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Important
Database Designer is provided on the understanding that the user already knows how relational databases are built and function, and in particular that the user has knowledge of relationships between tables and the use of primary keys. Whilst Forsta will provide basic support for this tool, Forsta reserves the right, after giving prior warning to the Client, to charge for assistance which it considers to be Additional Services.
Use Database Designer to set up tables and table structures that can then be used as answer lists in single questions in Forsta Plus surveys, instead of defining the answer list in the Answers for the question. There are two ways of using this functionality in a Forsta Plus survey:
- Table lookup – where you can maintain an answer list outside Forsta Plus surveys. This has several advantages:
- It is then possible to refer to the same list (for example a list of brands) from different surveys.
- You can update the list dynamically without having to edit the Surveys.
- You can instantly apply the changes to all surveys where the list is used.
The list can be changed outside the surveys, and the changes can then be implemented without having to recompile and regenerate the surveys. This gives major improvements when working with long answer lists, both when compiling and generating the Survey, and for the respondents.
- Hierarchical lookup – where you can define hierarchy structures with any number of sub-levels. This could for example be for an organization from division to department to unit, for locations from continent to country to city level etc. The structure is defined in the Database Designer with one or more tables and keys to define the relationship between the different levels. When answering the interview, the respondent can then find his/her answer by browsing through a hierarchical tree structure. The hierarchical structure is also available for reporting in Forsta Reportal.
Note: For regular answer lists when used in Single questions, Multis and Grids etc. It is recommended that the number of rows is limited to a maximum of 500. However Table lookups and Hierarchical lookups created in Database Designer will be able to handle a larger number of rows.
Access Database Designer via the Home menu - - or the Quick Access pane.
Figure 1 - Entering Database Designer
When you access Database Designer, the window lists all the schema available. The list is divided into pages, where each page contains a maximum of 50 schema; click the next/previous Page buttons in the lower-right corner of the page to move between pages. Click a letter-button (along the lower edge of the page) to list only the schema where the name starts with that letter. The list can be sorted on the Schema ID and the Schema Name; click the appropriate column header to toggle the sort order up or down on that column.