Table Properties

A schema can contain a number of tables, and these are listed on the Tables tab. Click on a Table ID number (blue text to the left of a table row - it turns orange when pointed to) to open the Properties form for that table. The Properties form opens below the table list, at the Properties tab - .

Figure 1 - The table Properties tab

• Name - you can change the table name, but not the Table ID.

Note. Table names should be a maximum of 20 characters. If the table name has more than 20 characters, problems may arise later when using data templates and Bitstream files.

• PK width - specifies the field width (number of characters) of the primary key of your table (PK width). The primary key is the unique identifier for the elements in the table (similar to the codes that are used as unique identifiers of the elements in answer lists in Authoring questions). The content of the primary key fields can be alphanumeric characters (letters and digits), and underscore ( _ ) only, with no white-space.

Note: After the table is generated, you cannot modify the primary key width setting.

• Generated - indicates whether the table has been generated (it exists) or not. True = the table is generated, False = it has not.
• Synchronized - when you generate the table, two versions are created; the design version and the runtime version. This indicates whether the two tables are identical, or whether changes have been made to the design table that have not yet been copied to the runtime table. To copy the changes to the runtime table, click Synchronize. Note that some changes, for example adding columns, are copied automatically to the runtime table; you do not need to synchronize.

• Languages - here you select the languages that you wish to be used in the table. You can select as many languages as required, and you can select additional languages at any time. Click into the All Languages list and type the initial letter(s) for a language name into the field to move to that language. In this example two languages are selected so far; English and Norwegian, and English is set as the default language. Note that a row will be added to the Captions list for each language selected here.
• Default language - the default language is initially taken from the user's pc setup. This can be changed to any of the languages that have been selected for the table.
• Time Dependent - allows you to track changes in hierarchy nodes over time. Note that this functionality is currently not supported on the reporting side.

Note: Once Time Dependent is selected for a table, it cannot be deselected.

Save any changes by clicking the Save button located above the Properties tab in the lower part of the window.

Time Dependent Property

The Time Dependent property allows you to track changes in hierarchy nodes over time. For example, if you have a hierarchy based on a company with a department node under a particular manager, and you know that the department will be organized under a different manager for a period, then you can set up the hierarchy such that responsibility for the department changes on the appropriate dates. Data collected by surveys using this hierarchy will then be allocated to the appropriate managers for the appropriate periods.

Note: Once the Time Dependent property is selected for a table, it cannot be deselected.

Important
While this functionality works for the hierarchy, it is currently not supported on the reporting side. So changes in the data over time will not be reflected in any reports using the data.