Modernization of physical file - db2

Please advise here..
I have a physical file (phy0001) and dependent logical (Log0001) & view (view0001). Wanted to add some extra fields on PHY0001 and decided to create new SQL table (Tab0001 )instead.
New TB0001 will have all fields of PHY0001 and some additional filed.
now PHY0001 and LOG0001 will point to TAB0001 as LF (using PFILE and FORMAT keyword, i am changing it and no impact to the existing process since format level identifier not changing)
here i am good so far PHY0001 and LOG0001 having no trouble and i don't need to re-compile the programs.
The issue is the view VIEW0001 (select * from PHY00001), i have assigning new table with selected filed as PHY0001 has (select "list of fields as phy0001" from TAB0001) and Format level identifier changed..
Please let me know if you know how can i retain same Format level identifier in view as well so i don't need to compile programs which is using VIEW0001.
Thank you

Related

Filemaker Pro 14 History tables

With a few solutions Ive worked with I've created temp table's or history tables. Normally I script it to take a handful of fields needed from a main table and copy it over to the other table by
Setting a variable then setting field to the variable for each field in the new table / new record.
I have a situation now, where Im building a history table that needs to copy the current record as is. A snapshot where all fields from that instance of the record are copied to the history table.
Rather then setting a variable then set field to the variable, Id like to get some input on a quicker way to get this done where I can do this on a record level and not type out field by field to get it done. Also if fields are added to both tables then I have to make sure my script gets updated.
Ill keep hunting around.. appreciate any help.
-Rich
Do you have a sample of copying a record from 1 table to another
including all fields and setting some fields?
As I suggested in comments, use the Import Records[] script step, and select the same file as the source. If you choose Arrange by: [ matching names ] in the Import Field Mapping dialog, it will automatically map all source fields to their similarly named counterparts.
Note that you must establish a found set in the source table before importing.
For "setting some fields", you can define auto-enter options and activate them during the import, or run Replace Field Contents[] immediately after the import.

Crystal: Autoupdating table names in database expert

It is more of an annoyance rather than real issue: when in Crystal reports you change the data source to one with different name (and do all the linking old columns to new columns) all the table names in Field explorer and (obviously) in formulas are changed. But the Database expert still shows the old table/view name!
Let me show this on example: Lets say I change TABLE_1 with column EQUIPMENT to VIEW_1 with column UNIT. Via the datasource location I can do the substitution and link old column EQUIPMENT to new one - UNIT.
But when I check either Datasource location or database expert it will be still showing old TABLE_1 (if you check the columns in the link tab you will notice that the TABLE_1 has now column UNIT instead of EQUIPMENT).
This can be quite annoying and frankly bit dangerous, especially if you return to report after a longer while. Is there somewhere a setting that allows to autoupdate table names in the database expert?
When you create the report it will create tables and each table will be linked to a datasource table. So the report table will have a name and datasource , which might be the same. When you change the datasource the datasource of the table will be updated but the report table name will remain the same. Think about this name as an alias. It might differs from th datasource name if you use the same table multiple times
I don't think there is auto update option in crystal reports but one thing you can do is to use Verify Database option under Database tab whenever you update the tables.
You need to manually edit table names in Database expert, there's no automatic way (and like Lan already answered, it is generally not possible).

Tableau: mapping fields in new datasource when field names are different in the new version

I had some trouble previously when I wanted to take an existing visualization in tableau, and re-use it for a very similar data-set, but one where the field names are different.
In one case, as a workaround, I just renamed the new fields to the original field names even if the name didn't really apply. this allowed me to use the same chart I like. However, I wondered if there was a clean way to import a new data source and map the fields in the chart to the new field "titles" and preserve the chart?
I'm relatively new to tableau, so I'm sorry if this has been answered previously (I imagine it has somewhere). thanks
Right click on a field in the data view pane and select "replace references"
This is essentially a replace-all feature. Usually, you would do this when a field in the data source no longer exists by the original name (and is shown with a red X). Rather than recreating all your views, if there is a new field that you can use instead, you can replace all references to the old field with the new one in one command.
You could also use custom SQL to specify field names, define a database view or rename fields as you suggest

How can I create a new primary key in a FileMaker table and then modify an existing relationship to be based on the newly created key?

I have quite the request. A developer created our database that has multiple Layouts with a relationship tree that is very messy. Had another developer come in, take a look at it, he said that it would be too time consuming and painful to deconstruct our system, consider creating a script for now so that you can work around it until it can be fixed. Here's the dilemma: I've got information on one page that is supposed to reference information on a number of different pages utilizing tabs and portals. However, all the information is linked to a username. This username is not static/serialized or what have you. Therefore, if the issue is not caught right away a great deal of information can be linked to this person's 'page'. If the name is incorrect and someone tries to alter the username even slightly, it breaks that relationship and starts a new one. The information does not disappear, but it is basically sitting in limbo somewhere until you change the name back to the original. I've actually tried exporting the information, changing the information that doesn't match, i.e. changing a name from Jon.Smith to John.Smith, and then importing the information to a new 'page' for that person with unsuccessful results. Which brings me to my question, is a script going to be able to fix this problem? Likewise, are there any suggestions to how to create this script? I apologize, but I have very little experience with DataBase management at all, and am not sure why this project fell upon me. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
Well, as a general answer, just about anything that a user can do in FileMaker (and by user, I mean non-developer, so activities such as defining the database structure, writing scripts, etc., are excluded) can be scripted. So if you're able to "solve" the problem by resetting a field's value, for example, then, yes, a script can do that.
Regarding your specific trouble, a script probably doesn't need to export the records, but could reset the values for the field within FileMaker. This could be done either by looping through the records that need to be changed or by using the Replace Field Contents script step. So a script could do something like this:
Go to Layout[MyLayout] // Go to a layout that is attached to the table you need to search.
Perform Find[Restore] // Restore a find that will show the records you need to change.
Replace Field Contents[Table::Field; "New Value"]
Offering more advice than this would require actually seeing the database and understanding more about your specific needs.
wchsTech4, you are in luck because your problem is easy to fix. You don't even need a script.
BACK UP YOUR FILE(S) FIRST. Then:
1) Create two new fields:
id (person table)
Options for id: Auto-enter serial number
person_id (the table related to person)
2) Generate serial numbers for the new id field in the person table.
Navigate to the person layout.
'Records' > 'Show all records'
Click in the id field and select 'Records' > 'Replace field contents.'
Choose 'Replace with serial numbers' and accept the defaults. Be sure to check the box to update your next serial number.
3) Place the serial numbers you just generated in the related table.
Navigate to the related layout.
'Records' > 'Show all records'
Click in the person_id field and select 'Records' > 'Replace field contents.'
Choose 'Specify' next to 'Replace with calculated results.'
In the drop down on the top left, select the related person table.
Double click the id field (your calculation should be person::id, with person replaced with the name of your table).
Click 'OK' and then 'Replace.'
4) Change the relationship.
Select 'File' > 'Manage' > 'Database.'
Navigate to the relationship tab.
Change the relationship from being based on name to id.
5) Test everything. Should work.
There is a chance that your related records are being created in such a manner that you also need to modify a script, website, or something else not mentioned here to have your fix work going forward. That is important to investigate.

How can I (partially) automate the transfer of a FileMaker database structure and field contents to a second database?

I'm trying to copy some field values to a duplicate database. One record at a time. This is used for history and so I can delete some records in the original database to keep it fast.
I don't want to manually save the values in a variable because there are hundreds of fields. So I want to go to the first field, save the field name and value and then go over to the other database and save the data. Then run a 'Go to Next Field' and loop through all the fields.
This works perfectly, but here is the problem: When a field is a calculation you cannot tab into it and therefore 'Go to Next Field' doesn't work. It skips it.
I though of doing a 'Go to Object' but then I need to name all the objects and I can't find a script to name objects.
Can anyone out there think of a solution?
Thanks!
This is one of those problems where I always found it easier to do an export/import.
Export all the data you want from the one database, and then import it into the other database. All you need to do is:
Manually specify which fields you want to copy
Map the data from the export to the right fields in the new database/table
You can even write a script to do these things for you.
There are several ways to achieve this.
To make a "history file", I have found there are several cases out there, so lets take a look.
CASE ONE
Single file I just want to "keep" a very large file with historical data, because I need to erease all data in my Main file.
In this case, you should create a "clone" table (in the same file ore in other file, is the same). Then change any calculation field to the type of the calculation result (number, text, date, an so on...). Remove any "auto entered value or calculation from any field, like auto number, auto creation date, etc..). You will have a "Plain Table" with no calculations or auto entered data.
Then add a field to control duplicate data. If you have lets say an invoice number (unique) for each record, you can do this to achieve this task. But if you do not have a unique field that identifies the record as unique, then you have to create one...
To create such a field, I recommed to add a new field on the clone table and set as an aunto entered calculation and make a field combination that is unique... somthing like this: invoiceNumber & "-" & lineNumber & "-" " & date.
On the clone table make shure that validation is set up for "always", and no empty values allowed and that this value is unique.
Once you setup the clone table... then you can import your records, making sure that the auto enty option is on. Yo can do it as many times as you like, new records will be added and no duplicates.
If you want, can make a Script to do the move to historical table all the current records before deleting them.
NOTE:
This technique works fine when the data you try to keep do not have changes over time. This means, once the record is created is has no changes.
CASE TWO
A historical table must be created but some fields are updated.
In the beginnig I thougth a historical data, never changes. In some cases I found this is not the case, like the case I want to track historical invoices but at the same time, keep track if they are paid or not...
In this case you may use the same technique above, but instead of importing data... you must update data based on the "unique" fields that identifiy the record.
Hope this technique helps
FileMaker's FieldNames() function, along with GetField() can give you a list of field names and then their values