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Where is a table being used

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    Where is a table being used

    I need to change a field name in a table.
    What is the best way to determine all the Browses, Forms, etc that use or is referencing that field?
    (I am updating a database built by someone else)

    #2
    Re: Where is a table being used

    Hi Jeff - Welcome to the board!

    There are two inexpensive 3rd party utilites that are helpful for this: A5 DOC and Aims App Analyzer. I also have a function in the Code Archive called CP_Info() that several people on the board have contributed to. I may have updated mine since the original post so let me know if you need it.

    Link to code archive
    Last edited by Al Buchholz; 12-19-2016, 11:17 PM.
    Robin

    Discernment is not needed in things that differ, but in those things that appear to be the same. - Miles Sanford

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Where is a table being used

      Depending on how complex the application is, one place to start is to realize that a field in a table will only be found on a form or browse built upon that table or a set in which the table is linked. There are functions that pull data from tables not included above such as tablesum(), dbsum(), table.external_record_content_get(). It is also possible to write user defined functions or scripts which process data from other tables and place their results on a form.

      This is not meant to indicate that the utilities mentioned are not well worth their cost.
      There can be only one.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Where is a table being used

        MoGrace, thanks for the suggestions! I'll look into 'A5 DOC' first, the other appears to be very expensive.
        I'd also be interested in your 'CP_Info'. Is your 'CP_Info_11-24-2016.txt' the latest version?

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Where is a table being used

          Originally posted by jgeiselman View Post
          the other appears to be very expensive.
          You may have misread something.

          You may register the AIMS App Analyzer for $19.00 by either of two methods . . .
          There can be only one.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Where is a table being used

            Thanks for the clarification Stan.
            Stan or MoGrace, do either of you have a preference on these two tools.
            I appreciate the input as I'm still new to Alpha5 and taking over maintenance of a large Alpha5 Desktop application which has aprox 320 .dbf tables, 60 .set & 340 operations.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Where is a table being used

              I have both tools and use them constantly. worth their weight in gold
              Dave Mason
              [email protected]
              Skype is dave.mason46

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Where is a table being used

                Originally posted by jgeiselman View Post
                Thanks for the clarification Stan.
                Stan or MoGrace, do either of you have a preference on these two tools.
                I appreciate the input as I'm still new to Alpha5 and taking over maintenance of a large Alpha5 Desktop application which has aprox 320 .dbf tables, 60 .set & 340 operations.
                Jeff, as you are new to Alpha, I suggest you take a few backups and get a way of recording Passwords etc. Dave has a very good password repository which is unbreakable.
                If you are planning on changing anything, create yourself a decent test bed on your own desktop and practice. Alpha has a habit of catching the unwary and with the complexity you mention, the opportunity for getting fired is pretty big.
                You will get all the help you are likely to need on this Forum, the contributors are mostly seasoned Alpha users.
                See our Hybrid Option here;
                https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


                Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
                You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Where is a table being used

                  If I were taking on a project that big, I would start with getting a print out of as much of the app as I could: table & set structures, field rules, scripts, functions, operations, etc. - even screenshots of the forms. It would make for a rather large book; but if you are going to start changing it, you might want a to have the reference to see how things are related and intertwined. All of the utilities mentioned can help you do that.
                  Robin

                  Discernment is not needed in things that differ, but in those things that appear to be the same. - Miles Sanford

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Where is a table being used

                    where's your sense of adventure Robin.
                    could just "wing it" LOL!
                    See our Hybrid Option here;
                    https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


                    Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
                    You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Where is a table being used

                      You must think I actually follow my own advice...
                      Robin

                      Discernment is not needed in things that differ, but in those things that appear to be the same. - Miles Sanford

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Where is a table being used

                        Originally posted by MoGrace View Post
                        If I were taking on a project that big, I would start with getting a print out of as much of the app as I could: table & set structures, field rules, scripts, functions, operations, etc. - even screenshots of the forms. . .
                        I completely agree and have started documenting the code behind 'Events' buttons, etc. I have a ways to go yet, but am trying to document the area's I have to work on in. I have over 50 sheet tabs in a 10mb Excel file so far.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Where is a table being used

                          The code explorer is often overlooked in object documentation efforts.

                          Open a form in design mode, use the View Menu, select Code Explorer, select OnPush Events, use the Export button, save the result file. You now have a complete backup of OnPush event scripts.
                          There can be only one.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Where is a table being used

                            Originally posted by Ted Giles View Post
                            Jeff, as you are new to Alpha, I suggest you take a few backups and get a way of recording Passwords etc. Dave has a very good password repository which is unbreakable.
                            If you are planning on changing anything, create yourself a decent test bed on your own desktop and practice...
                            The live database is on a server which gets backed up and I have made a copy of the database folder to a local computer with the same drive mappings. Do you have any 'Best Practices' suggestions for working between the test database and the live database? I like making & testing a proposed change in the test database, but what is the best way to make that change live? Do you just have to key all the proposed changes into the live database event,etc? I am recognizing some of the files that get effected by a change, but is it safe to copy that test file into the live database, etc? I haven't found the file type that contains 'Operation' syntax.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Where is a table being used

                              I haven't found the file type that contains 'Operation' syntax.
                              https://www.alphasoftware.com/docume...le%20Types.xml

                              Specifically

                              Data Dictionary
                              .DDD
                              The table's data dictionary, which contains lists of additional table objects such as Layouts (forms, browses, etc.), report designs, saved operations, field rules, and field names longer than 10 characters.
                              Dictionary Methods, Reading From and Writing To the Data Dictionary

                              .DDM
                              Stores additional table objects such as Layouts (forms, browses, etc.), report designs, and saved operations in memo format.

                              .DDX
                              Contains the dictionary's index(es). Alpha Five uses the .ddx to find a specific form name or field rule or whatever is needed.

                              .DBP
                              Contains the definition for an active-link table? or mapped table.
                              There can be only one.

                              Comment

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