OS/2 Shareware BBS: Product/Product.zip/visquery.zip/FTB1OAT1.INF

OS/2 Help File | 1994-07-12 | 51KB | 432 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Welcome ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Dummy ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Dummy ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

                                 Welcome to the
                                   Visualizer
                                 Table Tutorial
                       (C) Copyright IBM Corporation 1994

Double-click on the arrow to continue.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Using this Tutorial ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Using this tutorial

The Visualizer tutorial windows have been designed to occupy only 40 percent of
your screen. This is to allow you to run Visualizer at the same time as viewing
a tutorial.

In this way you can perform the tutorial steps using the real product and not a
product simulation as in so many online tutorials.

Before you start to read the lesson steps, it is recommended that you will:

o Open the Visualizer folder
o Size the Visualizer window so that it fits neatly next to the tutorial window

By performing the tutorial steps using the real Visualizer product, you will
familiarize yourself with the feel, functions, and features of the product.

All the tutorials in the Visualizer product are structured in a similar way. If
you have not used a Visualizer tutorial before, double-click on any of the
following topics for further information:

o Highlighted terms
o Lessons and steps
o Why
o Which lessons to follow


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Lessons and Steps ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Lessons and steps

Visualizer tutorials are divided into lessons and each lesson is further
divided into steps.

At the start of each lesson there is a lesson overview, followed by a list of
lesson steps. The lesson steps are hypertext links to the steps themselves. To
start the tutorial at the beginning, double-click on the first step.

At the end of each lesson there is an overview which recaps on the concepts and
steps you should be familiar with.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Highlighted Terms ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Highlighted terms

If you see any words or phrases that are highlighted like this: hypertext you
can double-click on them to get more information.

The information is displayed in a new window like this one. When you have
finished reading it, close the window in one of the following ways:

o Press the Esc key on your keyboard
o Double-click on the System menu
o Select Close from the System menu


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Why ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Why

At the start of each lesson you will see this:

(Why?)

Double-clicking on the word (Why?) will display further information about the
purpose of the lesson and help to explain how the lesson is related to the
lessons which precede and follow it.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Which Lessons to Follow ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Which lessons to follow

If you are unfamiliar with Visualizer, we recommend that you work through each
lesson sequentially.

To do this, when you have read the overview of each lesson, double-click on the
title of the first lesson.

If you are familiar with some aspects of Visualizer, be selective about which
lessons you work through. Read all the lesson overviews before you select which
lessons you want to follow.

To go on to other lessons, follow the navigational help that is given at the
end of each lesson.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Visualizer Table Lessons ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Visualizer Table Lessons

Use Visualizer Table to organize, access, and maintain data other than SQL
data. (To organize, access, and maintain SQL data use the Visualizer SQL Table
and SQL View objects.)

You use Visualizer tables to create and manipulate data if you are not
connected to a database, or have Visualizer installed on a portable machine.

Lesson 1: Creating a new Visualizer table
In this lesson you will learn how to create a new Visualizer table, rename it,
define its columns, and input data to it.

This lesson takes 20 minutes to complete.

Lesson 2: Changing an existing Visualizer table
In this lesson you will view and change an existing Visualizer table.

This lesson takes 15 minutes to complete.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. 1. Creating a New Table ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Creating a new Visualizer table

In this lesson you will learn how to create a new Visualizer table, rename it,
define its columns, and input data to it.

(Why?...)

Steps
1. Create a copy of the template table.
2. Rename the table.
3. Define the table's columns.
4. Input data to the table.
5. Save the changes then close the table.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. 1.1 Copy the Template ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Open the Visualizer folder.

The Visualizer folder contains the Shadows of Templates folder.

Open the Shadows of Templates folder.

The Shadows of Templates folder contains templates for all the Visualizer
objects. You can use these templates to create your own Visualizer objects.

Drag the Visualizer Table template icon and drop it on the folder you want to
store the new table in.

You have now created a new Visualizer table in your target folder.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. 1.2 Rename the Table ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Open the folder where your new Visualizer table is stored.

Hold down the Alt key.

Select your new Visualizer table.

Release the Alt key.

Overtype the title with one of your own.

Select on an empty part of the folder to save your changes.

You have now renamed your new table and saved the changes.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.3. 1.3 Define the Columns ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Although you can change the definition of the columns after you have added the
data, always try to define the column settings before you add the data. This
will help you to input the data correctly as Visualizer Table uses these
defintions to validate the data.

Double-click on your new table.

Your new table is now open.

Add more columns to your table and define them. To do this:

 1. Select the column handle for the table's empty column which has the default
    name Column.

    The column is highlighted to show it is selected.

 2. Select  from the tool bar.

    A new column Column1 is added to your table.

 3. Select  from the tool bar, or hold down the Ctrl key and press the A key,
    to add another column to your table.

    Another new column Column2 is added to your table.

 4. Repeat the above step until you have the number of columns you want in your
    table.

Rename your new columns. To do this:

 1. Select the default title of one of your new columns.

    The column title is highlighted to show it is selected.

 2. Type the new column title over the default title.

 3. Press the Tab key to select the column to the right of the currently
    selected title.

    The column title is highlighted to show it is selected.

 4. Type the new column title over the default title.

 5. Repeat the above two steps until all your new columns have been renamed.

Change the display width and description of a column. To do this:

 1. Double-click on the column handle of the column you want to change.

    The Column Settings window for the selected column is displayed.

 2. Type a new column width in the Display Width field.

    You can also change the width of the column by moving the column
    separators. To do this, select the separator, hold down mouse button 2, and
    drag the separator to the position you want.

 3. Type your descriptive text into the Comment field.

    This comment is displayed when you select the column and press the F1 key

 4. Make similar changes to the other columns in your table.

 5. Select OK.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.4. 1.4 Input Data ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select the first blank field in the leftmost column

The field is highlighted to show it is selected.

Type in the data for this cell.

Press the Tab key to move the selection to the next column on the right.

Type in the data for this cell.

Repeat the above two steps until you have entered all the data for one row of
your table.

Hold down the Ctrl key and press Enter.

A new row is added to your table.

Add the data to this new row in the same way that you did for the first row.

Repeat the above two steps until your table contains all the rows and data you
want.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.5. 1.5 Save and Close ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select  from the tool bar.

The changes you have just made to your table have been saved.

Double-click on the title-bar icon.

Your table is now closed.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Why Change a Visualizer Table? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Creating new Visualizer tables is a regular task for anyone who stores, or
wants to store, data in tables.

It may be a particularly frequent task for users of Visualizer tables as
Visualizer tables are used to organize, access, and maintain data other than
SQL data. This may be data stored on your own computer.

In this lesson you will learn how to create a new Visualizer table, rename it,
define its rows and columns, and input the data.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Handles ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Handles

A handle is a selectable area above a column and cell, and to the left of a
row.

Use handles to select a particular column, row, or cell.

When you have selected a particular area of a table using a handle, you can
define or change the selected area.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. 2. Changing a Visualizer Table ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Changing an existing Visualizer table

In this lesson you will view and change an existing Visualizer table.

(Why?...)

Steps
1. Copy an existing table.
2. Change entries in the table.
3. Save the changes then close the table.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. 2.1 Copying an Existing Table ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To open an existing table you simply double-click on its icon.

However, as this is a tutorial, you may want to take a copy of the table before
you change it, so that you can keep the original table in its unchanged form.

Keeping the Ctrl key pressed, drag the table icon and drop it on the folder
where you are keeping your work.

A copy of the table is created in the target folder.

Rename the copy of the table. To do this:

 1. Hold down the Alt key.
 2. Select the new table.
 3. Release the Alt key.
 4. Type the new name over the original name.
 5. Select on an empty area of the folder to save the change.

Double-click on your table icon to open the table.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.2. 2.2 Change Table Entries ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Decide which row of your table you want to change.

Scroll down your table and select the row.

The row is outlined to show that it is selected.

You can now change the data in the row or delete the entire row.

To change the data in the selected row simply overtype the data entry with your
changes.

The row is changed to display your new data.

To delete the selected row simply select Delete from the Edit menu.

The row is deleted from your table.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.3. 2.3 Save and Close ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select  from the tool bar.

The changes you have just made to your new table have been saved.

Select  from the tool bar, if you didn't make a copy of the original table when
you started this lesson but would now like to. Using the Copy to window you can
save a copy of the table you have changed, in addition to retaining a copy of
the original table you opened.

Double-click on the title-bar icon.

The table you have changed is closed.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Why Change a Table? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Updating existing Visualizer tables is a regular task for anyone who stores
data in tables.

In this lesson you will learn how to open an existing Visualizer table, change
it, then save your changes and close the table.

This lesson shows you how to make a copy of a table.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Tutorial Review ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Reviewing the Visualizer Table Tutorial

You should now feel confident about creating Visualizer tables, opening them,
changing entries in them, saving the changes and closing the tables.

Understand what you did?
If you feel you did not understand all you did, consider going through the
lessons again. Next time, double-click on all of the (Why?...) fields for
lesson explanations and on all of the highlighted text fields for conceptual
information.

For more information
You can find conceptual, control and task information in the Visualizer online
help and in Visualizer Query for OS/2: Using, SH45-5089-00. An online version
of this book is also provided in your Manuals folder.

What to do now
You have now completed the Visualizer Table tutorial.

If you would like to repeat the tutorial, select here on the back-page button:
Alternatively close the tutorial window by double-clicking on the title-bar
mini icon.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden>  ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This is a footnote window. The highlighted terms in this tutorial are usually
displayed in larger windows. Press the escape key on your keyboard to close the
footnote.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden>  ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This is a footnote window. Why information is usually displayed in larger
windows.