Creating and Using Auxiliary Tables
Application information for MET/BASE v7.X
Often operators need information to be available online while entering data into the Met/Track Database. This information can be placed in a user defined Auxiliary table that is available during data entry. Please keep in mind that these tables are not protected from edit by any user including level 0 (look only).
A table is created by logging in as the administrator (MT user). From the toolbar select Database/Create Auxiliary User Table. The User Table form will appear:
From here a table can be defined field by field or one of the pre-defined Sample tables can be used.
Using sample tables is simple. Simply click on the appropriate button and the pre-defined fields will fill in automatically. Add a table name and you have a new Auxiliary Table.
Existing fields can be modified or deleted and additional fields added. In this example we will modify the table to match the parts fields on the Maintenance Form of Met/Track. If you select the “Parts” sample table you will want to delete several columns, select a column by clicking on it with the mouse, then clicking on the red “X”.
We will delete all but the “Name”, “Description” and “Cost” fields. The last step here is to name the table. Place the cursor in the “Table Name” field and type “Parts” then click on the “Add Table” button, then “Close.”
Next we will customize these fields. Click on Database/Alter User Table and select “Parts”. The “Alter User Table” form will open.
Click on the “Name” field to select it. Note that the information for this field is displayed in the fields above the listing of fields. Place the cursor in the “Field Name” field, change the Name to “Part Name”, then click on the Field Name field and change the name. Click on the “Alter Table” button to store the change. Repeat this process for the “Description” field, and then click on “Close”.
Now the table is ready to receive data. From the Met/Track toolbar Select “Database/Edit Auxiliary User Table”. The form will appear:
You begin adding data by clicking on the “Add” button. When you have finished typing data into a field press the ENTER button on you keyboard to go to the next field.
After entering data on a line, click on the Save Changes” button. To add additional data click “Add” and repeat the process.
When you have finished entering data, close the form, go to the toolbar File/Log in as a New User” and log in as a user. From the toolbar select “Tools/Edit User Table. The form will open and can be kept in the background as a reference while entering data.
Advanced usage
Data can be placed into the User Tables using ISQL. This is a precise procedure and should only be attempted by those familiar with ISQL. As with all ISQL changes, make a save copy of your data before starting.
First you must define the user table. This is accomplished as shown above. In this example, a table called “AuxUserTable_Part” will be created with three columns. Using ISQL commands to select the blank table:
select * from AuxUserTable_Part
will yield:
In order to populate this table an external comma delimited file is used. The file could be called “PART.TXT” and contain data like this:
Resistor,R10-100k,0.25
Resistor,R10-10M,0.50
Resistor,R10-1M,0.50
Cap,C2-1m,0.745
Cap,C2-2m,0.74
Resistor,R5-2.5k,0.34
Resistor,1ohm,0.55
Resistor,R10-100k,0.25
Resistor,R10-10M,0.50
Notice that the file contains the same number of columns as the table in the database. This data can be manual created or “dumped” from a different database.
To read the file into the data base use the ISQL command:
input into AuxUserTable_Part from c:\part.txt
and the ISQL screen will appear:
To make the addition permanent enter the command:
COMMIT WORK.
And the data is added to the table.