To set up formulas or expressions for custom columns or summaries in
DataViews, you must use the
Advanced Editor. This editor can be accessed only
from the
Custom Columns form or the
Select Summaries form.
To set up a formula or expression for a custom column or a custom
summary in a DataView:
-
To launch the
Advanced Editor, perform one of these actions in
the
Custom Columns form or the
Select Summaries form:
- Specify a
Name for a new column
and then click
Add.
- Select an existing column/summary to edit and click
Advanced Editor.
When the editor opens, if you are creating a new custom
column/summary, the
Enter Formula/Expression
field is empty. If you are editing an existing column/summary, the
Enter Formula/Expression
field displays the current formula or expression that you selected to edit.
-
To create or edit the formula or expression, you can specify the
formula or expression directly into the
Enter Formula/Expression
field, or you can use these options in the editor to help build the formula or
expression:
-
Enter
Formula/Expression
- This field shows the formula or expression as it currently
exists, if it exists. If there are errors in the formula or expression as it
currently exists, the error is highlighted in a red box at the bottom of this
field, and Hint/Tip text displays near the formula/expression itself. You can
specify or edit the formula/expression directly in this field, or you can use
the other buttons and options in this editor to help you construct the
formula/expression.
-
Clear button
- Click this button to clear the
Enter
Formula/Expression field.
-
Operator buttons
- The buttons to the right of the
Clear button are
standard operator buttons you can use to build the formula or expression.
-
Operands group box
- For most uses, you only need to understand the
tree. The
tree
is not currently used.
Under
Controls, there is
a branch for each IDO that is represented in the DataView. You can use these
branches to select the properties you want to use in your formula or
expression. Double-click a property to add it to the
Enter
Formula/Expression field.
-
Functions group
box
- This group box includes a variety of typical functions you
might want to use as part of your formula or expression. Double-click a
function in any branch of this list to add the basic function syntax into the
Enter
Formula/Expression field. You are prompted for the remaining
information, both required and optional.