Editable Report Portlet

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The Editable Report Portlet allows you to create portlets to update data directly in your chosen database. It is useful in a number of ways:

1. Direct data entry into transaction tables to be used in dashboards
2. Updating of access and control information by specific users
3. Updating of reference information such as groups, offices, regions, etc.
4. Any other data entry or manipulation of dashboard tables.

Getting Started

The Data Entry Portlet works with an existing Report Portlet to display data in a list. See Report Portlet for specifics on creating a report using the report portlet.

For Example purposes - we have created a report the lists offices. A portion of the report portlet is on the left with the resulting report on the right.


Edit0.jpg


Display Primary Key in Report

An important part of the editable report is the primary key of the table to be edited. In the above report portlet - the Office_Id is the primary key of the Office table. We need to include this key in the report to be used by the editable report portlet.

It is important to note - that you should establish a single column in your table and designate that column as a primary key. The editable report uses this to update and insert new rows into the table. This key element should also be set up to auto increment - that way you do not have to worry about setting the key on inserts

The Editable Report Portlet

Now that we have created a list to use in the editable report - we can configure the portlet.


Edit1.jpg

Select Datasource - select the datasource to be used in the editable report

Select from Saved Editable Report - A list of editable reports for the selected datasource will be displayed.

Saved Name - the name to be used when you save the portlet. This name will be listed in the previous pulldown when saved.

Title - the title to be displayed on the data edit screen

Select Report - the name of the report portlet to be used to display data for edit or entry. In the example above it would be Entry Office List.

Table - this is the table name in your datasource that will be edited using the editable report portlet. In the above example - we would select the office table. When you select the table - the portlet adds the columns from that table to the portlet - see next image



Edit2.jpg



When you select a table - the columns from that table are displayed. Additional columns are displayed in the portlet as well:

Field - the column name from the table selected

Label - the label to be displayed for that table column in the data edit screen

Hidden - specifies if the column is hidden on the data edit screen

Updatable - specifies if entries can be made in this column. If checked - a field will be displayed on the data edit screen for this column

Lookup - a sql statement that will create a pull down menu for users to select a value. The first value in the select statement will be set as the column value. The second value will be displayed in the pulldown menu. In this example - region_id will be saved - but region (name) is displayed in a pull down menu for user selection.

Default Value - default value for the column when saved

Key Parameter - box will be check if this is the primary key for the table. Will automatically be checked if specified in the table definition.

Detail HTML - section to enter detailed html that will be used instead of the default edit screen. This is a complex function and should only be used if you are an experienced html developer. See Advanced functions for additional information

Cancel: Cancel changes and display the report.

Save: Save changes and display the report.

Editable Report Portlet Behavior



Edit3.jpg



When you click SAVE - the report portlet specified in the editable report portlet will be displayed with an edit (pencil) icon to the left of each item, a delete (red circle) to the right and a New Record Link.

Selecting Edit

Data Entry Example