Before you add a Data Table to the ClearSCADA database, you should decide:
- The data that the Data Table is to store.
For instance, is the Data Table to store the results of one or more Logic programs, or to store data directly from the ClearSCADA database, or an external database?
You need to decide which records the Data Table is to store, and what data it is to store for each of those records. You will need to add a separate field for each item of data that you want the Data Table to store. As such, you need to know the type of data that applies to each field (Byte, Float, String, and so on).
(Be aware that because of their nature, you cannot include Data Tables in Group Templates.)
- The order of the fields in the Data Table.
You need to decide the order in which fields should be included in the Data Table, so that the fields appear in the expected order when operators view the data in List form.
You also need to decide whether the entries in any of those fields are to change appearance, depending on the item’s alarm state or overall status (see Specify the Field Properties).
- Which fields to index.
You need to decide which fields an operator is likely to sort or search for data, and whether any of those fields should be indexed to speed such searches (see Specify the Field Properties).
- Whether the colors used to display the records are dynamic.
You can configure certain types of field to perform specific functions, controlling either the background or foreground color of each record, or whether the records flash. Such attributes affect the appearance of the table’s data when that data is displayed as a List (see Specify the Field Properties).
- Whether to retain the Table’s records in cache memory.
Particularly if a Data Table is to contain a large number of records, you need to decide whether the ClearSCADA server is to retain that Table’s records in its cache, or whether it is to load the records only when required (see Configure the Properties on the Data Table Form).
- Which application is to automatically populate the Data Table.
Data Tables are designed to be populated automatically. You need to decide which application to use to automatically insert the required records into your Data Tables.
In order to configure the application successfully, you need the appropriate experience or knowledge of that application and how it interfaces with ClearSCADA (see Automatically Populate a Data Table).
If the application is to populate the Data Table with ClearSCADA data, you need to be familiar with the ClearSCADA database structure and naming conventions, in order to reference the relevant database table(s) and fields within those tables. For more information, see the ClearSCADA Guide to the Database.