Designing datasheets

You can set up datasheets so that the fields for a particular entity are in a specific format. You can create or edit datasheets that contain just one entity (the main entity) or with a main entity and links to one or more linked entities.

About this task

Datasheets are designed and managed in iBase Designer.

When opened in iBase Designer, all datasheets contain controls that are always displayed:

Area Description
Name The name of the datasheet.
Page Style Determines whether fields are displayed on a single page (Standard), or multiple pages that group information accessed on tabs or hyperlinks.
Form type If you turn on Use this form in place of the standard 'Show' form, the datasheet is used as the default display for items of this type.
The available fields for the datasheet are found in lists:
  • Fields - fields that are available but haven't been assigned to a page of the datasheet.
  • Selected Fields - the fields that are displayed on the selected page of the datasheet.

Procedure

  1. Select Tools > Datasheet Manager.
  2. Click New to display the Datasheet Designer with a blank sheet.
  3. Enter a Name to identify the datasheet.
  4. Select the Page style:
    • Standard - Fields for the main entry are displayed on a single page, with a separate page for the details of each link.
    • Tabbed - Selected fields can be placed on tabs to help group information.
    • Hyperlink - Selected fields can be placed on hyperlinks to help group information.
  5. Define the main entity:
    1. From the Entity Type list, select the entity type.
      When you first select an entity, the Fields list contains all non-mandatory fields that are associated with the entity type and the Selected Fields list contains all the mandatory fields.
      Note: If you select the Tabbed or Hyperlink style, you can split the Selected Fields list; each sublist is displayed in iBase as a separate tabbed page of the datasheet.
    2. In the Selected Field list, select the fields to display and the order in which to display them.
    3. Click OK to save the datasheet or click the Links tab to add one or more links to the datasheet.
  6. You can split fields into pages, which appear to the user as tabbed or hyperlinked pages. For more information, see Creating datasheet pages.
  7. You can add the details of a linked entity to your datasheet. For more information, see Adding a link in a datasheet.
  8. Click OK to save the datasheet.

What to do next

To verify that the datasheet is correct when used in iBase:

  1. Close the database in iBase Designer. You do not need to log off.
  2. Start iBase and open the database.
  3. Select New > Datasheet > name(where name is the name of your datasheet).
  4. Test that the datasheet looks and works as expected.