New Data Table

New data storage tables are defined from the NEW button on the My Data area of the home or Nodal Display section of the Metamation screen. Alternativlly, existing table definitions can be amended by selecting an existing table from the My Data using he mouse pointer, or selecting the properties icon ( ) against the table. Once the table properties screen is displayed, new tables can be defined or selected parts of existing tables can be amended.

Tables allows structured and controlled data to be stored and/or viewed within Metamation.

When defining new or amending existing tables, the following entries can be set:

Description: The description is used to describe the use of the table. This is a short description.
Record Type: Tables can be either single record or Multiple record. Single record tables are used to record one piece of information per storage location ( node) which would be used for storing customer details for nodal projects, budgets for a work area etc. Multiple records would allow more than one item per location, such as multiple company details.
Synopsis: The synopsis is the full, unlimited description for the table being held.
Data Edit Mode: The data edit mode is used to set the default security for the defined table. The mode can be selected from the drop down list, and contains the following options:

• No Editing allowed by anyone. No user can add, amend or delete records. Normally used when table is feed from an external source.
• Owner of Table Only. Only the owner of the table can add, amend or delete records. Any other user can only view the contents (subject to other security).
• All nodes to add, but edit own. Any user who has access to the table can add new records. But once added, only they can amend or delete the records. Other users can only view their records.
• Anybody can add, edit or delete. Any user who has access to the table can add new records, or amend/delete any existing record

Data Time Period: Tables can be for a time period (from the drop down list of Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly or Yearly). Time period tables automatically have the required level of time added as part of the storage key. As an example, staff payroll details would be set yearly, so that each year, new payroll figures would be entered. Sales targets, budgets and other calendar based information would benefit from time based tables. Where information is not divided by a calendar event (such as invoices, phone numbers, suppliers, etc), can be set to Indefinite.
Start of Year: For tables which are defined as yearly based, an additional entry allows the starting month to be defined. This then allows the yearly time period to work on calendar years (start of year is Jan), or a financial year starting on your selected month.
Active Status: The active status is used to indicate if the table is active or not (from the drop down list). De-activated tables are removed from common use, but you will still be able to view the table and re-activate as required, retaining the data content. De- activated tables are no longer refreshed from the linked data source.
Share Status: The share status is a major override of access to the table. Where the shareable drop down is set to "yes", all users of Metamation will be able to view the table and contents (subject to other grants and security), whilst the default of "No" to shareable means access is set by the users access to the tables node.
Default Review: The default review period is used to default how often owners of data items within the table should review the content. An entry of 0 will not force review. Whereas, an entry of say "7" will force owners of data records added to the table to review the records added every 7 days.
Period: Once the basic table has been defined, where connection is required to PULL information from an external data source, the data connection can be defined. Options for data connection are Excel, Microsoft project and a generic ODBC connector.

Finally, before saving the table for use within Metemation, the columns of information to be held within the table are defined using the Define Content option.