External Data tab

In the External Data tab, you can set the parameters for saving cell data to the CaseView database.

Note: You must enable External Data Access in the General tab before you can access the External Data tab.

Data Type

Select the type of data to access the system databases:

• Global Cell Data (Short ID)
• Form Cell Data (Short ID)
• Global Cell Data (Long ID)
• Form Cell Data (Long ID)
• Global Cell Data (System)
• Form Cell Data (System).

Short ID and Long ID determine the character limitations for the value fields.

Cell Data	Short ID	Long ID
Group	12	22
Form	12	22
Identifier	21	22

Global Cell Data (Short ID, Long ID, System)

System Database (Global Cell Data (System) only)

Select the label for the system database you wish to access. This label is assigned when the database is first identified in Document | Settings | System Databases.

Identifier

This is the identifier that will be used to store and retrieve cell data from the CaseView database. This identifier must be 21 characters or less in length if Short ID is selected, or 22 characters or less if using Long ID. If the identifier already exists in the database, it displays as red text.

Interpret as Calculation

To add a standard CaseView calculation to the Identifier field, select the Interpret as Calculation check box. When checked, the Identifier field is interpreted as CaseView calculation instead of static text. This allows a user to set up more complex links with CaseView databases or reference the values retrieved by other cells.

For example, an input cell could be created where a user in Form mode would be able to enter the Identifier themselves.

You can type the calculation in the field or click to open the Calculation Editor.

Load Value Calculation

This is the calculation used to insert the data from the CaseView database into the cell. To make trimming, capitalization, or other text manipulation easier, the Database value itself is represented by LINK(). If no manipulation is required, this calculation should simply remain as LINK().

For example, to trim the value coming from the database a calculation like LTRIM(LINK()) will suffice.

Additionally, the calculation may be used as a default value for the database field. The result of the calculation will be saved to the database, but when the cell is overridden by user input, this overridden value will be saved instead. This override will also be propagated to any other cells that are linked to this same database record, even if they are in different documents.

Save Value Calculation

This is the calculation used to generate the data which will be written to the CaseView database. Typically this value should remain as r(0). If standardizing text formatting prior to writing the value to the database, this value may be used in a calculation.

For example, to ensure all entered values are written as lower case, the Save Value Calculation would be LOWER(r(0)).

Form Cell Data (Short ID, Long ID, System)

While Global Cell Data values are stored using an identifier, there are three criteria for Form Cell Data values. Each value is stored under a specific combination of Group, Form, and Identifier values. This allows for a more robust storage system as identical Identifiers may be used, provided they are assigned to unique Groups or Forms.

System Database (Form Cell Data (System) only)

Select the label for the system database you wish to access. This label is assigned when the database is first identified in Document | Settings | System Databases.

Group

Represents the highest level of data classification in the CaseView Database. It can be used when organizing data in a hierarchical manner, rather than simply entering individual values as Global Form values. In Working Papers for example, a separate Group could be created for each of a company's products.

Click to select the Group. Selecting Default associates the cell with the default CV Grouping for the document. This default is set in the Working Papers/Time Document Manager. Select the document and navigate to Document | Properties to assign the default CV GROUP.

Form

A Form is a subset of a Group. It further divides the information within the Group. In Working Papers for example, if a Group exists for a company's products, Forms might be the models of each of those products.

Identifier

The identifier is the record within the Groups and Forms. In Working Papers for example, the Identifier could be the properties associated with the models (Forms) of the various products (Groups). This identifier must be 21 characters or less in length if Short ID is selected, or 22 characters or less if using Long ID. If the identifier already exists in the database, it displays as red text.

Interpret as Calculation

To add standard CaseView calculations in any of the Group, Form, or Identifier fields, select the Interpret as Calculation check box.

You can then type the calculation in the field or click to open the Calculation Editor.

In the following example when this identifier is used, the cell number is retrieved.

Group	"ABC Form"
Form	"formD"
Identifier	Cellno()

Use Doc ID

Select to automatically assign the default value DOCIDGROUP as the Group value and the current document's Document Identifier as the Form. Enter the desired Database Identifier in the Identifier box.

Load Value Calculation

This is the calculation used to insert the data from the CaseView database into the cell. Refer to the Global Cell section above for more information.

Save Value Calculation

This is the calculation used to generate the data that will be written to the CaseView database when the cell value is changed, either through calculation or user input. Refer to the Global Cell section above for more information.

Related Topics

• Edit Cell