A SEQUEL query is generally referred to as a "view". In addition to "standard" views, three other types of views are available in SEQUEL:
SEQUEL ViewPoint offers an intuitive interface that makes it easy for all users to design views with simple point-and-click operations. Non-technical users can create their own views with assistance from templates, design wizards and comprehensive help text. Power users and development staff will be happy to discover that SEQUEL ViewPoint can be used to quickly design solutions which are simply not possible with Query/400 or other third-party tools.
Designing a View
The Design View window (below) lets users select libraries, files and fields from selection windows. Separate panels show file layouts for each file selected. When multiple files need to be included in a view, joining files is as simple as dragging a field name from one file list to another. Fields are included in the view by double-clicking a field name within a file layout window.
A field list at the bottom of the Design View window shows what fields are currently selected in the view. Additional derived fields and expressions may be added at will. Sorting, summarizing and reformatting data is a snap. ViewPoint Design View also offers design assistance with calculated fields, if-then-else clauses and other expressions.
SEQUEL ViewPoint also has an AutoJoin option that automatically includes JOIN criteria into a new SEQUEL view. It's designed for end users who may not be familiar with database structure - who would benefit from a little assistance specifying file JOIN criteria in their SEQUEL views. Seasoned SEQUEL users will also benefit from AutoJoin as it quickly constructs JOIN paths for often-used files.
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Designing a Tabling View
After a SEQUEL view has been created to select database information, a tabling layout can be generated from scratch or with a Table Wizard function. A series of Wizard dialogs (see examples) guide the user through the table design steps, culminating with a ViewPoint Table Design dialog (below) formatted according to the user's selections. Available fields are listed in the center portion of the dialog and can be dragged to the row or column specifications.
Standard calculations are available for totals, group totals, percentage of grand totals, rankings, max, min, and other calculations. You can also create summary rows or columns based on conditionals, or create conditional subtotal fields.
A Tabling View can send summarized data to a physical file on a System i, a PC file, a SEQUEL Report or the results may be displayed on-line. Combined with SEQUEL's e-mail and FTP capabilities, you can automatically forward the results to any recipient or server. Tabling is a perfect tool for summarizing and reformatting data for PC downloads and for business intelligence applications.
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Designing a Client Table
Similar to the creation of a System i table, a SEQUEL view is first used to select database information. A series of Wizard dialogs guide the user through the client table design steps, culminating with a ViewPoint Client Table Design dialog (below). Drag-and-Drop functions let you arrange rows and columns according to your preferred layout. Data may be filtered, highlighted, summarized or arranged to fit virtually any requirement.
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