Overview
DataSpot Template File Overview

The following topics provide a brief overview of the DataSpot publishing process, the DataSpot template file and its structure. Refer to the DataSpot Publisher online help for more detailed information on the publishing process.

  The Publishing Process

  The Template File

  Template File Structure

  DataSpot Publisher Template File Handling


Publishing Process
The Publishing Process

The DataSpot Publisher provides an environment in which the data provider defines the contents and appearance of a DataSpot application. During the publishing phase, the data provider:

•	Selects the required data sources and association modules to be used in the application.

•	Defines answer tables and modifies the default table attributes and links if required.

•	Defines the layout of the HTML pages that will be dynamically created to interact with the end-user.

The publishing phase consists of three steps:

1.	Defining the DataSpot Parameters (.dsp) file.

2.	Generating a DataSpot Web View (.adb) file from your data sources according to the DataSpot Parameters (.dsp) file.

3.	Creating the HTML template (.htx) files.

When the Web View and the template file are ready, the query phase can take place. In this phase, the end-user queries the Web View. The DataSpot Search Server uses the template file to generate screens on-the-fly, both for the end-user’s queries and for displaying the answers it locates in the Web View.


The Template File

The DataSpot template file defines the layout of the screens that are displayed to the end-user. The data provider creates the template file by clicking on the Create Template button in the DataSpot Publisher window. See Chapter 3 in the DataSpot User’s Guide for further information. By default, the template file resides in the same directory as the parameters (.dsp) file (the parameters file is created by the DataSpot Publisher and includes all the parameters required to generate both the Web View and the template file). The template file has the same name as the parameters file, but with the extension .htx.

Note: By default, the name of the Web View, which is generated by clicking the Generate button in the DataSpot Publisher, is also identical to the name of the parameters file (with the extension .adb).

The DataSpot Search Server looks for the template file in the same directory as the Web View, and under the same name. Therefore you should ensure that you keep the same name for the Web View (.adb file), the parameters file (.dsp file) and the template file (.htx file).


Template File Structure

The DataSpot template file includes a general page structure and specific templates for each data item. The page, which corresponds to a screen displayed to the end-user, includes several parts (header, footer, query form, and so on), and references to the required table-specific templates. The templates may be thought of as procedures or macros that enable structured programming. An example of the use of such a mechanism is the display of the answer list. In a DataSpot application, an answer list may include items of different types (such as wines and wineries). The appropriate table-specific template is used to handle the display of the answer according to its type.

There are three template types defined for each table in the database: Full Display template, Brief Display template, and Title Display template. When a template is referenced from a generated page, the table-specific template is used to generate the table’s display. For example, when the Brief Display template is referenced in the page answer list, the Brief Display of the current item is used - such as the Brief Display of a Wine record.


DataSpot Publisher Template File Handling

Using the DataSpot Publisher, the data provider creates the default template file. The DataSpot Publisher supports many template file editing features, such as defining the page header and the page footer; selecting the fields that comprise each table display, reordering the displayed fields and more. Refer to Chapter 3 of the DataSpot User’s Guide for more detailed information.

However, the DataSpot Publisher is not an HTML editor, and further editing of the template file may be required. The data provider can use HoTMetaL PRO to edit the template file. Using HoTMetaL PRO, the user may edit the display of the screens and handle the DataSpot template file components.

__________

See:

DataSpot Template Editing with HoTMetaL PRO


DataSpot Template Editing with HoTMetaL PRO

This help describes how to use HoTMetaL PRO to edit your DataSpot template file. For general information about using HoTMetaL PRO, refer to the HoTMetaL PRO documentation provided by SoftQuad Inc.

HoTMetaL PRO enables you to edit your DataSpot template file by inserting DataSpot Design Time Controls (DTCs)  into the DataSpot template file. You can also edit the attributes of existing DTCs.

Note: The examples used in this help are based on a sample Microsoft ACCESS database, found in Microsoft MSDN. The ACCESS database includes information about wines produced in Washington State. Please note that the information within the database is not to be used commercially.


Compounded Fields

DataSpot enables the display of fields from other tables related to the current table, using links between tables that were defined in the DataSpot Publisher. When such a field is used in the template file, its name is comprised of the name of the field that serves as the link (the foreign key in the current table) and the required field from the linked table. The first field on the left is the foreign key in the current table, the second field is the field from the table pointed to by the foreign key. Field names can be further compounded, as shown below.

Field Name	Field Display
[Appellation Name]	Appellation name is displayed.
[Winery ID].[Winery Name]	Winery name is displayed. Winery ID is a foreign key field in the current table (the Wine table) that serves as a link to the Winery table. The Winery Name is a field from the Winery record that is actually the field to be displayed on the screen.
[Wine ID].[Winery ID].[Winery Name]	This is an example of two links used to display the field. The current record, in this case, is a Foods+Wines record, and the required field value to be displayed on the screen is the Winery Name of the winery producing the specific wine. Wine ID is a foreign key in the current record (Foods+Wines), and points to a Wine record. The Winery ID is a foreign key in the pointed Wine record, and points to a Winery record. The Winery name is taken from the Winery record.


Testing the Modified Template File

In order to test the modified template file, you need to make sure that the DataSpot Search Server reloads the template file. To do this, either stop all the sessions connected to the specific Web View, or else stop the DataSpot Search Server and restart it. Refer to Appendix B, DataSpot Server Manager in the DataSpot User’s Guide for instructions. Once you have stopped the DataSpot Search Server, you can test the modified template file by querying the appropriate Web View.


Displaying DTC Elements in Inline Format
Displaying DataSpot DTC Elements in Inline Format

All DataSpot DTC elements must be displayed in inline format.

To display a DataSpot DTC element in inline format:

1.	Place the cursor at the beginning of the required DataSpot DTC element.

2.	From the Tools menu, select Display Options. A popup menu is displayed.

3.	From the popup menu, select Modify. The HoTMetaL PRO Display Options dialog is displayed.

4.	In the Format Type area of the dialog, select the Inline option button.

5.	Click Apply to close the dialog and modify the format of the DataSpot DTC element to inline display.

6.	Repeat the above procedure to modify the display format of all the remaining DataSpot DTC elements.


Inserting DataSpot Design Time Controls
Inserting DataSpot Design Time Controls (DTCs)

Using HoTMetaL PRO, you can insert DataSpot DTCs (Design Time Controls) into the DataSpot template file. DataSpot DTCs appear in the template file in one of two ways:

•	Red text enclosed in square brackets, indicating the field that will be displayed in the final screen. For example, the field [Wine Name] will display the name of the wine in the current record, such as Merlot. The field in red is used for display purposes only, it is not a link.

•	Blue text enclosed in square brackets, representing a link as well as displaying the field value. This field will link to an information page for this item. For example, [Wine Name] will display the name of the wine in the current record, such as Merlot, and may link to a page containing information about this specific wine.

Note: All DataSpot DTC elements must be displayed in inline format. Click here for instructions.

To insert a DataSpot DTC:

1.	Position the cursor in the DataSpot template at the point at which you want to insert the DataSpot DTC.

2.	From the Insert menu, select Design Time Control. The Design Time Controls dialog is displayed with a list of the available DataSpot DTCs.

3.	Select the required Design Time Control and click Insert. The Design Time Control Attributes dialog is displayed.

4.	In the upper left part of the Design Time Control Attributes dialog is a button containing a representation of the current attributes defined for the selected DTC. Click this button to modify the DTC attributes.

5.	The appropriate DTC dialog is displayed in which you can modify the DTC attributes. Each DTC dialog contains different attributes, refer to DataSpot Design Time Controls for a list of all the available DTCs.

__________

See also:

Editing DataSpot Design Time Controls (DTCs)

Testing the Modified Template File


Editing DataSpot Design Time Controls
Editing DataSpot Design Time Controls (DTCs)

Using HoTMetaL PRO, you can edit the attributes of existing DTCs in the DataSpot template file.

Note: All DataSpot DTC elements must be displayed in inline format. Click here for instructions.

To edit the attributes of a DataSpot DTC:

1.	Right-click the DTC whose attributes you want to modify. The Design Time Control Attributes dialog is displayed.

2.	In the upper left part of the Design Time Control Attributes dialog is a button containing a representation of the current attributes defined for the selected DTC. Click this button to modify the DTC attributes.

3.	The appropriate DTC dialog is displayed in which you can modify the DTC attributes. Each DTC dialog contains different attributes, refer to DataSpot Design Time Controls for a list of all the available DTCs.

__________

See also:

Inserting DataSpot Design Time Controls (DTCs)

Testing the Modified Template File


DataSpot Design Time Controls (DTCs)

The following is a list of the available DataSpot Design Time Controls (DTCs). Click on an item in the list below to display information about the selected DTC.

  Answer DTC

  AnswerList DTC

  AnswerRank DTC

  Button DTC

  Field DTC

  QueryForm DTC

  Reasoning DTC

  RelatedItems DTC

  Title DTC


DataSpot Answer DTC

The DataSpot Answer DTC enables you to display the current answers. This DTC can be added to or removed from the template, but because it does not require any parameters, it cannot be edited.


DataSpot AnswerList DTC

The DataSpot AnswerList DTC dialog enables you to specify the answer list title, the appearance of the answer list, the type of ranking used (graphic or numeric), the range and the graphic indicators.

To specify the answer list title:

1.	In the Type area, select the Text or Image option button as required for the answer list title.

2.	If you selected the Text option button, enter the required answer list title in the text box.

Or,

If you selected the Image option button, enter the relative path or URL address for the required image in the text box. You can click the Browse button to display a file selection window in which you can select the required image. If you want to define additional options, click the Advanced button.

Note: It is recommended that you keep all of the image files in the same directory as the template file (.htx), or in a subdirectory of the template file (.htx) directory.

To specify the appearance of the answer list:

In the Appearance area, click the required option button to specify the type of HTML list to be used for the answer list. The following options are available: Table, Ordered List (numbered list), Unordered List (bulleted list). If you want to define additional options, click the Advanced button.

To specify the type of ranking:

In the Rank area, select one or both of the following options for displaying the query result ratings:

•	Graphic: Rates the relevance of each query answer with an appropriate graphic for either an answer or a partial answer.

The default graphic for an answer is a checkmark [image] and for a partial answer is a crossed checkmark [image], however you can use any graphic in GIF or JPEG format, click here for details.

•	Numeric: Rates the relevance of each query answer with a number.

To specify the range (number of graphic indicators to be used):

In the Range field, enter the number of graphic indicators to be used, that is, the number of levels of accuracy.

For example, entering 3 means that there are three levels of accuracy (for example, ‘excellent answers’, ‘good answers’, ‘vague answers’). Entering 5 means that there are five levels of accuracy (for example, ‘excellent answers’, ‘very good answers’, ‘good answers’, ‘fair answers’ and ‘vague answers’).

This option is only available if you selected the Graphic option in the Rank area of the DataSpot AnswerRank DTC dialog.

To specify the graphic indicators:

Click the Select Graphic Indicators button to display the Select Score Images dialog. This dialog enables you to define the graphics to be used for the query scoring indication for both answers and partial answers.


DataSpot AnswerRank DTC

The DataSpot AnswerRank DTC dialog enables you to specify the type of ranking used (graphic or numeric), the maximum number of graphic indicators to be used and the graphics to be used as indicators.

To specify the type of ranking:

In the Rank area, select one or both of the following options for displaying the query result ratings:

•	Graphic: Rates the relevance of each query answer with an appropriate graphic for either an answer or a partial answer.

The default graphic for an answer is a checkmark [image] and for a partial answer is a crossed checkmark [image], however you can use any graphic in GIF or JPEG format, click here for details.

•	Numeric: Rates the relevance of each query answer with a number.

To specify the range (number of graphic indicators to be used):

In the Range field, enter the number of graphic indicators to be used, that is, the number of levels of accuracy.

For example, entering 3 means that there are three levels of accuracy (for example, ‘excellent answers’, ‘good answers’, ‘vague answers’). Entering 5 means that there are five levels of accuracy (for example, ‘excellent answers’, ‘very good answers’, ‘good answers’, ‘fair answers’ and ‘vague answers’).

This option is only available if you selected the Graphic option in the Rank area of the DataSpot AnswerRank DTC dialog.

To specify the graphic indicators:

Click the Select Graphic Indicators button to display the Select Score Images dialog. This dialog enables you to define the graphics to be used for the query scoring indication for both answers and partial answers.


Select Score Images

The Select Score Images dialog enables you to select the graphics to be used for the query scoring indication for both answers and partial answers. The dialog opens with the default graphic files defined.

To select score images:

1.	For each score level for both answers and partial answers, either enter the name of the GIF or JPEG file to be used or click the Browse button to display a file selection window in which you can select the required GIF or JPEG file.

2.	When you have completed the image definition, click OK to redisplay the DataSpot AnswerList DTC dialog or the DataSpot AnswerRank DTC dialog (depending on the dialog from which you accessed this dialog).


DataSpot Button DTC

The DataSpot Button DTC dialog enables you to specify the text or image to be displayed for each of the following buttons on every page:

•	Next Answer

•	Previous Answer

•	More Answers

•	New Search

The Next Answer, Previous Answer and More Answers buttons can be defined twice: for both enabled and disabled states.

Note: When text or images are specified, they must be specified for both enabled and disabled states. You cannot specify text for one state and an image for the other state.

Next Answer

Clicking the Next Answer button enables the end-user to display the next answer in the answer list. By default, the text on this button is Next Answer.

Previous Answer

Clicking the Previous Answer button enables the end-user to display the previous answer in the answer list. By default, the text on this button is Previous Answer.

More Answers

Clicking the More Answers button enables the end-user to display further answers to the query. By default, the text on this button is More Answers.

New Search

Clicking the New Search button enables the end-user to perform a new search. By default, the text on this button is New Search. There is no disabled state for this button.

To define text or an image for a button:

1.	Select the option button for the button type that you want to modify.

2.	Select the Text or Image option button as required. Note that the same selection is automatically made for the second state (if available).

3.	If you selected the Text option button, enter the required text in the text box(es).

Or,

If you selected the Image option button, enter the relative path or URL address for the required image(s) in the text box(es). You can click the Browse button to display a file selection window in which you can select the required image.

Note: Selecting an image or specifying text for one state (enabled or disabled) does not have any effect on the selection for the other state.

Note: It is recommended that you keep all of the image files in the same directory as the template file (.htx), or in a subdirectory of the template file (.htx) directory.

4.	If you want to define additional options, click the Advanced button.

5.	Click OK to close the DataSpot Button DTC dialog.

6.	Click OK in the Design Time Control Attributes dialog to insert the button text or image(s) into the DataSpot template file.


DataSpot Field DTC

The DataSpot Field DTC dialog enables you to select the DataSpot field and the link type (None, Display this Item, Display this Answer or Display this Foreign Key) that you want to insert in the DataSpot template file. When the DataSpot Field DTC dialog opens, it only displays the fields of the current table.

To select the DataSpot field and the link type to insert:

1.	In the DataSpot Field DTC dialog, in the List of Fields for Table <…> area, click on a field to select it. Then click the Select button or double-click the field to copy the field to the Field Name field.

2.	Select the link type from the drop-down list. The link type determines whether the field will only be displayed on the screen (link type None), or whether it will also serve as an anchor to a related information page (all other link types). Refer to DataSpot Field Link Types for a description of the link types and examples of where they can be used.

Note: You cannot select the Display this Foreign Key field type for fields that are not foreign keys.

3.	If you selected a field that does not serve as a link to another table, click OK to insert the selected field into the template file.

4.	If you selected a field which points to another table (such as Winery ID in the Wine table), the Follow Link button becomes enabled. In this case you may follow the link (by clicking this button) to select the required field from the linked table. In this example, you may select, for instance, the Winery name. The selected field is appended to the first field in the Field Name box at the top of the DataSpot Field DTC dialog.

In certain cases you may repeat this process. For example, if you select the Wine ID field from the Foods+Wines table, you may follow the link once to get to the Wine record and select the Winery ID field. You may then follow the link once more to get to the Winery record and select the Winery Name field. The selected fields are appended to the first field in the Field Name box at the top of the DataSpot Field DTC dialog. You can also undo a link, click here for details.

Note that the selection of the field value to display does not necessarily imply which field type you should select: you may select the field value to display by following a link between tables, but not use this value as an anchor to the Full Display of the linked table. For example, you may display the Winery Name in the context of a Wine record (using the Winery ID of the Wine record as a link) with the None field type, thereby causing this value to be displayed on the screen but not serve as a link to the Winery record. You may, on the other hand, display this field with the Display This Foreign Key field type to display the same field value and also serve as an anchor to the corresponding Winery record.

__________

See also:

Compounded Fields


Undoing a Link

After clicking Follow Link in the DataSpot Field DTC dialog to display the fields from the table pointed to by the currently selected field, you can undo this link. You can then repeat this procedure until there are no more links available to undo.

To undo a link:

In the DataSpot Field DTC dialog, click the Unselect button. The fields from the previous table are redisplayed and the linked field is removed from the Field Name box at the top of the DataSpot Field DTC dialog.


DataSpot QueryForm DTC

The DataSpot QueryForm DTC dialog enables you to specify the query title and the caption for the submit (Search Now) button. By default, the query title is Search: and the submit button caption is Search Now.

To specify the query title and submit button caption:

1.	In the Query Title field, enter the new title for the query.

2.	In the Submit Button Caption field, enter the text that you want to appear on the button that is pressed to submit the query to the DataSpot Search Server.

3.	Click OK to close the DataSpot QueryForm DTC dialog.

4.	Click OK in the Design Time Control Attributes dialog to insert the query title and button into the DataSpot template file.


DataSpot Reasoning DTC

The DataSpot Reasoning DTC dialog enables you to specify the title for the query reasoning list and the list appearance type. By default, the reasoning title is Reasoning: and the list appearance type is Unordered List.

To specify the reasoning title and list appearance:

1.	In the Type area, select the Text or Image option button as required for the reasoning title.

2.	If you selected the Text option button, enter the required query reasoning title in the text box.

Or,

If you selected the Image option button, enter the relative path or URL address for the required image in the text box. You can click the Browse button to display a file selection window in which you can select the required image. If you want to define additional options, click the Advanced button.

Note: It is recommended that you keep all of the image files in the same directory as the template file (.htx), or in a subdirectory of the template file (.htx) directory.

3.	Specify the type of HTML list to be used for the query reasoning. The following options are available: Table, Ordered List (numbered list), Unordered List (bulleted list). If you want to define additional options, click the Advanced button.

3.	Click OK to close the DataSpot Reasoning DTC dialog.

4.	Click OK in the Design Time Control Attributes dialog to insert the reasoning title and list appearance type into the DataSpot template file.


DataSpot RelatedItems DTC

The DataSpot RelatedItems DTC dialog enables you specify the table context for the related items list, a title and the fields to be included in the list display. You can also add or remove fields from the display, edit them and change the order in which they will be displayed.

To specify the table context for the related items list:

In the Related Tables to Table <table name> field, select the required table from the drop-down list.

Note: The tables available for selection are limited to those tables directly related to the current context of the DataSpot template file. For example, in the context of the Wines table, the following related tables are available for selection: Awards, Foods+Wines, Grapes+Wines.

To specify a title for the related items list:

In the List Title field, enter the title that you want to display above the related items list. For example, Related Foods+Wines (#n items), will display this title together with the total number of items in the list.

To add a field to the related items display:

Click the Add button to display the DataSpot Field DTC dialog in which you can select the field that you want to add to the display.

When you have selected the required field, it is displayed in the Fields area of the DataSpot RelatedItems DTC dialog.

To remove a field from the related items display:

1.	In the Fields area of the DataSpot RelatedItems DTC dialog, select the field that you want to remove.

2.	Click the Delete button. The selected field is removed from the list.

To edit a field in the related items display:

1.	In the Fields area of the DataSpot RelatedItems DTC dialog, select the field that you want to edit.

2.	Click the Edit button. The DataSpot Field DTC dialog is displayed with the field that you selected highlighted.

3.	Edit the link type and column header as required.

4.	Click OK to close the DataSpot Field DTC dialog and redisplay the DataSpot RelatedItems DTC dialog.

To change the order in which the fields will be displayed:

1.	In the Fields area of the DataSpot RelatedItems DTC dialog, select the field that you want to move.

2.	Click the Move Up or Move Down button to move the selected field up or down the field order.

3.	Repeat this procedure to move additional fields as required.

__________

See also:

Compounded Fields


DataSpot Title DTC

The DataSpot Title DTC dialog enables you to change the default title displayed at the top of each page. The default title is used when there is not a data item currently displayed from which a title can be taken (such as a Wine display). By default, the title displayed is DataSpot.

To modify the default title:

1.	In the Default Title field, enter the text that you want to display as the page title and click OK.

2.	Click OK in the Design Time Control Attributes dialog to insert the new title into the DataSpot template file.


Advanced Options

This DTC is not yet implemented.


DataSpot Field Link Types

The following table shows the different types of field links which can be specified in the DataSpot Field DTC dialog, and examples of where each type can be used.

Field Type	Description	Scope	Example for Usage
None	Displays the value of the field.	Anywhere	Any field in any context. That is, anywhere in the Full Display, in the Brief Display or in the Title Display of the appropriate table.
Display this Item	Displays the value of the field and uses it as an anchor to the Full Display of the record to which this field belongs.	Related Items	Award Name in the Awards related items of a wine. When clicking on it, the Award is displayed.
Display this Answer	Displays the value of the field and creates a link from the answer list to the display of the answer. This field type should be defined for at least one field in the Brief Display of any table which is marked as an Answer Table.	Brief Display	Wine Name in the Brief Display of the Wine table. When displayed in the answer list, clicking on it will display the wine as an answer.
Display this Foreign Key	Displays the value of the field and creates a link to a Full Display of the record to which the current field (which must be a foreign key) points.	Full Display, Brief Display, Related Items. Never use this field in the Title Display.	Any field that serves as a link to another table. For example, the Region ID field in a Winery record (which links to the Regions table). Indicating the Region ID as a Display this Foreign Key field means that clicking on that field will display the linked record (in this example, the Region record). Note that the displayed anchor would probably be a field from the linked table rather than the foreign key itself (that is, Region Name from the Regions table, rather than Region ID). If more than one foreign key is used (such as the field [Wine ID].[Winery ID]. [Winery Name] from a Foods+Wines table context), the first foreign key to the left is the one that will create the URL. In this example, clicking on this field will display the related Wine record.
__________

See also:

Compounded Fields

Examples For Using Specific Field Types


Examples For Using Specific Field Types

The following topics provide a more detailed description of when to use specific field types:

Display this Answer versus Display this Foreign Key

Display this Item versus Display this Foreign Key


Display this Answer versus Display this Foreign Key

In a Brief Display of any table which is marked as an Answer table, at least one field should have the type Display this Answer. This type will display the answer when the field is clicked by the end-user from within the answer list. Note that an answer display consists of the Full Display of the answer’s main item (such as the Full Display defined for the Wine table, when the Wine is an answer), plus reasoning for the answer, if any.

For example, in the Wines table Brief Display, there are three fields: Wine Name, Vintage, and Winery Name (taken from the Winery table). The syntax is as follows:

Wine:[Wine Name] [Vintage] [Winery ID].[Winery Name]

The Wine Name field type should be Display this Answer, so that clicking on that field will display the corresponding answer; a Wine screen plus reasoning. The two other fields can have different types:

The Vintage field can be of type None, therefore it will not serve as a link. However, it can also be of type Display this Answer, in which case clicking on it will display the Wine screen (the same screen that is displayed by clicking the Wine Name). This field is more likely to be specified as None.

The Winery Name field (actually [Winery ID].[Winery Name]) can be one of the following types:

•	None, in which case it will not serve as a link.

•	Display this Answer, in which case clicking on it will display the corresponding Wine record.

•	Display this Foreign Key, in which case clicking on it will display the corresponding Winery record.

Note the difference between selecting the Winery Name as a Display this Answer field and selecting it as a Display this Foreign Key field. Display this Foreign Key is used in this context, as in the other contexts, to display the record that is pointed at by the foreign key, (in this case, Winery ID), while Display this Answer is used to show the answer, regardless of the content of the field that is clicked.


Display this Item versus Display this Foreign Key

The Display this Item field type is used from within the related items list, that is, the list of items related to the main answer record (such as the Awards that are related to a specific wine). An item in the Related Items list is assigned this type, to cause the Full Display of the item when it is clicked. The related items are those items that are linked to one main record by a many-to-one relation, meaning that many such items point to the main record. For example, many awards are given to one wine, or many wines are produced by one winery. Therefore, the list of awards appears as a related items list of a Wine, and a list of Wines appears as a related items list of a Winery.

For example:

The display of the Foods+Wines related items which follow the display of the Wine details consists of an HTML table with two columns: one displaying the wine (based on the Wine Brief Display, that is, Wine Name, Vintage and Winery Name) and the other displaying the food category. Both columns of values are based on foreign keys (in the Foods+Wines relational table) which link to the corresponding relational tables.

You can indicate any one of these fields as a Display this Item field, so that clicking on it will display the Foods+Wines record. However, the Foods+Wines table is actually a linkage table and is not of interest in itself. Therefore, you may want to display the Wine record when the end-user clicks on the Wine Name and display the Food Category record when the end-user clicks on the Food Category. If this is the case, change the field type of the Wine Name ([Wine ID].[Wine Name]) to Display this Foreign Key, and the field type of Food Category ([Food Category ID].[Food Category Name]) to Display this Foreign Key. Hence, clicking on the Wine Name will lead you to the wine, and clicking on the Food Category will lead you to the food category.

In the same context, if you change the type of the Winery Name ([Wine ID].[Winery ID].[Winery Name]) to Display this Foreign Key, the Wine record will be displayed rather than the Winery record (as you might have expected). The reason for this is that, when clicked, the Display this Foreign Key field type displays the record that is pointed to by the first level foreign key, which in this case is the Wine ID. In this particular case, there is a double linkage: Wine ID points to the Wine table, and Winery ID from the Wines table points to the Winery table.

Note that you can use the Display this Foreign Key type only for foreign keys (that is, for fields that were defined in the DataSpot Publisher as links to other tables). An attempt to assign this type to a field which is not linked to another table will result in an error when the DataSpot Search Server generates the corresponding HTML page.

In some cases you may assign the None field type to an item in the Related Items list. For example, you may display all the details of an Award in the Related Items list, so that creating a link to the full Award display is unnecessary.


Contacting DTL Data Technologies Ltd.

DTL Data Technologies Ltd. welcomes users’ inquiries and suggestions. You can contact us at:

DTL Data Technologies Ltd.

18b Yaakov St.

Tel-Aviv 69015

Israel

Tel: +972-3-647-1661

Fax: +972-3-647-3717

DTL, Inc.

2055 Gateway Place Suite 400

San Jose

CA 95110

USA

Tel: 408-399-0077

Fax: 408-399-0078

DTL, Inc. - Eastern Region

78 5th Ave.

New York

NY 10011

USA

Tel: 212-255-5566

Fax: 212-255-5577

You can contact us through e-mail at: info@dtlogic.com

Look up our home page at http://www.dataspot.com