About the Data Maintenance Wizard

Note: This topic refers primarily to the Windows client version of the Data Maintenance Wizard. There is also a web client version of this wizard, which is functionally the same. The web client version can also be designated and used as a Runtime Builder form.

Use the Data Maintenance Wizard (DMW) to quickly create a table, IDO, and (optionally) form, all from a single procedure. This wizard is especially helpful when you want to create a new form, instead of building on top of an existing database schema. In addition to the basic creation of one or more SQL tables, IDOs, and optional forms, you can use this wizard to:

  • Create the form based on a previously saved template, using the Open Template button on the Data Maintenance Wizard toolbar.
  • Save the current form setup as a template, by clicking the Save Template button on the toolbar.
  • Base the new tables/IDOs/forms on an existing database schema, using the Get Database Schema button on the toolbar.
  • Create subcollections at the same time you are creating the primary collection, using the Add Collection button.
  • Set various wizard options, using the Options button.

See About the New Data Maintenance Wizard toolbar.

Other Data Maintenance Wizard options

You can also use the Data Maintenance Wizard to:

  • Save the form definition to the form definitions database for future use as a template.
  • Generate SQL scripts for user-defined data types (UDTs) and optionally, copy them to the system clipboard and/or save them.

The Data Maintenance Wizard creation process

When you click Finish, the wizard performs these actions:

  • Creates the tables, columns, primary key definitions, IDOs, properties, template data, and, optionally, new form
  • Refreshes the IDO metadata cache and saves object elements to the Objects Database
  • Saves the new template to the templates database and the new form to the forms database
  • Launches the Sql Tables form filtered for any new tables
  • Launches the IDOs form filtered for the new IDO
  • Launches the new form in Runtime Mode

You can immediately use the form to enter and save data. To modify it, you must use the Web Designer or Design Mode, and then you can work with it the same as any other form.