<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="2"/>The<span style="font-weight:bold;"> Data </span>tab page defines the form properties that refer to the database that is linked to the form.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="107" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>Defines the data source on which the form is based, or specifies whether the data can be edited by the user. Apart from the sort and filter functions, you will also find all the necessary properties to create a <help:link Id="65955" Eid="unterformular" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">subform</help:link>.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="80" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>If the form is based on an SQL statement (see <span class="T1">Data source</span> property), the filter and sort functions are available only if the SQL statement refers to a table and is not written in the database's native SQL.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="16" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">Defines the database to which the form should refer.</help:help-text> If you click the <span class="T1">...</span> button, you call the <help:link Id="65703" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"><span class="T1">Open</span></help:link> dialog, where you can choose a database.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="17" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">Determines the data source to be used for the form. The data source can be an existing table or a query (previously created in the database), or it can be defined by an SQL-statement. Before you enter a data source you have to define the exact type in <span class="T1">Content type</span>.</help:help-text></p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="27" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>If you have selected either "Table" or "Query" in <span class="T1">Content type</span>, the box lists all the data sources of this type, that is, all tables and queries set up in the selected database. If you want the form to refer to a query, you first have to select the option "Query" as data source content type.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="28" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>You can also enter an SQL-statement in the <span class="T1">Data source</span> box, if you have selected the "SQL" option as the data source content type. This statement is used to create an SQL query, which is used as a basis for generating the form or for defining a <help:link Id="65955" Eid="unterformular" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">subform</help:link>.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="19" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">Defines whether the data source is to be an existing database table or query, or if the form is to be generated based on an SQL statement.</help:help-text></p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="29" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>If you choose "Table" or "Query", the form will refer to the table or query that you specify under <span class="T1">Data source</span>. If you want to create a new query or a <help:link Id="65955" Eid="unterformular" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">subform</help:link>, then you have to choose the "SQL" option. You can then enter the statement for the SQL query or the subform directly in the <span class="T1">Data source</span> box. The form is then generated on the basis of the specified statement.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="106" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">If you choose SQL statement under <span class="T1">Data source</span>, specifies whether the SQL statement is to be analyzed (yes).</help:help-text></p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="82" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">Enter the required conditions for filtering the data in the form. The filter specifications follow SQL rules without using the WHERE clause.</help:help-text> For example, if you want to display all records with the "Mike" forename, type into the data field: Forename = 'Mike'. You can also combine conditions: Forename = Mike OR Forename = Peter. All records matching these two conditions will be displayed.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="83" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>The filter function is available in user mode through the <help:link Id="65981" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"><span class="T1">AutoFilter</span></help:link> and <help:link Id="65999" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"><span class="T1">Default Filter</span></help:link> icons on the <help:link Id="65578" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"><span class="T1">Form</span> Bar</help:link>.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="85" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">Specifies the conditions to sort the data in the form. The specification of the sorting conditions follows SQL rules without the use of the ORDER BY clause.</help:help-text> For example, if you want all records of a database to be sorted in one field in an ascending order and in another field in a descending order, enter Forename ASC, Name DESC (presuming Forename and Name are the names of the data fields).</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="86" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>The appropriate icons on the <help:link Id="65578" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"><span class="T1">Forms</span> Bar</help:link> can be used in User mode to sort: <help:link Id="65990" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"><span class="T1">Sort Ascending</span></help:link>, <help:link Id="65969" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"><span class="T1">Sort Descending</span></help:link>, <help:link Id="66041" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"><span class="T1">Sort</span></help:link>.</p>
<p class="Head2"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="8" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-id value="HID_PROP_DATAENTRY" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>Add data only</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="20" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">Determines if the form only allows the addition of new data (Yes) or if it allows other properties as well (No).</help:help-text></p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="21" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>If <span class="T1">Add data only</span> is set to "Yes", changing or deleting data is not possible.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="22" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">Specifies whether the navigation functions in the lower form bar can be used.</help:help-text></p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="79" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>The "Parent Form" option is used for subforms. If you choose this option for a subform you can navigate using the records of the main form if the cursor is placed in the subform. A subform is linked to the parent form by a 1:1 relationship, so navigation is always performed in the parent form.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="23" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">Determines how the navigation should be done using the tab key.</help:help-text> Using the tab key, you can move forward in the form. If you simultaneously press the Shift key, the navigation will follow the opposite direction. If you reach the last (or the first) field and press the tab key again, it can have various effects. Define the key control with the following options:</p>
<p class="TextInTable"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="90" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>This setting automatically defines a cycle which follows an existing database link: If the form contains a database link, the Tab key will, by default, initiate a change to the next or previous record on exit from the last field (see All Records). If there is no database link the next/previous form is shown (see Current Page).</p>
<p class="TextInTable"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="92" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>This option applies to database forms only and is used to navigate through all records. If you use the Tab key to exit from the last field of a form, the current record is changed.</p>
<p class="TextInTable"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="94" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>This option applies to database forms only, and is used to navigate within the current record. If you use the Tab key to exit from the last field of a form, the current record is changed.</p>
<p class="TextInTable"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="96" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>On exit from the last field of a form, the cursor skips to the first field in the next form. This is standard for HTML forms; therefore, this option is especially relevant for HTML forms.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="24" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">Determines if data can be added.</help:help-text></p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="25" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"> Determines if the data can be modified.</help:help-text></p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="26" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">Determines if the data can be deleted.</help:help-text></p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="14" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">If you create a <help:link Id="65955" Eid="unterformular">subform</help:link>, enter the data field of the parent form responsible for the synchronization between parent and subform.</help:help-text> To enter multiple values, press <help:switch select="System" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"><help:case select="MAC">Command</help:case><help:default>Ctrl</help:default></help:switch> + Enter after each input line.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="71" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>The subform is based on a <help:popup Id="65619" Eid="sql" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">SQL</help:popup> query; more specifically, on a <help:link Id="66162" Eid="parameterabfrage" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">Parameter Query</help:link>. If a field name is entered in the <span class="T1">Link master fields</span> field, the data contained in that field in the main form are read to a variable that you must enter in <span class="T1">Link slave fields</span>. In an appropriate SQL statement, this variable is compared to the table data the subform refers to. This procedure sets the display in the subform.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="72" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>Consider the following example:</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="30" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>The database table on which the form is based is, for example, a customer database ("Customer"), where every customer has been given a unique number in a data field named "Cust_ID". A customer's orders are maintained in another database table. You now want to see each customer's orders after entering them into the form. In order to do this you should create a subform. Under <span class="T1">Link master fields</span> enter the data field from the customer database which clearly identifies the customer, that is, Cust_ID. Under <span class="T1">Link slave fields</span> enter the name of a variable which is to accept the data of the field Cust_ID, for example, x.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="73" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>The subform should show the appropriate data from the orders table ("Orders") for each customer ID (Customer_ID -> x). This is only possible if each order is uniquely assigned to one customer in the orders table. Alternatively, you can use another field called Customer_ID; however, to make sure that this field is not confused with the same field from the main form, the field is called Customer_Number.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="74" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>Now compare the Customer_Number in the "Orders" table with the Customer_ID from the "Customers" table, which can be done, for example, using the x variable with the following SQL statement:</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="75" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>SELECT * FROM Orders WHERE Customer_Number =: x (if you want the subform to show all data from the orders table)</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="77" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>SELECT Item FROM Orders WHERE Customer_Number =: x (if you want the subform from the orders table to show only the data contained in the "Item" field)</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="78" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>The SQL statement can either be entered in the <span class="T1">Data source</span> field, or you can create an appropriate parameter query, which can be used to create the subform.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="15" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:help-text value="visible" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">If you create a subform, enter the variable where possible values from the parent form field can be stored.</help:help-text> If a subform is based on a query, enter the variable that you defined in the query. If you create a form using an SQL statement entered in the <span class="T1">Data source</span> field, enter the variable you used in the statement. You can choose any variable name. If you want to enter multiple values, press <help:switch select="System" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"><help:case select="MAC">Command</help:case><help:default>Ctrl</help:default></help:switch> + Enter.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="31" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>If, for example, you specified the Customer_ID database field as a parent field under <span class="T1">Link master fields</span>, then you can define under <span class="T1">Link slave fields</span> the name of the variable in which the values of the Customer_ID database field are to be stored. If you now specify an SQL statement in the <span class="T1">Data source</span> box using this variable, the relevant values are displayed in the subform.</p>
<p class="Head2"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="32" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><a name="unterformular"/>What is a subform?</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="33" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>Forms are created based on a database table or database query. They display the data in a visually pleasant fashion and can be used to enter data or edit data.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="34" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:to-be-embedded Eid="wozu" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">If you require a form that can refer to the data in a table or query and can additionally display data from another table, you should create a subform.</help:to-be-embedded> For example, this subform can be a text box that displays the data of another database table.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="35" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>A subform is an additional component of the main form. The main form can be called the "parent form". Subforms are needed as soon as you want to access more than one table from a form. Each additional table requires its own subform.</p>
<p class="Paragraph"><help:paragraphinfo state="U" number="36" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>The user cannot recognize that a form has subforms. The user only sees a form in which data is entered or where existing data is displayed. Using a form with subforms, it is possible to generate a simple customized input mask for the user, irrespective of how the data is managed in the database.</p>
