Lookups

Overview

Almost every database application needs a mechanism for the user to find and access data quickly. MAPCON makes extensive use of "lookups" for this purpose (the word "pop-up" in this document is used interchangeably with "lookup").

Basically, a lookup presents data in a columnar format - multiple rows of data in one or more columns. Although a lookup can be used solely for the purpose of  displaying data, in MAPCON the user may also select a row (or multiple rows if allowed) from the lookup. When the user clicks the OK button on the lookup, information from the selected rows will be displayed. See also using Active Lists.

Using Lookups

In any field, click the Lookup button at the bottom, or press the F6 function key.

If the field does not have a lookup, the button will be greyed out.

Many lookups have choices so that not all data is shown at once. Choose the desired option, then click OK to see the main lookup window.

Click on a record to highlight it. After selecting desired record(s), click the OK button in the bottom of the lookup window.

New Filter Feature!

In the box at the top of each column, type desired text then press the Enter key to only display data in that column that matches the filter.

Use a filter in as many columns as needed. Note: the very first column in every lookup is the indexed row and cannot be filtered.

To highlight more than one record at a time using the mouse:

Click on the first record, click on the last record, hold down the Shift key on keyboard then double-click the last record again to highlight all records between the first and last.

If needed, click the Next button in lookup to display the next page and repeat process. Click Ok when all desired records have been highlighted.

New Toggle Feature!

To highlight more than one record at a time using the keyboard, press the Left Arrow key on keyboard to toggle on/off the highlighter.

For example:

Press the Left Arrow key to turn ON the highlighter feature.

Press the Down Arrow key. Each record the cursor lands on will become highlighted.

To skip a few records, press the Left Arrow key again to turn OFF the highlighter feature.

Press the Down Arrow key. Each record the cursor lands on will NOT become highlighted.

Repeat this process until all desired records are highlighted, then press F2 (or click OK).

Other Lookup Controls:

Click the OK button when done highlighting records to display them in the window.

Click the Cancel button to not select any records and return to the window.

Click the All button to highlight all records.

Click the None button to un-highlight any previously selected records.

Click the Refresh button to refresh the display.

Click the Properties button to find technical information about the lookup, such as the BTree Popup Name (the formal name of the lookup), the File (table) Name the data is based upon, and the Indexed Row (Note: the first column is sorted by this indexed row).

Click the <<<Prev button to display the previous page, click the Next>>> button to display the next page.

Lookup Generator

Access through:

            Administration Icon

            Utilities Menu

            Popup Utilities Menu

            Lookup Generator

The Lookup Generator is a utility to help system managers create a variety of lookups for any column in any table on a specified screen. The Lookup Generator automates several steps that were previously required: creating the symbolic, adding the index, making the popup definition and adding it to a window. Although the Lookup Generator takes much of the work out of creating lookups, the dictionary symbolic may require some tweaking, depending upon the lookup's complexity.

The Lookup Generator is intended to be used by MAPCON System Managers, and should be a restricted utility. Before continuing, the following terms should be understood since they are used throughout this portion of the manual:

Table:  A collection of related data that represents an actual object or data from another table. Several tables make up the MAPCON database. For example: EQP_MSTR is the table containing data for Equipment.

Column:  A position in the table that identifies a specific attribute of the object the table represents. There can be one or several columns in a Table.

Dictionary:   The definition of the data within a column. The definition is separate than the actual data  itself. A name is associated with a column that describes the data content. Other information about the data content is maintained in the dictionary, such as: Length, type, field position and numeric/date conversion. For example: EQUIPMENT_DES in the EQP_MSTR table is the Equipment Description column definition.

Dictionary Symbolic:  A calculated virtual column in a Table. Dictionary Symbolics do not actually exists until they are needed by the system. These are temporary columns used to fetch data from another table, calculate totals, or provide brief descriptions for codes within the data. Symbolics are used to create lookups in MAPCON.

Lookup/Popup:  A quick method of viewing a small subset of Columns within a Table, usually used for finding specific records.         Lookups/Popups can be sorted by any Column within the Table, and usually return a key or set of keys for the selected record(s). However, Lookups/Popups can return data within a specified column instead of the record key.

Lookup Definition:  The definition of how a lookup appears, what Table it uses, what Symbolic, what Columns it should display and what the Lookup should return. For more on the lookup  definition, refer to the PopupBTree portion of the manual.

Index:  A collection of sorted data in a Column maintained for quick reference. An index is updated whenever a record is changed, added or deleted. Normally, indexes provide quicker access but sacrifice hard disk space.

Lookup Window Definition:  Definition of where a Lookup is present on a data entry screen. In some cases, when a lookup appears is also defined.