Batch editing

If you have permission, you can edit the same field in multiple records (of a specified entity or link type) simultaneously. You can edit all the records of the same type in the database, in a case or a set, or found by a query.

Before you begin

An iBase database that contains very large numbers of sets and queries can cause performance issues. Before you use Batch Edit, delete any sets and queries that are no longer in use.

Procedure

To edit a batch of records:

  1. Select Edit > Batch Edit, and specify the entity or link type of the records you want to edit from the Entity/Link Type list.

  2. Select the origin of the records from the Source list:

    • All records - to work on all records of the selected entity or link type.

    • Query - to work on the records that are output by a query, which you select.

    • Set - to work on the relevant records contained in a set, which you select.

  3. In the Update Field list, select the field whose values you want to edit.

  4. Specify how you want to change the field's value by selecting from the different editing options. If you selected a Text type field for example, you might opt to change the case of the text, or add a prefix.

    Option

    Description

    Set To

    Enter the value that replaces the existing field value. If you want to change the text in a Multi-line Text (Append Only) field, you need to log on as a system administrator.

    Append

    For Multi-line (Append Only) fields, you can append the change to the field. To amend the existing value, you must log on as a system administrator.

    Convert To

    Changes the case of the text.

    Prefix, Suffix

    Enter the value that is inserted at the beginning of the existing field value (as a prefix) or at the end of the existing field value (as a suffix).

    Extract Text

    You can keep part of the field value and delete the rest. For example, entering 2 and 5 for a 10-character word keeps characters 2 thru 5 and deletes the first character and characters 6 to 10.

    Trim

    You can delete characters from the beginning and end of field values. Leading Spaces deletes spaces at the beginning of the field value; Trailing Spaces deletes spaces at the end of the field value; Leading and Trailing Spaces combines the options.

    Adjust

    Changes a numeric field value by addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. Date and time values can also be adjusted by incrementing or decrementing by, for example, days, hours, or minutes.

  5. Click Update.