Define the Structure of a Database
General
- You can use this function to edit the structure of an existing database.
- You can add and delete fields, and define the type and length of fields.
- You can also use this function to create a new database.
- If you create a new database, name it in capital letters in the format d_DATABASE_NAME.
- The maximum length of a name is 16 characters.
- You may use underscores (_) in the name.
- You can leave out the prefix d_ in front of the name, the program adds it in front of the name.
- By default, databases will be saved in the Vertex ../shared/dbases folder.
- It is generally not a good idea to delete a row from a database
- If you delete a field from a database, the data saved in the field in question on each database row will be lost.
- Instead of deleting the field, set the field length to zero (0) and the field will not be displayed.
- For more information about Vertex database structure, see: Structure of Vertex Databases
Define the Structure of a Database
- Select System | Databases | Maintenance > Define Structure.
- Select the database
- Select an existing database to modify its structure or
- Enter a name for a new database if you want to create a new database.
- Enter a name for the new database in capital letters in the format d_DATABASE_NAME. The maximum length of a name is 16 characters.
- If you are creating a new database, select Save after entering the name and confirm the creation of a new database by answering Yes.
- The program opens the database view Edit Database Format.
- On the left are the fields Old Field Name, Old Index and Old Type.
- On the right are the fields New Field Name, New Index and New Type.
- If necessary, add a new field to the database using the context sensitive function
- Add row after or
- Add row before or
- You can also copy a row using the context-sensitive function Copy row.
- Enter the name of the field in the New Field Name column.
- When naming fields, please note that the allowed characters are the numbers (0-9), the letters (a-z, A-Z) and the underscore (_).
- You can also rename an old field with a new name, but note that the display, selection, and search formats related to database processing will not recognize the field unless they are edited.
- If necessary, select an index in the New Index column.
- Select blank as the index for most of the fields so that database processing is not slowed down unnecessarily.
- IND = Index the database based on this field.
- UNIQUE = Defines the field as unique, i.e. the database cannot have same values in that field.
- Define the field's Unicode type and length in the New Type column.
- T = Text field, for example T15.
- M = Alphanumeric field, for example M20.
- N = Numeric field, for example N8.
- The types A, B in the old installations should be replaced with the Unicode type fields T and M.
- Confirm the database format by clicking OK.