This is the specific detail for buiding a Blended Data Definition ( Query). These steps are displayed if Blending is selected when Adding or Editing a data Definition and called when selecting Next on the Data Definition  - Select Type Screen


Data Definition - Blending - Select Sources



A blending query allows you to blend data from two or more seperate sources into a single data table

 

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With both the Outer and Inner sections, you can choose to select an Query from the current dashboard, or choose to create a new query. Choosing a new query will run another Query Wizard before returning to this screen.

 

 

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You then select the refresh behaviour...

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Either

Refresh the Query that provides this data when the blending query is refreshed

or

Only Refresh the query that provides this data if there is no data available

 

The second option would be used in cases where the table's data does not change.

 

If you are editing the Query you can choose to 'Clear Data' so that the query is refreshed,.

 

If either the Outer or Inner Table Data is set to another query in then a checkbox is enabled that allows this query to be refreshed if an underlying query is refreshed,

 

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Data Definition - Blending - Join Conditions


You have selected the Outer and Inner Sources to be Blended into a single dataset, The Query Wizard allows you to define Join Conditions so you can link the matching data between the sources.

 

 

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To Add Join conditions click on 'Add' and the Join Conditions form will open up.

If you wish to Edit or Delete any of your Query Conditions, select the condition by clicking on it in the list view.  Then click on either the Edit button or the Delete button.  If you click on the Edit button, this will open the Define Join Condition form.

 

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Once you have defined your Query Filter Conditions click on the 'Next >' button to move on to the Data Definition - Blending - Select Columns form.


Data Definition - Blending - Define Join


You have selected the Outer and Inner Sources to be Blended into a single dataset, and chosen to add a Condition to join the two sets of data.

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SELECTING COLUMNS

 

The screen displays a List of the Columns that are from the 'Outer' data source, selecting one of these Columns will change the 'Inner' list of Columns to show the matching columns from the Inner Data Source.

 

It is possible to use filter the column list by using the boxes above the list of columns.

  

Next Select the Column from the Inner List and Press OK to confirm the Join


Data Definition - Blending - Select Columns


You have already selected the two datasets to be Blended and set up the Joins, the Blended dataset may contain data columns that you do not wish to be included in your Query.  The Query Wizard - Select Columns (Blending Query) form lets you choose which Columns will be included in your Query, and in what order they will be included.

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SELECTING COLUMNS

 

The screen displays a List of the columns that are 'Available' for selection, grouped from each datasource in the Blended Query, and a list of columns that you have already selected.  To select a Field, first highlight it by Clicking on it in the Available list, and then click on the '>' button to move it over to the Selected list. You can also do multiple selections by holding the mouse button down and then clicking on the '>>' button or dragging the mouse over the required columns.

 

You can also use the box immediately above the Column lists to enter part of the Column name that you are wanting to Add/Remove. As you type in this box you will notice that the list of Columns will be filtered based on the what you have typed. This is a useful way of searching for the column you want if there is a large number of Columns in the DataSet you are using for this Query.

DESELECTING COLUMNS

 

You can deselect any of the Selected Columns, or change their listing or order in the Selected list.  While you can deselect multiple Columns you can only change the order of one column at a time.

 

First highlight the Column(s) in the Selected list in the same way that you can highlight fields in the Available list.  Then click on '<',  If you click on '<<' all columns(s) will be de-selected and moved back into the Available list.

 

CHANGE COLUMN NAME

 

Since the list of selected columns are blended from different data sources there may be duplicate column names selected, or the names of the columns may need to be changed to be more user friendly. The selected column names can be changed using the 'Change Column Name' button that opens a screen to change the name of the column.

 

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Press OK to confirm the change to the column name.

 

Once you have finished making your selections click on the 'Next >' button to move on to the Data Definition Wizard - Sort Criteria form.