NOMADS Query Enhancements
From PxPlus
In version 7, PVX Plus extended the built-in NOMADS Query subsystem to provide a facility to copy query data to the clipboard and to export it to comma- or tab-separated files. This was accomplished by means of a pop-up menu invoked when right-clicking the mouse in the data display area of the query panel at run-time.
In version 9, PVX Plus has further extended the data export capabilities of the Query subsystem to support more file formats, as well as added the ability to hide and show columns, add filters to columns at run-time, as well as select records to be displayed as 'Favorites'. The Query Definition interface has also been updated to facilitate the display and selection of query elements
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Hidden Columns
When creating a query definition, individual columns may be defined with an Initially hide column option. This means that the column, although included in the definition, will not be displayed when the query is invoked for the first time. Once invoked, the user then has the option to show these columns using the query popup menu, as well as hide any column. The selection of shown/hidden columns can be saved using the Save Column Settings option, and the selection of columns from the original query definition can be reset using the Reset Default columns option.
Note: QueryList definitions for smart controls do not support hidden columns, but if you use a standard query definition for a smart control, any hidden columns will be ignored.
Column Filters
Dynamic filters can be added to individual columns when a query is invoked. Right click to invoke the popup menu to add/remove column filters. Filters include tests for equality, inequality, and range. A description of the filter can be viewed in the tip that appears over the column heading. When filters are applied to more than one column, the conditions are applied using the AND operator (e.g. CustClass$ is equal to “xyz” AND Balance is less than 0). Filters may be saved using the Save Filters option on the pop-up menu, and they may be disabled/enabled at any time using the Disable User Filters option. If Selection Criteria is specified when a query definition is created, then the user filters are applied in addition to the selection criteria using the AND operator.
Favorites
Individual records from query data may be designated as Favorites and displayed in the query. To add a favorite, highlight the record in the normal query display and select the Add to Favorites item in the popup menu or press the Add to Favorites button at the top of the query display. To display the favorite records, select Show Favorites from the popup menu or press the Favorite button above the query display. This will replace the normal display with just those records designated as favorites, allowing the user to have a personalized filter for those records they require most often. When the favorites are displayed, you can remove individual favorite records or exit the favorite display back to the normal query display using the pop-up menu/buttons.
The Favorites feature is enabled by default. To turn this feature off for all queries, set the global variable:
%NOMAD_QUERY_SUPPRESS_FAVORITES=1
Individual queries have an option in the Header/Options definition to always/never suppress favorites. A default setting is also available that uses the global variable to determine the setting.
Exporting Query Data
The Export All Records to File option available in the Query pop-up menu has been expanded to support exporting query data to Symbolic Link Format files (.SLK) as well as SpreadsheetML files, an XML dialect. Both formats represent the information in an MS Excel spreadsheet. SpreadsheetML files can be read by MS Excel 2003 versions and later; Symbolic Link files can be read by earlier versions. These file formats are also readable by other spreadsheet products, such as Open Office.
The Export all Records to Spreadsheet (MS Excel 2003 or later) menu item will export the query data to an XML spreadsheet file in the user's designated TEMP directory and open it.
When exporting data, hidden columns and records that are excluded due to column filtering are not included. Also, if the Favorites mode is currently in effect, then only the designated favorite records will be exported.
The Export feature is enabled by default. To turn this feature off for all queries, set the global variable:
%NOMAD_QUERY_SUPPRESS_EXPORT=1
Individual queries have an option in the Header/Options definition to always/never suppress export. A default setting is also available that uses the global variable to determine the setting.
Query Definition Interface
Changes to the Query Definition interface include modifications to the File Elements list to display files and their elements in a treeview list to make the relationship between the different files and their elements easier to identify. Icons next to the field name indicate whether the field is a string, numeric or date (i.e. DATE class) field, or if it comprises part of the selected file key. It also allows files and their elements to be expanded and collapsed to facilitate locating elements within specific files. Also, the Add Column and Delete Column buttons have been replaced by buttons that allow you to select all fields, select all fields in a file or select a single field, as well as remove a single field or clear all fields. As well, pop-up menus have been added to the File Elements and Columns lists to make options available at the touch of a button.
