Configuring a Data Set Row

Data Set Rows are used together with Data Sets to add ‘custom’ tables to your database. Data Set Rows and Grids are not general purpose tables in which to store user data. Instead, they are used to collate, organize and summarize data from elsewhere in the database, in a tabular format that can be queried from, for example, a List or a Report. (If you require general purpose tables for storing data, consider using Data Tables (see Configuring Data Tables) as opposed to Data Set Rows and Data Sets.)

A Data Set Row database item consists of a row of fields whose type and number are defined by the Data Set with which the row is associated. Each cell in the row can contain an expression that can simply map a value from an item in the database to, for example, a simple literal (constant) value, or a more complex calculation. By design, Data Set Rows are separate database items to Data Sets. If your database is modular you might want to consider using Group Templates to store 'model' Data Set Row configuration. (Be aware that you can only add Data Set Rows (rather than Data Sets) to Group Templates.)With such a setup, each time you create a Group Instance, the Data Set Row is automatically added to the new query. Group Templates and Group Instances are used to reduce the amount of time and effort taken to configure the database.

A Data Set Row can be copied within a Group or from one Group to another. The reference to the associated Data Set is copied from the source row, so that the data from the copied Data Set Row appears in the same queries as the data from the source Data Set Row.

You can display the data in a Data Set Row’s table, in order to examine the results of each calculation.

To create and configure a Data Set Row, you need to:

1. Add a Data Set Row.
2. Configure the Properties on the Data Set Row Form.
3. Edit a Data Set Row.
4. Add an Entry to a Data Set Row.
5. Repeat step 4 for any further entries in the Data Set Row.
6. Save the configuration (see Saving Configuration Changes).

You can then, if required, use the Data Set associated with one or more Data Set Rows as a table in a Report (see the ClearSCADA Guide to Crystal Reports).