Adding columns to a DataWindow object

You can add columns that are included in the data source to a DataWindow object. When you first create a DataWindow object, each of the columns in the data source is automatically placed in the DataWindow object. Typically, you would add a column to restore one that you had deleted from the DataWindow object, or to display the column more than once in the DataWindow object.

NoteAdding columns not previously retrieved to the data source To specify that you want to retrieve a column not previously retrieved (that is, add a column to the data source), you must modify the data source.

See “Modifying the data source of a DataWindow object”.

StepsTo add a column from the data source to a DataWindow object:

  1. Select Insert>Control>Column from the menu bar.

  2. Click where you want to place the column.

    The Select Column dialog box displays, listing all columns included in the data source of the DataWindow object.

  3. Select the column and click OK.

Insert columns instead of copying them

If you want to add a column from the DataWindow definition to a DataWindow, always use Insert>Control>Column. You might see unexpected results if you copy a column from one DataWindow object to another if they both reference the same column but the column order is different. This is because copying a column copies a reference to the column’s id in the DataWindow definition.

Suppose d_first and d_second both have first_name and last_name columns, but first_name is column 1 in d_first and column 2 in d_second. If you delete the first_name column in d_second and paste column 1 from d_first in its place, both columns in d_second display the last_name column in the Preview view, because both columns now have a column id of 1.