Create a browse

You can create a browse to permit users access to Working Papers database information based on specific criteria. After creating a browse, users can select from the browse using a popup cell. You can also use a browse to display supporting data when typing in an input cell.

Creating browses will require some knowledge of the Working Paper database and a familiarity with using database filters. When filtering a browse, the database should always be identified (for example, AM->), since the same field name can be used in more than one database. Through the use of CaseView functions or a secondary database, users can view additional information not available in the primary database. By setting fields to be user modifiable, information can be written back to the Working Papers database directly from the browse.

For browse examples, see Sample Browses.

To create a browse:

  1. Select the cell where you want to create a browse
  2. On the ribbon, click Home | Cell.
  3. In the Edit Cell dialog, click the General tab.
  4. In the Calculation Properties group, select Popup Cell and Input Cell.
  5. Under Properties, click the Popup tab.
  6. For the popup type, select Database. In the Popup Attributes group, click Edit Browses....

  7. In the Configure Browses dialog, click Add Browse. Complete the options as required.

    Option Description
    Name

    Enter or modify the name for the browse list. Names can contain up to 40 alphanumeric characters.
    Database

    Select a Working Papers database from the drop-down list for the browse popup.
    Index

    Select the index information from the Working Papers database that will be entered into the CaseView cell upon selection.
    Key

    Select a field from the database to act as a key. The key database field is one that is common to both the primary and the secondary database and serves to link the information in the two databases together.
    Filter

    Enter a calculation to filter the records displayed on the browse list.
    None Label

    If selected, the None Label field adds another record to the top of the browse displaying the text entered in the None Label field. With this in place, users can select an item from the browse list, or select None.
    Risk Tool Bar

    Select to display the risk tool bar at the top of the browse. Active only when creating a browse in the RA database.

    Risk Bar Messages

    Select to display the risk bar messages within the browse. Active only when creating a browse in the RA database.
  8. Click Edit Fields.... The Edit Browse dialog displays.

  9. For each field you want to display in the browse, click Add Field, then complete the applicable attributes.

    Option Description
    Title

    Enter a name for the field to display in the browse heading.
    Function

    Select a field from the database. Fields may be combined into functions by using arithmetic operators. Fields available are based on the database selected in the Configure Browse dialog.
    Alignment

    If the field contents are not numerical, select an alignment for the field. Numerical contents such as current year balances default to a right-alignment.
    Sort Order Tag

    Select the order in which the browse information sorts. The combinations available are based on the item selected in the Function field.
    Column Width

    Type or select the width of the browse column. If formatting a memo field, it is best to specify a reasonable length for the field rather than selecting Auto to make the field display properly. In addition, you can use the LEFT function to ensure the contents of the field are not cropped accidentally.
    Use as Cell Input

    Select to input the contents of the field into the popup cell when a selection is made from the database. Only one of the fields can be marked to be the cell input.
    Modifiable

    Select to allow the contents of the field to be modified in Form Mode.

    Notes:

    • If the CaseView database records saved when document saved option is selected under Document | Settings | Client Options, the browse cannot be modified in Form Mode.
    • If the Document owns CaseView database records option is selected under Document | Settings | Client Options, the modifications made in Form Mode will only affect database records that contain a matching document ownership code as well as a matching group/form/ID. When disabled, the modification will only affect independent group/form/ID values.
    Check Box Field

    Select to format the contents of the field as check boxes so that the user can select or clear check boxes to activate cell attributes. This option can be used with yes/no database fields.
    Total Column

    Select to display a total for the field at the bottom of the browse window when the browse is launched through the Launch Caseware browse event.
    Show Memo Inline

    Select to prins the extended description of any memo field in the line of the browse (rather than showing as a box with a plus or minus sign that must be selected to display the description). This feature is enabled for memo fields only.
    Hierarchy Field

    Select to display a tree structure to the left of the listed items. This option is used in conjunction with Mask and can be enabled only on the first column of the browse.
    Mask

    Displays the structure of the value in the field. Click between the X's to show the structure.

    Map numbers have a structure of three digits, a decimal, three digits, a decimal, and two digits. In Working Papers, the Mask is defined as XXX.XXX.XX. In the browse if you click between the X's the mask can be defined as XXX|XXX|XX|XXXX.

    Selecting the Hierarchy Field option and defining a Mask will build a tree structure.
    Search Prefix

    Enter a default character or characters to use in the browse. For example, in Working Papers all map numbers begin with M.

    Click OK, then OK again.

The browse is created for the selected cell. After creation, you can easily copy a browse to another file if required.

To copy a browse to another file:

  1. In the CaseView file that contains the browse to copy, click Tools | Browses, or select the cell with the browse to copy and click Home | Cell | Popup | Edit Browses....
  2. In the Configure Browses dialog, click Save to File....
  3. Select a location to save the .bdf file and click Save. All browses in the dialog are saved to the file.
  4. Open the CaseView file where you want to add the browse.
  5. On the ribbon, click Tools | Browses, or select the cell where you want to add the browse and click Home | Cell | Popup | Edit Browses....
  6. In the Configure Browses dialog, click Merge from file....
  7. Navigate to the saved .bdf file, select it, then click OK.

The browses are copied from the file into the existing CaseView document.

Sample browses

Use the following samples to create a browse or understand how they work.

Sample 1

A browse with the following properties will display leadsheets and their descriptions.

  • Name: "simple"
  • Database: MP
  • Index (sort/entry): map_no
  • Key (link to secondary): none
  • Secondary: none
  • Index (must match key): none
  • Filter: Mp->id="1"

Sample 2

A browse with the following properties will display all map numbers with descriptions and leadsheet.

  • Name: " "
  • Database: MP
  • Index (sort/entry): map_no
  • Key (link to secondary): none
  • Filter: mp->id="M"&mp->map_no<>""

Sample 3

A browse with the following properties will display only Balance Sheet map numbers.

  • Name: " "
  • Database: MP
  • Index (sort/entry): map_no
  • Key (link to secondary): none
  • Filter: mp->id="M"&mp->map_no<>""&mp->type="B"