Storing data in a DataWindow object using the Data view
Contents
Usually you retrieve data into a DataWindow object from the
database, because the data is changeable and you want the latest
information. However, sometimes the data you display in a DataWindow
object never changes (as in a list of states or provinces), and
sometimes you need a snapshot of the data at a certain point in time. In
these situations, you can store the data in the DataWindow object
itself. You do not need to go out to the database or other data source
to display the data.
The most common reason to store data in a DataWindow object is for
use as a drop-down DataWindow where the data is not coming from a
database. For example, you might want to display a list of postal codes
for entering values in a State or Province column in a DataWindow
object. You can store those codes in a DataWindow object and use the
DropDownDataWindow edit style for the column.
For more information about using the DropDownDataWindow edit
style, see Displaying and
Validating Data.
To store data in a DataWindow object:
-
If the Data view is not already displayed, select View >
Data from the menu bar.In the default layout for the DataWindow painter, the Data
view displays in a stacked pane under the Properties view. All
columns defined for the DataWindow object are listed at the
top. -
Do any of the following:
-
Click the Insert Row button in the PainterBar to create an
empty row and type a row of data. You can enter as many rows as
you want. -
Click the Retrieve button in the PainterBar to retrieve
all the rows of data from the database. You can delete rows you
do not want to save or manually add new rows. -
Click the Delete button in the PainterBar to delete
unwanted rows.
Data changes are local to the DataWindow object
Adding or deleting data here does not change the data in the
database. It only determines what data will be stored with the
DataWindow object when you save it. The Update DB button is
disabled. -
-
When you have finished, save the DataWindow object.
When you save the DataWindow object, the data is stored in the
DataWindow object.
Sharing data with the Preview
view
To see changes you make in the Data view reflected in the Preview
view, select ShareData from the pop-up menu in the Data view.The Preview
view shows data from the storage buffer associated with the Data
view.
Saving the DataWindow object without
data
If you saved the DataWindow object with data to obtain a snapshot,
you usually need to save it again without data. To do so, select Delete
All Rows from the pop-up menu in the Data view before saving.
Sharing DataWindow objects with other developers
Storing data in a DataWindow object is a good way to share data
and its definition with other developers. They can simply open the
DataWindow object on their computers to get the data and all its
properties.