Change the data

You may need to change your data, in order to test your report designs.

While you can write SQL statements, DB Explorer is designed to allow you to make data changes directly within the user interface, to the data shown.

Use DB Explorer to quickly view or make changes to your data. It is important to understand that, by using DB Explorer, you are making actual changes to the data in the tables; these changes are permanent. As such, DB Explorer is intended as a developer tool, not as a production tool.

When you change or modify data using this tool, the changes are done under-the-covers by SQL statements. These SQL statements are governed by the rules of the database itself. The change needs to be valid by the rules of the database, in order for the query to run successfully.

Show data from a table in edit mode

To edit the data without having to hand-write SQL statements, you must start with the meta-schema file.

Open the meta-schema (.4db) file.
Right-click on a table object and select Show/Edit Table Data.
The table data shows in DB Explorer, in edit mode.

Show data from a different table in edit mode

When in edit mode, you can switch to a different table for editing.

Click the Edit SQL query icon. The Edit SQL query icon consists of a pad and pencil image.
The Query Editor dialog opens.
Select the Edit table data radio button.
From the combobox, select the table.
Click Execute.
The table data shows in DB Explorer, in edit mode.

Update data

Before you begin, you must be viewing the data in edit mode.

This procedure tells you the recommended method for updating one or more values.

Double-click a table cell.
Change the value in the cell.
Repeat for any other fields within the same record.

Note: If you switch to a different row, DB Explorer will save the changes to the current row automatically.
When you have finished updating values for a record, click the Save icon. The Save icon is a picture of a computer disk.

Insert a row

Before you begin, you must be viewing the data in edit mode.

This procedure tells you the recommended method for inserting a new row.

Click the Insert icon. The Insert icon consists of a plus sign and an arrow.
An empty row appears at the end of the row listing, with the cursor in the first column / field.
Enter a value in the field, and press TAB to move to the next field. To leave the field blank, simply press TAB. Repeat until all fields are populated.
Click the Save icon. The Save icon is a picture of a computer disk.

Note: If you tab past the last field, DB Explorer will insert the new row for you automatically.

The row is saved. A success message is written to the status bar.
Note: If there is an error, review the Output view to identify the issue. See Execute a query.

Duplicate a row

Before you begin, you must be viewing the data in edit mode.

This procedure tells you the recommended method for creating a copy of a row. It is assumed that you will then modify one or more of the fields, before saving the copy as a new row.

Select a row.
Click the Duplicate icon. The Duplicate icon consists of "x2" inside a green circle.
A new row opens at the bottom of the list, with the values of the originally selected row duplicated.
Make modifications to the fields in the row.

Tip: Be sure to change the value of the primary key field, to avoid returning a SQL constraint error.
Click the Save icon. The Save icon is a picture of a computer disk.
The row is saved. A success message is written to the status bar.
Note: If there is an error, review the Output view to identify the issue. See Execute a query.

Delete a row

Before you begin, you must be viewing the data in edit mode.

This procedure tells you the recommended method for deleting a row.

Select a row.
Click the Delete icon. The Delete icon consists of a red "X".
A dialog appears asking you to confirm your delete request. Click Yes to delete the row.
The row is deleted. A success message is written to the status bar.