Use the Interactive Database Editing form to make any additions, deletions, or modifications to the tables selected using the Choose Tables for Interactive Editing form. The changes can then be applied to the model and shown in the display area of the CSiBridge window. The Interactive Database Editing form has a display area and various menu options and buttons that can be used to add records to or delete records from the table shown in the display area, copy records, move records, and find or find and replace user-specified data.
{Table Name} drop-down list. Use the drop-down list near the top of the form to select the table to be edited. If the alternative method of displaying the form is used (see above), only one table name will be listed in this drop-down list.
Spreadsheet area. Modify records in the table by typing directly in the cells, including using numerical formulas (e.g., 2+3/4). Right-click within any field (column) and a menu of pertinent operations will appear. The menu includes the Field Description option, which when clicked displays a form that shows a description for the item. If the field expects numeric input, the menu includes the Calculator option, which can be used to speed data entry when formulae are involved. If the field expects text input, use the View menu > Drop-Down List command to display a drop-down list of all acceptable values for the selected cell.
Important: Objects and other defined entities are identified by their names in the tables. If you change any names, those items will be considered as new when the tables are brought back into the model. Do not use interactive table editing to rename objects or other defined entities! Instead, use the Advanced > Edit > More > Change Labels command.
The units used for a given field can be changed by clicking on the cell just below the column heading. Select the new units from the drop-down list that appears. Changing the units for one field will change the units for other related fields. The units chosen while interactively editing tables are temporary. All values will be converted back to the current model units when the editing is applied to the model.
Apply to Model button. Click the Apply to Model button or the File menu > Apply to Model command to accept the changes. Or click the Done button or the File menu > Done (Close DB and Return to Model) command and respond No when prompted to cancel the changes.
The Interactive Database Editing form has the following commands and buttons to help edit the selected table. Some of these commands can also be accessed by right clicking in a display cell.
Command |
Button |
Action |
File menu |
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Apply to Model |
Apply to Model |
Applies the changes made in the table to the model and closes the Interactive Database Editing form. |
Done (Close DB and Return to Model) |
Done |
Closes the Interactive Database Editing form without changing the model, unless No is selected in response to the prompt to cancel the changes. |
Excel menu |
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Send Database Table to Excel |
To Excel |
Sends the table to Microsoft Excel, which launches automatically and displays the table. Excel's spreadsheet functionality can then be used to edit the table. After editing the data using Excel, do not close Excel. Instead, return to CSiBridge and select the From Excel button to save the changes or the Cancel Excel button to discard them; Excel will close automatically. |
Receive Database Table from Excel |
From Excel |
With Excel open, return to CSiBridge and click the From Excel button to bring a table into CSiBridge that had been sent to Excel from CSiBridge using the To Excel button. Excel will close automatically. |
Cancel Database Table in Excel |
Cancel Excel |
With Excel open, return to CSiBridge and click the Cancel Excel button to discard changes made to a table that had been sent to Excel from CSiBridge using the To Excel button. Excel will automatically be closed. |
Edit menu |
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Undo and Redo |
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Undo will undo the last action. Redo will redo the last action. |
Cut, Copy, Paste |
Copy, Paste |
Select a cell(s) to be cut, copied, or pasted using standard Windows operations. |
Paste Insert |
Paste Insert |
Use with cut or copy to paste the cut or copied cell(s) to the row in the table above the selected cell(s). |
Paste Append |
Paste Append |
Use with cut or copy to paste the cut or copied cell(s) to the end of the table. |
Delete |
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Deletes the contents of the selected cell, but not the cell. |
Delete Record |
Delete Record |
Deletes the selected record/row. |
Insert Blank Records |
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Inserts a blank record/row above the selected record/row in the table. |
Append Blank Records |
Append Blank Rows |
Adds a blank record/row to the end of the table. |
Move Record Up |
Up Arrow |
Moves the selected record/row up in the table. |
Move Record Down |
Down Arrow |
Moves the selected record/row down in the table. |
Find |
Find |
Displays the Find and Replace form. |
Replace |
Replace |
Displays the Find and Replace form. |
Align (General Left, Center, Right) |
None |
Use the Align options to align text in the selected cell(s). |
View menu |
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Maximize |
None |
Toggles the Interactive Database Editing form from the default size to fill the entire computer screen. Functions similar to the Windows minimize/maximize feature. |
Hide Selected Column |
None |
Hides the selected columns. |
Show All Columns |
None |
Shows any columns that have been hidden using the Hide Selected Column command. |
Autofit Column |
None |
Changes the column width to accommodate the cell with the most characters, which may result in the column being narrowed. |
Field Description |
None |
Displays a form that describes the selected item in the table. |
Element Information |
None |
Displays an information form when an object is selected. |
Calculator |
None |
Accesses the Calculator form to speed data entry when formulae are required. The cursor must be in a cell that accepts such entry for this command to be available. |
Drop-Down List |
None |
Displays a drop-down list of all acceptable values for the selected cell when the expected data type is text. |
Options menu |
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Overwrite Mode |
None |
Toggles the overwrite mode on and off. When the overwrite mode is on, text typed in the cell will replace the existing text. When the overwrite mode is off, text typed into the cell will be inserted where the cursor is located. |
Show/Hide |
None |
Toggles the display of the buttons on the right-hand side of the form on and off. Hiding the buttons, expands the display area for the table. |
Highlight Table Changes |
None |
Toggles the highlighting of changes off and on. |
Advanced Import Options |
Advanced Options |
Accesses the Tabular Database Import Options - Interactive Editing form. Use the form to specify how the data should be integrated back into the database after editing the individual tables. |
Always Display Log After Import |
None |
Toggles the display of the Interactive Database Import Log form on or off after the edited table has been reintroduced to the model database. |
Access the Interactive Database Editing - {Table Name} form as follows:
Alternatively, after Step 2, expand the tree associated with a table type by clicking on the plus (+) symbol preceding the table type name. Continue expanding the tree until the table appears (Table: {Name}. Right click on the table name and select Interactively Edit Table from the resulting drop-down list. This method can be used to display one table at a time. |