Manage Tables

Administrators and/or IT users can now create client-specific tables in the FAST Oracle database. Under normal circumstances, these tables could then be used to create custom data entry pages.

To locate the Manage Table form, on the Queries menu, select Table Builder, then Manage Tables.

Before moving to the Manage Tables form, you will already have created one or more new tables using one of the following methods:

  1. Create Table Manually

  2. Create Table from XL File

Once you have one or more tables created in any FAST application, you can navigate to the Manage Tables form. This will list all the tables created in the current FAST application. These will display by Table Name.

Data elements to be aware of:

  1. Table Name: These table names are hyperlinked and when selected, will take you to the Table Builder if you need to review the details and/or make edits.

  2. Table Comments: If included, these will populate as a read-only text entry.

  3. Created: Date and Time stamp will display of when the table was created or uploaded.

  4. Data Entry Page: If checked, this Table has also been used to create a custom data entry page using the Data Entry Page Builder.

  5. Row Count: Number of current rows (if any) of data in the table.

  6. Trunc Table: Used to delete all rows (data) in the current table; use this button very carefully as deleting data will cause a permanent deletion of all data and this data cannot be retrieved.

  7. Drop Table: This will delete the entire table and remove it from the list.

  8. Export Table Structure: This serves as a copy or save function and will prompt you to save the resulting file (.MCSL) to your computer. Once you save the file, it can then be imported back into FAST (to another environment, for instance), using the Import Table function.

  9. Import Table: Located on the lower pane of the form, this function allows you to import the Exported .MCSL file. This is most commonly used to import a new table that you have created in your FAST TEST environment and wish to now migrate to your FAST Production Environment.

  10. Import Data: The same logo appears on the main menu option as an Import Data function. Use this menu option to import current data from an existing source to your new FAST Table.

Important Tips, Tricks and Pitfalls:

  1. Be cautious when editing a Table when a data entry page has already been created. Modifying items such as Data Types, Precision, Length, Not Null indicators can cause the data in your current data entry page to fail.

  2. If you choose to also import the data from an Excel template, you will also need to correctly map the columns on the import to the columns in FAST.

  3. Be cautious when selecting the Trunc or Drop table buttons. These are permanent functions and cannot be undone.

  4. When using the Export Table Structure function, do not open the .MCSL file. The file is encrypted and the data (in a text file) is not functional. It is only decrypted when you use the Import Table function to pull the file back into FAST and create a new or duplicate table.

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