15/04/23

The Ultimate Generic date/time framework

Quick start and Setup for MS-SQL ServerGino Scheppers16/02/2012

How to test the MS-SQL Server template universe?

Open the MS-SQL template universe in designer (3.1 or higher)

Change your connection to a valid MS-SQL Server database

Start playing with the objects and predefined filters in the [Generic Timestamp Table]-class.

The objects in this class are based on fields from the derived table called: GenericTimestampTable

First example (LOV Filter)

Drag & drop some result objects and the predefined LOV example into the query panel, and run the query

First example – Run the above query

Second exampleDrag & drop some result objects and the predefined Date (Timestamp-type) Prompt Example, run the query

Second example – Run the above query

Third example

Use the between operator in combination with a [Begin Range] and [End Range] object

With the objects from the Miscellaneous (Timestamp Objects)-class

Third example – Result

Based on current date - 17/02/2012, this is the result.

Summary

The above three examples illustrates the ease of use of the date/time framework, and the benefits you get after implementing the framework in your own MS-SQL universes.

Of course, the GenericTimestampTable-derived table is not needed in your own universes. I only use it for demo purpose. It’s the fastest way to show you the tremendous possibilities without struggling with the setup first.

Steps to change a existing universe (summarized)

1. Open the MS-SQL-template-universe and change the connection to a valid MS-SQL database.

2. Open your target universe3. Copy and past the derived table with name

‘GenericTimestampDimension’ to the target universe

4. Copy/Past the ‘Miscellaneous (Timestamp Objects)’ class from the template universe to the target universe.

5. Create a filter-prompt object for every date/time object where an ad-hoc ‘List of values’ is needed. (check the filter-example in the Generic Date table class)

6. Recreate (if necessary) the LOV of the GenericDateDimension object (see next slide)

Steps 6 (Very important, don’t forget, this step!)

recreate the LOV with following objects and parameters.

Also need a Super Generic Date-Dimension table?

Steps: Copy/paste the derived

table (GenericTimestampTable) to your target universe

Copy the ‘Generic Timestamp’-class to your target universe

Disable the LOV’s the objects

Final step

1. Drag & drop the date/time object you want to query in the Query Filters panel

2. Select a between condition

3. Select a [Begin Range] object from the Miscellaneous (Timestamp objects) class

4. Select a [End Range] object from the Miscellaneous (Timestamp objects) class

5. Run the query.

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Learn the end-user (in 5 steps) the ‘ultimate between-trick’

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That’s all folks

It’s free! But a small donation to my PayPal account gino.scheppers@telenet.be is welcome…

And the good news, lot’s of good stuff can be found on my Wordpress-Blog

Can you find 10 good reasons why to use the Ultimate Generic Date/Time framworke?

No, check my Blog-post.