DataLink Server list designer

Infor BI DataLink Server data sources enable you to create both dynamic and static DataLink lists. A DataLink list is the output of a DataLink Server query. You can create a dynamic DataLink list by specifying that the query definition is stored in a variable. If the DataLink list is used in a hyperblock, for example, and the list definition changes, the list in the hyperblock is updated. You can use a Q&A Query action to update the variable in which a DataLink list is stored.

See Action types.

Each filter in a query definition can be used as a parameter for widget communication in Infor BI Dashboards. To enable the filters to be used for widget communication, the variable in which the DataLink Server is stored must be assigned the DataLink query report parameter.

See Report parameters and dashboards.

The DataLink List Designer has two tabs - Query and Settings and Preview.

The Query tab has a similar structure to the query definition forms in Infor BI DataLink Server You can specify the items for which the query will return values in these panes:

Filter: The values that you specify in the Filter pane form the WHERE clause of the SQL query.
Available Columns: Table rows for which you can return values.
Output: Contains items which you select from Available Columns and which can be displayed in a report.

To create and define a DataLink list:

In the Database Structure pane, right-click an Infor Q&A Provider database alias and select New > Datalink List.
Rename the list as required.
Right-click the new list and select Edit.
Select a report type to create.
You can create a Detail Report or a Summary Report.
Select the product on which to report.
Click the Search icon in the From: field and select a data source.
The Filter pane is populated.
Double-click a filter to view a list of valid values. Select a value for the filter and click OK.
You must specify a value for each filter.

Note: If a filter can accept a variable or formula as its value, a filter icon is displayed. Click the icon to display the Edit Formula dialog box.
Optionally, add items from the Available Columns pane to the Filter pane to create additional filters.
Use the right and left arrows to select the columns in the Available Columns pane that should be output in the report.
To make the list dynamic, click the Settings and Preview tab and specify a global variable in the Variable query field.
Optionally, select Show column names.
Optionally, select Use row number as index.
If the data in the first column returned by the query is not unique, this option adds the row number of each row to the report.
Optionally, specify the maximum number of rows to be output by the query.