Specifications

Connecting Fields 117
ID Works Standard and Enterprise Version 5 Administrator’s Guide
Restrictions on Connections to
Database Columns
A Production Form field can be connected to one and only one
database table column, and a database table column can be
connected to one and only one Production Form field. The ID Works
software enforces these restrictions in two ways. First, if you select a
Production Form field that is already connected to a database table
column, the Table and Column fields in the Data Source area change
(if necessary) to show you the connected table and column name.
You can remove that connection by clicking the Disconnect button.
Secondly, if you still try to make a multiple connection, you will see an
error message telling you to remove the original connection.
You can connect Production Form fields only to compatible database
table columns. For example, if you try to connect a text field on your
Production Form to a database table column with a type of date, the
ID Works software will display an error message. See “Data Types”
on page 95 for compatible field and database types.
Composite fields cannot be connected to a database column.
Instead, connect the fields from which the composite is made.
To ensure that all the data you collect using the Production Form is
saved in the database and, conversely, to ensure that all the data in
the database can be displayed on your Production Form, the length of
text fields on your Production Form should match the length of the
database table column to which they will be connected. If you connect
text fields of unequal length, the ID Works software will offer to
change the length of the Production Form text field to match the
length of the database table column.
If you change the data type, length, or name of a database column
after you have connected it to a Production Form field or if you
change the Production Form field length after you have connected it
to a database column, you must disconnect and reconnect the fields
or errors may occur when the project is used.