DriveWorks Pro 23

Define Tables

Define Tables

Existing data stored in spreadsheets or databases can be used in a project by defining a table to store the data.

Table Types

The following types of table can be created with the Define Tables task:

• Simple Table
• Excel data Table
• ODBC Data Table
• SQL Server Data Table
• Rollup Data Table

Simple Table

Creates a blank worksheet where data can be entered directly or copied and pasted from compatible sources.

The data held in a Simple Table is available to the project it has been applied to, and any specifications produced from it only.

If the same data is required for other projects we recommend using a Group Table.

The data in a Simple Table can be updated from a specification using features such as:

• Delete Simple Table Rows (Specification Task)
• Export to Simple Table (Output Document - Data)

When features that manipulate Simple Table data are implemented any change will only persist in the specification they are executed in.

The original data will not be affected. Starting a new specification will load the original data.

If the original data is required to be manipulated from a specification, we recommend using a Group Table, which has similar features available that allow data manipulation.

Excel Data Table

Imports data from an Excel spreadsheet. Once imported the data can be edited directly in DriveWorks.

This does not create a link to the spreadsheet, it is a copy of the data held in the spreadsheet.

Any cells that contain functions will be replaced with the calculated value of the cell.

If the data requires real-time calculations to be made during a specification, we recommend using a Calculation Table.

ODBC and SQL Server Data Table

Creates a link to a database that connects using ODBC (ODBC Data Table) or directly to a SQL Server database (SQL Server Data Table).

When using an ODBC Data Table a DSN (Data Source Name) must be configured on each machine that requires the data.

For example an ODBC link to a Microsoft Access database can be created, see How To: Setup a DSN-Access for more information.

ODBC drivers for other databases (MySQL, Oracle, etc.) are available from the database vendor.

A SQL Server Data Table connects directly to an instance of SQL by configuring additional connection parameters (Server, Credentials, Database, Table, etc.) from the wizard.

Appropriate permissions may require configuring in SQL Server (Management Studio).

Rollup Data Table

Allows data from embedded child specifications to be passed directly to the table.

See Rollup Data Table for more information.

To Add a New Table

1. Click the Add button on the command bar to launch the Create Table wizard.
2. Select the Table type from the Template list.

   

3. Enter a name for the table.
   Table names can be up to 245 characters in length.

   However we recommend keeping the length to a minimum.

4. Select Finish (for Simple Table) to begin entering data.

   OR

5. Select Next to enter additional set up information for the other table types.

Once the table has been created, the table editor will switch into Edit mode.

In edit mode you can cut/copy/paste data from external systems, and fill in values in a similar way to a traditional spreadsheet.

When you are done, click the OK button to return to the table list.

To Edit a Table

To view or edit the data in an existing table, follow the steps below:

1. From the Define Tables task, select the table to edit.
2. Click the View/Edit button on the command bar.
3. The table view will switch to edit mode.

To edit additional set up information (for Excel, ODBC, SQL Server or Rollup data tables):

1. From the Define Tables task, select the table to edit.
2. Click the Configure button on the command bar.
3. The Configure wizard will launch, allowing the additional set up information to be edited.

Multi-Selection

Multiple adjacent selections can be made by ether:

• Shift Select
  1. Select the first cell in the selection range.
  2. Hold the shift key and select the last cell in the selection range.
• Mouse Drag
  1. Select the first cell (left mouse button and hold), row or column in the selection range
  2. Drag the mouse to the last cell, row or column in the selection range and release.

Cut, Copy and Paste

While in Edit mode data in the table can be cut, copied and pasted by:

1. Select the cell, row or column with the data to be cut or copied.
2. Select Cut or Copy:
   • from the command bar

     Or

   • from the right click context menu
3. Select an empty cell, row or column to paste the data into.
4. Select Paste:
   • from the command bar

     Or

   • from the right click context menu

Insert

While in Edit mode columns or rows can be inserted by:

1. Select the cell, row or column from which a column or row is to be inserted.
2. Right click and select Insert and either:
   • Row - will insert a single row immediately above the selection.
   • Rows - will present a pop-up window allowing the number of required rows to be entered.The number entered will be inserted immediately above the selection.
   • Column - will insert a single column immediately to the left of the selection.
   • Columns - will present a pop-up window allowing the number of required columns to be entered.The number entered will be inserted immediately to the left of the selection.

Delete

While in Edit mode cell data, columns or rows can be deleted by:

1. Select the cell, row or column to be deleted.
2. Right click and select Delete and either:
   • Selected - will delete the selected cell data.
   • Rows - will delete the entire selected row. Subsequent rows will be moved up.
   • Columns - will delete the entire selected column. Subsequent columns will be moved to the left.

To Rename a Table

1. Select the table to rename.
2. Click the Rename button on the command bar.
3. Enter the new name.
4. Press Return to confirm the rename operation.

Renaming a table will scan all rules and replace any occurrence of the old name with the new name.

If DriveWorks detects that this could cause a delay, then the following message will be displayed.

Updating table names in rules is only supported when renaming project tables.

Renaming Group Tables, for example, will not scan every project in the group.

To Delete a Table

1. Select the table to delete.
2. Click the Delete button on the command bar.

Using Fractions

When fractions are required in a table, that are to be used in further calculations, include a column where the decimal equivalent of the fraction can be looked up and used in any calculation.

For example:

A Combo Box is required to be populated with a list of sizes using the fraction format. When a size is selected from the combo box, 2.5 is to be added to the value to obtain the overall length.

1. Create a table with the sizes to be selected from the combo box in one column and the decimal equivalent in the next column
2. Add a combo box to the user form and use the ListAll function to list all the values from the first column
3. Create a variable to Lookup the selected size and report the decimal equivalent, and then add 2.5 to this value.