External Table

The difference between external tables and standard tables is the following: on deleting an external table, the physical database object referenced by the external table is not deleted. Therefore, a standard table can be a source for building several external tables.

Creating an External Table

An external table is created if it is necessary to create new repository tables based on already existing server tables.

In the web application click the Create button in the main menu and select the object type on the New Object side panel.

In the desktop application:

Execute one of the operations:

Select the Create > Table context menu item.
Click the New Object button in the Create group on the Home ribbon tab and select the Table item.

Select a type of object to be created on the Object Type page.

After executing the operations determine settings on the pages of the external table wizard:

In the web application, when opening the external table wizard the additional pages are displayed:

Working with External Table

To edit a data set, select the corresponding object in the object navigator and execute one of the operations:

In the web application:

Select the Edit item in the object's context menu.
Select the Edit in a New Tab item in the object's context menu.
Select the Edit in a New Window item in the object's context menu.
Press F4.

Then click the Settings button.

In the desktop application:

Click the Edit button on the Home ribbon tab.
Select the Edit item in the object's context menu.
Press F4.

The external table wizard opens after executing one of the operations. Determine settings on corresponding pages of the wizard.

To view data, select the corresponding object in the object navigator and execute one of the operations:

In the web application:

Select the Open item in the object's context menu.
Select the Open in a New Tab item in the object's context menu.
Select the Open in a New Window item in the object's context menu.
Double-click the object.
Press the ENTER key.

In the desktop application:

Click the Open button on the Home ribbon tab.
Click the Open > In Default Tool button on the Home ribbon tab.
Select the Open item in the object's context menu.
Double-click the object.

After executing one of the operations the corresponding data object opens. For details about principles of work with a data set see the Working with Data Set section.

To view report data in the desktop application:

Click the Open > Regular Reports button on the Home ribbon tab.
Select the Open With > Regular Reports item in the object's context menu.

To import data in the desktop application:

Click the Open > Data Import Wizard button on the Home ribbon tab.
Select the Open With > Data Import Wizard item in the object's context menu.

As an external table only refers to a physical table, changes made in the physical object, on which the external table is based, are not displayed in the external table.

To refresh table information, select the Refresh Table Information item in the table's context menu in the object navigator. After this the following database data is refreshed:

Number of table rows and columns.
Type of field data.
List of indexes.
List of constraints for table fields.
List of triggers.
Time of the last refresh of table data in version log.

Data contained in the table is automatically refreshed according to the obtained information about the table on its opening.

If the table is opened for view, and table information is refreshed, execute the following to refresh data:

In the web application click the Refresh Table Contents button on the toolbar.
In the desktop application:

Click the Refresh Table Contents button on the toolbar.
Select the Table > Refresh main menu item.
Press F5.

After executing the operations table contents is refreshed.