Selecting Data Sources and Columns
Overview
The nVISAGE Data viewer enables the user to select data sources and specify which fields (columns) to include in the report display. If the data source is based on the nVIRO Data Hub, users may select multiple logically related data sources to build more complex reports.
Data Source Types
The nVISAGE Data Viewer is automatically configured to access data sources from the Data Hub. Other 'Custom' data sources are supported for complex queries or for queries that pre-date Data Hub implementation.
Initial Data Source and Column Selection
When a user creates a Data Viewer report for the first time, the system displays the Data Source Selection dialog box. The selection list can be searched by typing in the Select Data Source field (e.g., typing "site" filters to all data sources with the word "site" in the name).
To select a data source and columns:
Click to select the desired data source name. A list of data source columns is presented:
Click the checkboxes to select the desired data source columns.
Click OK. The report executes using the selected data source and columns.
Some data sources and data columns have long names that may end up with text being cut off in the selection window. To see the full name, the selection window may be resized by clicking on the edge or corner of the selection window and dragging while holding down the left mouse button.
Adding More Data Sources
If the current data source is based on the Data Hub, additional related data sources can be added to the report.
To select a related data source:
Click the menu icon in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
Click Add Data Source on the dropdown menu.
A data source selection window is displayed. Proceed to select the desired data source and columns as described under Initial Data Source and Column Selection above.
The selected data source and columns are added to the report.
Removing Data Sources
Data sources may be removed from a report as follows:
In the row above the data source columns, right-click the name of the data source to be removed. A dropdown menu is displayed.
Click Remove Data Source on the dropdown menu.
Click OK. The data source and all related columns are removed from the report.
Adding and Removing columns
Columns for report data sources may be added to or removed from a report.
To select or remove columns:
In the row above the data source columns, right-click the name of the data source. A dropdown menu is displayed.
Click Choose Columns in the dropdown menu.
Select the desired data source columns to add (or de-select the data source columns to be removed), as described under Initial Data Source and Column Selection above.
Click OK. The report is refreshed with the updated column selections.
Making Data Sources Optional
nVISAGE supports the ability to make data sources 'Optional'. This is useful if you wish one data source to always be included in the report, and one to be included only if there is a corresponding value.
For example, when a user desires creates a report that lists information from both the CORE - Sites and CORE - Permit data sources, if neither data source is specified as Optional, then the report will list all records where there both a site and permit exist. If a permit does not exist for a site, that site will not display on the report. Suppose the user desires to list all sites, and only list permit information if a permit exists. This can be accomplished by specifying the CORE - Permit data source as 'Optional'.
To specify a data source as optional:
Right mouse click on the data source name.
The data source menu appears:
Click Mark Data Source Optional
The query will refresh making the selected data source options
To remove the data source optionality, follow the above steps, clicking the Mark Data Data Source Required option.
Data Source Linkages, and overriding them with Child Of
WARNING: the capability described here is an early release capability which can help advanced report designers, but also has the potential of resulting in report issues. Only use it rarely, and selectively. A future extension to nVisage will improve its functionality, UX and robustness.
When more that one data source is added to a report, nVisage automatically ‘joins’ the data between the two behind the scenes, so one row in the report contains data that from these sources and are related directly in the system.
However, when many data sources are included this joining (or automatic routing) attempts to find the most sensible connection between the data sources. This is based on the existence if data that proves the routes chosen are reasonable, but what is reasonable for some data is not for others. For example, a contact may be related to either a Permit or a Site, the system will assume it should only include those related to the Permit. However, if the Permit data source is optional, then it will also find contacts that are associated to the Site if no Permit exists. This may well be what the report designed intends, but in some cases they want that route to be different, e.g. only every include the Site’s Owner contact, regardless of what Permits are also included on the report.
To override the automated data source routing, a user can use a special (albeit intentionally hard to find) feature that allows the designer to force a specific route between two data sources. To achieve this, first one will need to add a special data source field called ‘Child Of’ to the report - this can only be found if one unselects the ‘Recommended’ data fields. Then, in the advanced filters window, the Child of field can be added as a new clause, and the user much pick ‘is any of’ and then select ONLY one of the other data sources available.
This will force the report to use that route instead of its assumed best route. Once this criteria has been added, the Child Of column on the report can be Hidden (but not Removed, which would remove it from the filter too).