Data sets

Data sets are a group of records that was extracted from a database table.

You create data sets in SA Mass Maintenance Administration when you select the database table from which to extract the records, and the database columns to extract. Optionally, you can specify values for database columns to determine which records to extract.

Key values are automatically extracted for each record, but you cannot change these values in the mass maintenance function. You must use the standard administrator change reports, such as the Product Administration Change Product Report, to change key values.

When you create a set, it is validated against this set of criteria:
  • The set name must be unique. It cannot be in use by another set.
  • At least one extraction column must be selected.
  • If selection criteria is specified, values in the Beginning Value and Ending Value fields must meet Data Type requirements. For example, a date must be specified for fields with a Data Type of Date.

Additionally, record extraction from a database table is limited to one user at a time. If you attempt to create a set when another user is extracting records from the same database table, an error occurs.

If validation errors do not occur, the extraction records are created, based on the selected Extraction Columns.

The extracted records are placed in a temporary database table for the set. The temporary table contains the field values from the database when records were extracted. The temporary table contains the original value for the field and a new value for the field. When the record is extracted, the original and new value are the same. If you change the value for the field on the extraction record, the new value in the temporary table is updated with the change. The original value is maintained.

You can change the extraction records in a set, but you cannot change a set after it is created. You must create a new set if you require changes to a set, such as including additional extraction columns or changing the selection criteria.

In SA Mass Maintenance Administration, when you click Create, you access the Mass Maintenance Create Wizard. The wizard provides a graphical representation of your progress when you perform a series of dependent steps in a logical order to complete a task.