field that matches the one being generated, it
is skipped.

To insert a computed field for the current date
or page number:

Select Insert>Control from the
menu bar.
Select Today() or Page n of n from the options
at the bottom of the cascading menu.

The same options are available at the bottom of the Controls
drop–down toolbar on the PainterBar.
Click anywhere in the DataWindow object.

If you selected Today, PowerBuilder inserts a computed field
containing this expression: Today().
For Page n of n, the computed field contains this expression: 'Page ' + page() + ' of ' + pageCount().

Adding custom buttons that place computed fields

You can add buttons to the PainterBar in the DataWindow painter that
place computed fields using any of the aggregate functions, such
as Max, Min, and Median.

To customize the PainterBar with custom buttons
for placing computed fields:

Place the mouse pointer over the PainterBar and
select Customize from the pop-up menu.

The Customize dialog box displays.
Click Custom in the Select palette group to display
the set of custom buttons.
Drag a custom button into the Current toolbar group
and release it.

The Toolbar Item Command dialog box displays.
Click the Function button.

The Function For Toolbar dialog box displays.
Select a function and click OK.

You return to the Toolbar Item Command dialog box.
Specify text and microhelp that displays for the button,
and click OK.

PowerBuilder places the new button in the PainterBar. You can
click it to add a computed field to your DataWindow object the same way
you use the built-in Sum button.

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Powerbuilder Documentation 12.6

August 13, 2023

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