Configuring a Data Set Row

You use Data Set Rows together with Data Sets to add ‘custom’ tables to your database. Data Sets and Data 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) .)

A Data Set Row database item contains a cell for each field that is defined by the Data Set with which the Data Set Row is associated. Each cell in the Data Set 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. Data Sets and Data Set Rows are designed to be used with Geo SCADA Expert databases that are 'modular', particularly if such databases use Group Templates and Group Instances. (You can use Group Templates and Group Instances to reduce the amount of time and effort required to configure 'like' sections of the database.) With such a configuration setup, you can use 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, the Data Set's table contains one record for each instance of the Group Template. Records are automatically added or removed from the Data Set's table as instances of the Group Template are created or deleted.

You can also copy a Data Set Row within a 'normal' Group, or from one Group to another. When you do this, the reference to the associated Data Set are 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 use the Display Data pick action to display the data from a Data Set Row’s table in List format, 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.
   (You usually add one Data Set Row per 'normal' Group or Group Template (for a given Data Set).)
2. Configure the Properties on the Data Set Row Form.
3. Edit a Data Set Row.
4. Define the Content of a Cell in a Data Set Row.
5. Repeat step 4 for any further entries in the Data Set Row.
6. Save the configuration.

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 Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Crystal Reports).