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For data sources that support groups, you can assign a unique name to multiple fields to create a group field. A group field is created by two or more alphanumeric fields, physically next to each other. A group field provides an efficient means for grouping similar or logically connected fields that will be accessed as a single unit, but do not warrant a separate segment.
Note: In the Maintain environment, group fields are supported in a Master File as long as they are not group keys. That is, groups that are actual fields, as supported by VSAM. If you create a group field in the Maintain environment, the group will not be visible, only the fields that make up the group will be visible.
The Synonym Editor opens.
Note: The group option may not be available for some data sources.
A group is added to the synonym and its attributes and values appear on the right.
Note: When you add a group, a field is automatically added to the group.
A field is added to the group and its attributes and values appear on the right, as shown in the following image.
The field is added to the group field.
A confirmation appears stating that all columns (fields) within the group will be deleted.
Click No to delete the group and all of the fields within the group.
Click Cancel to close the Confirm Delete dialog box and return to the Synonym Editor.
Group fields in a synonym can have the following attributes:
General
Is the name of the group.
Assigns an alternative name for a group.
If you create a report, the group name appears as a column heading unless you have specified an alternate title for the group. Aliases cannot be used as column titles.
Supplies a title to replace the group name that is normally used in reports and enables you to specify multiple language titles for the group.
Contains the format for the group field. Since the group field is made by concatenating together several other fields, the Synonym Editor determines what this format needs to be. For example, if the group field has two alphanumeric fields in it, each 20 characters long (A20), then the group field must be alphanumeric and 40 characters long (A40). The group field is always alphanumeric, regardless of the fields that make it up.
Miscellaneous
Contains a description or comments about the group. The description displays in Field lists and on the status bar.
Field descriptions also appear as bubble help in OLAP-enabled reports. If you do not include a description, bubble help shows the field name (column title).
For information on displaying bubble help in OLAP-enabled reports, see the Creating Reporting Applications With Developer Studio manual.
Identifies an indexed group. You can index the values of a field to enhance data retrieval performance. To do so, select the Index check box when you add a field and before you add the data. An index is an internally stored and maintained table of data values and locations that enhance the performance of data retrieval. A Master File can have several associated indexes, but the combined total of indices and segments cannot exceed 64.
Note: FIELDTYPE=R indicates a read-only column. This setting is useful for columns that are automatically assigned a value by the RDBMS.
Tip: You can turn on the index after adding data to a field, however, you will have to use the Rebuild Index option to create the index.
Specifies access options for the column data.
INTERNAL defines a column that does not appear in sample data or in the list of available columns. Restricts the field from showing in any of the Field Lists in the reporting tools.
NEED_VALUE defines a column that requires a value to access the data. Indicates that a selection is needed in the report request (WHERE condition).
Select By defines a column by value, range, or multivalues:
Is the name of the stylesheet applied to a group.
Note: The attributes available depend on the type of synonym.
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