Variables
In a process of work you may need to use one and the same value for different objects of the databse - tables, views, columns, etc. For example, you have an hourly rate
value equal to $15. If you need to use this value in formulas of various database objects (in more than one table, view, etc.), you may choose one of the following options:
-
Either enter this value a new for each formula;
-
Or create a Variable and set the necessary value ($15) for it.
Imagine that you need to increase the value of your hourly rate from $15 to $18. In the first case you will need to change all formulas manually, which may take a lot of time and effort. If you used the variable, you will need to change its value only once, after what it will be applied to all formulas automatically.
TeamDesk allows you to create new variables to use them later in the system. To add a variable:
Click the Setup
link in the top right corner of the window.
Select the Database
tab.
Choose Database > Variables
in the setup menu. On the displayed page click the New
button. The following form will appear on the page:
In the Name
field enter the name of the new variable. In the Value
field enter the variable value.
When entering a variable name, make sure that it is unique, that is, it does not coincide with the name of any other variable or the name of any existing table column. In formulas, variables and column references are formatted in the same way - enclosed with square brackets, for example,
[Hourly Rate]
. If the variable name coincides with the name of any table column, there may occur a reference confusion.
Click Save
to add the variable; click Cancel
to discard changes.
Variable values are treated by the system as a text. If you need to use variables in the date or numeric format, you will have to convert them into the necessary format later on, when creating formulas.
The following table shows how you should enter text values if you need to convert variables into different formats later on:
Will be converted to format | Variable Value |
---|---|
Numeric | Enter the number without any additional characters (for example, 10 ). Use points “.” for decimal fractions (for example, 10.05 ). |
Date | Enter the date in the yyyy-mm-dd or mm/dd/yyyy format (for example, 2006/10/28 or 10/28/2006 ). |
Time | Enter the time in the hh:mm:ss format (for example, 23:00:40 ). |
Timestamp | Enter the timestamp in the yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss format (for example, 2006-10-28 23:00:40 ). |
To edit a variable:
Go to Setup > Database > Variables
.
Choose the necessary variable from the list and click Edit
in a corresponding table row.
Make necessary modifications to the variable name and value.
Click Save
to apply changes.
To delete a variable:
Go to Setup > Database > Variables
.
Choose the necessary variable from the list and click Del
in a corresponding table row. In the displayed dialog box choose OK
to confirm the deletion.