Business records (data sets)

Business records model the data definition, structure, and table relationships of the data used in a Report Data entity. Business records are designed and modified in the Business Records diagram.

Business records inherit their default information from the meta-schema from which they were created.

Tip: To auto-arrange the layout of the records in a Business Record diagram, right-click anywhere in the diagram and select Layout Diagram.

Reports

To view the Business Record diagram for a report, open the .4rdj file. Select a record in the diagram to highlight it in the Structure View. The business record contains the information required to generate a data schema. The data schema is then used as input in the report design process, providing details about the data to the report designer creating the Genero report definition (.4rp) file.

Figure: Business Record in a Record Data definition

This figure is a screenshot of a Business Record diagram as seen in a record data file.
Tip: Where possible, use a single data set, gathering multiple database tables into this data set. The database can then use a single SELECT statement, which allows for better performance than running multiple queries. However, multiple data sets are necessary in some cases; for example, you need multiple independent lists of data in your reports, or your query is too complex for the database engine.