View Wizard Tab Tutorial

The Wizard Tab provides an easy to use interface for building your View without having to write one line of SQL.

  1. Setting the View's name.
    • Set the Root Name of the Table.
    • Toggle the use of the Naming Convention by checking or unchecking "Use Custom Name".
    • See Object Names for more information on Root Names, and Naming Conventions.
  2. Manage From Object(s)
    • Add From Object
      1. Click the "Add" button in the FROM section to add a From Object.
        Add From Object
        1. Choose a Table or View from the drop down list.
          From Object Table
        2. The From Object's Alias is automatically generated using the From Object's name.   If you need to change it, simply check the "Use Custom Alias" checkbox and type the Alias you would like.
          From Object Alias
        3. Select the type of Join you would like to be used when joining with other From Objects.
          From Object Join Type
      2. Notice that the new From Object is now in the list and checked.
        Added From Object
        1. If there are any Foreign Key Follows, the Table(s) with references to it will be listed as a child node below it.   To 'Follow' the Foreign Key and add the refering Table with a Join, simply check that Table.
          From Object Follow
    • Edit From Object
      1. Click the "Edit" button in the FROM section to edit the selected From Object.
        Edit From Object
      2. When editing a From Object you cannot change the Table so the drop-down list will be disabled.
        From Object
      3. The From Object's Alias is automatically generated using the From Object's name.   If you need to change it, simply check the "Use Custom Alias" checkbox and type the Alias you would like.
        From Object Alias
      4. Select the type of Join you would like to be used when joining with other From Objects.
        From Object Join Type
    • Delete From Object
      There are a few ways to Delete a From Object.   Choose the one you are most comfortable with.
      • Uncheck the From Object.
        Un-Check From Object
      • Select the From Object and click the Delete button.
        Delete From Object
      • Deleting a From Object which has Foreign Key Follows below it will cause those From Objects to be deleted as well.   If you want to delete a From Object and keep the Foreign Key Follows below it, simply hold the Ctrl key down while you delete.
        Delete From Object
      Deleting a From Object may have potential affects on other From Objects and columns in the View.   Deleting a From Object could also impact other objects in the Schema.   All Views and Indexes that reference the From Object's Columns will remove their reference to the Column.   If that View/Index's last reference is removed, the View/Index will also be deleted.

      Due to the free text nature of Custom View Columns, references to deleted Columns will not be removed and are your responsability to fix.
      Due to the free text nature of Functions, Stored Procedures and Triggers, references to deleted Columns will not be removed and are your responsability to fix.
  3. Manage Columns
    • Add Column
      There are two ways to add a Column to the View.   Choose the one you are most comfortable with.
      • The simple way to add a Column is to make sure the "All" option is selected and check the Column(s) you want to add.   Columns are added to the View in the order in which they are added.
        Add Column
      • A more flexible and complex way to add a Column to your View is to create a Computed Column.   This can be done by performing the following steps:
        1. Click the Add Button.
          Add Column
        2. Type your custom Computed Column using standard SQL script.
          Computed Column
          There are two ways to make creating Computed Columns a little easier:
          1. Type the Alias of a From Object followed by a '.' and you will see a menu containing that From Object's Columns.   Simply click the required Column and it will be inserted into your script.
            Intelligent Column
          2. Double Click one of the From Object Columns in the Available Columns section to insert the Column into your script.
            Available Columns
        3. Click the Validate Syntax button to validate your SQL syntax.   (Not Required)
        4. Type the Column's Alias.
          Column Alias
        Columns added in this manner will be place in a "Computed Columns" node if the Show All Columns option is selected.
        Computed Columns
    • Edit Column
      To edit a Column, select that column and click edit.   All Column properties are edited in the same manner described in Computed Column section of the Add Column Tutorial.
      Edit Column
    • Delete Column
      To Delete a Column, select that column and click Delete.  
      Delete Column
      Deleting a Column may have potential affects on other objects in the Schema.   All Views and Indexes that reference the Column will remove their reference to the Column.   If that View/Index's last reference is removed, the View/Index will also be deleted.

      Due to the free text nature of Custom View Columns, references to deleted Columns will not be removed and are your responsability to fix.
      Due to the free text nature of Functions, Stored Procedures and Triggers, references to deleted Columns will not be removed and are your responsability to fix.
    • Column Order
      Columns are generaly in the order in which they were added.   To change the order of the Columns choose the Show Selected Columns option and use the buttons on the left side of the screen to move the Columns up or down in the list.  
      Changing the Column order is similar to the order functionality of the Manage Screens.   See the Manage Tutorial for more information.
      Column Order