Spreadsheet Style Entry

john · Post by **john** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:55 pm

Hi

Just a very quick question so I dont waste a lot of time trying to work this one out . . .

Is there any functionality at all that provides the ability to enter information in a spreadsheet style format, where each row would constitute a record in the database. We have a situation where users will need to enter multiple records (a bit like a multiple Timesheet). It would be nice if a user could enter all of these details on the one form rather than having to create a new record for every person.

I would work say by the user be selecting a temp (which is a BO in my system) then a company (where that temp worked which is also a BO in my system) and filling in various other information related to that temp. Each user (or Agency in this case) has multiple temps hence the 'niceness' of having it all on one form. I understand that this could be imported but this does not really provide the same safe environment as the AwareIM system does, so I cannot really rely on users entering the correct information into say an Excel Spreadsheet first.

I hope that makes sense, it was just an idea I had so please dont think im complaning as I think the system is great!

Best Regards
John

aware_support2 · Post by **aware_support2** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:36 pm

> Is there any functionality at all that provides the ability to enter information in a spreadsheet style format, where each row would constitute a record in the database.
Yes, this can be done using the Inline Editing presentation option for multiple-allowed reference attributes. You can see an example of this in the Ordering sample application. If you login as Staff you will be able to add/edit multiple line items on the customer order form.

john · Post by **john** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:24 am

Brilliant,

Thanks very much for that I will take a look

Regards
John

john · Post by **john** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:00 am

Hmmm

I have another problem with this, when I try to query the data as this will be exported into another system, the reference attributes are not available?

For example:
I have an agency submitting and Assignent sheet populated by references to other Business Objects. I need somebody here to pull up these rescords and export the data to CSV, the referenced data would need to be included also.

Is there a way around this?
Regards
John

aware_support2 · Post by **aware_support2** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:33 am

> Is there a way around this?

Yes, you can export the multiple items within the container object into a CSV file. In the Order - LineItems example it would be exporting the line items within a given order.

If you add a shortcut to the contained object, for example LineItem.OrderNumber pointing to LineItem.Order.Number, you can export necessary attributes from the container object into the same CSV file as the item objects.

john · Post by **john** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:36 am

Hi

Thanks for the quick reply, if I am right in understanding the answer I would need to run this from a process and not from a query.

Is it not possible to see the referenced attributes on a standard query? The reason I ask is because we like to be able to check the results before they are exported. It is just necer to do that in this system rather than opening a csv file in excel or notepad?

Thanks
John

aware_support2 · Post by **aware_support2** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 12:37 pm

If you are happy to see the multiple referenced objects on the container object form you can run a query like this as the form operation:

FIND ContainedObject WHERE ContainedObject.Container = ContainerObject ORDER BY ...

The ContainerObject seen on the form will be available in the context for the query. You can then see the results of the query and/or export them into a CSV file.