Piping extended attributes
The first time PowerBuilder connects to a database, it creates
five system tables called the extended attribute system tables. These
system tables initially contain default extended attribute information
for tables and columns. In PowerBuilder, you can create extended
attribute definitions such as column headers and labels, edit styles,
display formats, and validation rules.
For more information about the extended attribute system tables,
see Appendix A, The Extended Attribute System
Tables.
Piping extended attributes
automatically
When you pipe data, you can specify that you want to pipe the
extended attributes associated with the columns you are piping. You do
this by selecting the Extended Attributes check box in the Data
Pipeline painter workspace:
When the Extended Attributes check box is selected, the extended
attributes associated with the source database’s selected columns
automatically go into the extended attribute system tables of the
destination database, with one exception. When you pipe a column that
has an edit style, display format, or validation rule associated with
it, the style, rule, or format is not piped if one with the same name
exists in the extended attribute system tables of the destination
database. In this situation, the column uses the style, rule, or
format already present in the destination database.
For example, for the Phone column in the Employee table, the
display format with the name Phone_format would be piped unless a
display format with the name Phone_format already exists in the
destination database. If such a display format exists, the Phone
column would use the Phone_format display format in the destination
database.
Piping the extended attribute system
tables
Selecting the Extended Attributes check box never results in the
piping of named display formats, edit styles, and validation rules
that are stored in the extended attribute system tables but are not
associated with columns in tables you are piping. If you want such
extended attribute definitions from one database to exist in another
database, you can pipe the appropriate extended attribute system table
or a selected row or rows from the table.
Piping an entire
database
If you want to reproduce an entire database, you can pipe all
database tables and extended attribute system tables, one table at a
time.