6. Search criteria creation.

Not aways we will want to bring all database data to create the cube. Many times we would like to use a data subset, for example, data from a sales region or data fro a certain date an on. This section let us choose specific database records to create the cube.

The search criteria is made comparing the database values against values specified in this section. To each record read from the database, a search condition is applied. If the comparations are succesful, then this record will appear in the query. If not all conditions ar true, the the record will be discarded and will not be seen in the query results.

You can use the dialog's buttons to:

  • Add : Use this button to add a new condition to the search criteria. The Add search criteria dialog appears.
  • Edit : Choose a search condition from the list and press this button to modify it. The Add search criteria dialog appears.
  • Remove : Select asearch condition from the list and press this button to remove it.

The fields shown in the search criteria list are:

  • (: Use this field if you want to add a left parenthesis in your search criteria. You will have to add a right parenthesis aftwerwards.
  • Negate: MArk this field if you wish to negate the condition defined in the Add search criteria dialog.
  • Field: This field shows the Alias of the database field which will be used in the search condition.
  • Operator: This is the operator or comparation type that will be used in this particular condition. You can compare the value of a field against a constant or a value. You can use the following comparation operators:
    • Equal(=) : The column value must be equal to the comparation value.
    • Different (<>): The column value must be different to the comparation value.
    • Greater than (>): The column value must be greater than to the comparation value.
    • Less than (<): The column value must be less than to the comparation value.
    • Greater or equal (>=) : The column value must be greater or equal to the comparation value.
    • Less or equal (<=): The column value must be less or equal to the comparation value.
    • Like (like): You can specify a search pattern to bring all records that match it. See the Add search criteria for more information.
    • In list (in): You can specify a list of comma separated values. If the database type field is Char or Date, you must use single quotes to enclose each entry to the list. For example 'A','B','C' .
    • Between (between): The database value must be between the values defining this value range. The range is inclusive and includes the values given here.
    • Is empty(is null) : The field value must be empty or null.
  • Value 1: You should type here the value or constant to which the value will compare. Use single quotes to enclose values of type Char or Date. You can write fields or field formulas in alias.field format if you want to use database fields.
  • Value 2: If you choose the Between operator, you specify here the second or upper range value.
  • Join with: When you define more than one search condition, you need to join together the conditions between them. You can choose one of the following options:
    • And: When you join two or more conditions with And, it means that all the conditions must become true in order for the search criteria to become true.
    • Or: When you join two or more conditions with Or , it means that at least one condition must become true in order for the search criteria to become true.
  • ) : use this field to enter the right parenthesis of your search criteria. This must match with a left parenthesis. Using parenthesis, is synonym to create different search conditions, each consisting of several parts.

Press the  Next button to proceed to  section 7. Field selection to sort the query . The number of left and right parenthesis must match.

The  Back will take you to section 5. User's prompt creation.