Edit Point and Shoot List

Select Edit Point and Shoot from the Tools menu to display the Point and Shoot Editor. You can use the Point and Shoot Editor to create or edit a Point and Shoot list or to browse data to analyze the effects of criteria as you define it.

Note: You can use selection criteria to limit or rearrange the data displayed in the Point and Shoot Editor and column and sort specifications to arrange the display. For details, see Table Specifications.

Start Table rows that satisfy selection criteria, if any, are displayed. If the number of rows that satisfy the selection criteria exceeds the fetch limit, a message in the message bar alerts you that more rows exist than were retrieved. To retrieve more rows, you can increase the Maximum Fetch Rows value on the Display tab of the Personal Options dialog.

If you are editing a Point and Shoot list, and the list includes rows that do not satisfy any selection criteria, a prompt displays to allow you to retain these ‘unknown' rows or retain only rows that meet the current criteria.

If you create or modify a Local Point and Shoot list, you must select Update for the File menu to revise the list, and then save the Access Definition.

Primary Keys

The Start Table must have a primary key for Point and Shoot to function. The process uses primary key values to identify Start Table rows to be processed. The primary key values of the rows selected using Point and Shoot are saved in the Point and Shoot list.

Processing Rules

During processing, the following rules pertain to Point and Shoot lists:

Point and Shoot Editor

The Point and Shoot Editor displays data from the Start Table in a browse window. A toolbar in the browse window allows you to select display options and menu choices that pertain to the display.

point and shoot editor, where you can select specific rows to include in the processing

Selected Rows

Number of rows you select from the Start Table to include in the Point and Shoot list.

Rows Not Found

Number of rows in the Point and Shoot list that are not found among the rows retrieved for the current Point and Shoot session. A number greater than zero may indicate that the Default Qualifier has changed since the Point and Shoot list was created or that the Point and Shoot list includes rows that do not match current selection criteria.

Default Qualifier

The DB Alias and Creator ID of the Start Table.

Browse Window

The first browse window in the Point and Shoot Editor displays the Start Table rows. The Start Table browse window contains a grid column labeled Select that contains a check box for each row. Select the check box to include the row in the Point and Shoot list. Clear the check box to retract a selection.

You can join and view data from related tables in additional browse windows, using the Join button on the toolbar. Joining tables is useful for inspecting related data to ensure that appropriate sets of data are selected.

Data displayed in the table named in the browse window can be navigated and customized using the Find, Exclude, Include, Hide, and Lock options available on the grid heading shortcut menu. (See Using Find and Replace for additional information.)

A browse window contains the following components:

Table
Displays the name of the table shown in the browse window. The first browse window in the Point and Shoot Editor always contains the Start Table.
Format
icon for columnar format
or icon for sidelabels format
Click the Format button to switch the data display between columnar and side label format. The default format is set in Personal Options.

In columnar format, the column names are displayed across the top of the browse window and the data is displayed in columns beneath the headings. Note that the headings for primary key column(s) display in bold type.

Note: The Select grid column, with check boxes for selecting rows for the Point and Shoot list, is available in columnar format only.

In side label format, the column names are displayed down the left side of the browse window and a row of data is displayed to the right of the headings. Use the navigation buttons on the browse window toolbar to scroll to another row. Side label format focuses on a single row and can display more columns per row than columnar format.

Options
options icon
Click the Options button to display the browse window Options menu.
Display Attributes
Switch between displaying and hiding column attribute information in the column headings.
Sort
You can sort rows according to values in one or more columns. Select Sort from the Tools menu in the Point and Shoot Editor to display a dialog with controls similar to those on the Sort tab in the Access Definition Editor. See Sort Tab for information on Sort controls.
Select All Rows
Selects all rows displayed in the browse window.
Invert All Row Selections
Select this command to reverse selected and unselected rows.
Deselect All Rows
Clears all previously selected rows.
Show SQL
Displays a dialog containing the SQL used to obtain the fetch set. You can use the SQL dialog to review, print, and save SQL used to retrieve the current fetch set for the table in the active Edit Definition. To save or print SQL, select the appropriate command from the File menu on the SQL dialog.
List Constraints
Displays the Select a Constraint dialog. The Select a Constraint dialog provides information about each of the defined constraints for the specified table. Double-click a constraint name to view additional details in the Constraint Display dialog.
Show Excluded Rows
Displays all previously excluded rows (rows are excluded using the Exclude command on the shortcut menu). To display excluded rows individually, right-click a row and select Show Next from the shortcut menu.
Rows meeting Criteria
Displays a message to indicate the number of rows that meet the selection criteria. You can choose to increase the fetch limit for the table up to the maximum established in Product Options. (See the Installation and Configuration Guide .)

For example, when the number of rows that satisfy the criteria is 3523, but the fetch limit is 1000 and can be increased, the following is displayed:

prompt to increase the fetch limit

However, if the fetch limit is at maximum, the following is displayed:

message indicating that additional rows cannot be fetched
Unsupported Columns
Indicates there is at least one unsupported data type in the table. Select Unsupported Columns to display a dialog that contains a list of the unsupported columns and the corresponding data type for each.
Join
join icon
Click the Join button to join and view data from a related table in the Browse Table Data dialog. If more than one table is related to the table from which you join, or more than one relationship exists for a pair of tables, you must select from a selection list, as described under Display Multiple Tables (Join Tables).
Unjoin
unjoin icon
Click the Unjoin button to remove a table and all subordinate joined tables from the Point and Shoot Editor.
Refetch Rows
refetch rows icon
Click the Refetch Rows button to retrieve a new fetch set of rows for the table. If other users are simultaneously accessing this data, refetch rows periodically to ensure you have current data.
Navigation
navigation buttons
Click the Navigation buttons to scroll side label display to the first row, previous row, next row, or last row, respectively.
Filtering
Indicates whether Table Specifications, such as Selection Criteria, are defined for the table. Filtering OFF indicates no criteria are defined.
Current Row Indicator
current row indicator arrow
When more than one table is displayed in the Point and Shoot Editor, position the Current Row Indicator to display related rows in joined table(s). To move to a different row, click the grid cell for the desired row or use the up/down arrows on your keyboard.
Select
Select the check box to add the corresponding Start Table row to the Point and Shoot list.

Display Multiple Tables (Join Tables)

You can join multiple tables to any table in the Point and Shoot Editor. When you open the Point and Shoot Editor, the Start Table displays.

Use the Join function to display related data from other tables. When you join tables, the related data in the joined table displays in a new browse window in the Point and Shoot Editor. A relationship must exist between the tables to join them. You can join several tables to a single table, or join additional tables to each joined table. Each joined table displays in a new browse window.

Note: Rows can only be selected for a Point and Shoot list from the Start Table.
display of point and shoot list

When you join tables, a relationship between the tables is required. Only one relationship can be used.

  • If a relationship exists between the tables, the table joins automatically and related rows display in a new browse window.
  • If a relationship does not exist, the Create a New Relationship dialog opens.
  • If more than one relationship exists, the Select a Relationship dialog opens. You can select the relationship to use from a list.

You can also join more than one table to any table. When several tables are joined to a single table, the joined tables are "stacked" in a single edit window, in the order in which they were joined. The most recently joined table is displayed by default, and the other tables in the stack are hidden.

The name of the displayed table appears in a drop-down box in the browse window. Click the arrow to display the list of tables stacked in the browse window. Click a table name in the list to display that table in the browse window.

You can display any table in the stack and join other tables to any table in the stack. In many cases, a database table is related to two or more tables, creating different paths for joining and browsing the data.

When a stacked table is displayed, all subordinate joined tables are also displayed. When a stacked table is hidden, all subordinate joined tables are also hidden.

Use the Find Dialog

When editing a Point and Shoot list, use the Find dialog to find and select specific rows. Options allow you to select and unselect rows containing specific data. To display the Find dialog, right-click a grid column heading in the Point and Shoot Editor and select Find.

The Find dialog has three tabs, Criteria, Columns, and Selection. Use these tabs to specify search parameters and selection options. The Find parameters operate together to identify and select rows.

Command Buttons

Find Next
The function of the Find Next button varies according to the Find dialog tab:
  • On the Criteria and Columns tabs, Find Next locates the next row that satisfies your search criteria.
  • On the Selection tab, Find Next selects or unselects rows that satisfy the search criteria.
Replace
Replace All
The Replace and Replace All buttons are disabled when using Find with the Point and Shoot Editor. For information on these buttons, see Main Window, Menus, and Dialogs.

Criteria Tab

Use the Criteria tab to define criteria for the data to find.

criteria tab for the find command
Find what
Enter a search value. To select from a list of recently specified search values, click the down arrow.
Direction
Choose a direction, from the cursor, for the search. Select Wrap to continue searching up (or down) after you reach the first row (or the last row) in a grid.
Options
Choose qualifiers for the search value, as required.

Columns Tab

Use the Columns tab to select columns in the Start Table to limit the scope of the search.

columns tab where you can choose columns to be searched
  • Select column name to search or click Select All to search all columns.
  • Click UnSelect All to reset the list of selected columns.

Selection Tab

Choose options for selecting search values in the Point and Shoot list.

find selection tab, described below
No selection
Select this option and use Find Next to find each occurrence of the search value. The Point and Shoot list is not affected.
Select all matches
Select this option and click Find Next to include rows that contain the search value in the Point and Shoot list.
Unselect all matches
Select this option and click Find Next to exclude rows that contain the search value from the Point and Shoot list.

Convert a Point and Shoot List

You can convert a Local Point and Shoot list to a named list, or a named list to a Local list. A Local Point and Shoot list is stored as part of the Access Definition and is available only to that Access Definition. A named Point and Shoot list is a file stored in the Optim Directory and can be used with other Access Definitions and shared with other users.

  • To save a Local Point and Shoot list as a file, select Save As from the File menu in the Point and Shoot Editor to open a Save dialog. Specify a directory location and name for the Point and Shoot File and select Save.
  • To convert a Point and Shoot File to a Local list, select Convert to Local from the Tools menu in the Point and Shoot Editor. After you close the Point and Shoot Editor, select Save from the File menu in the Access Definition Editor to save the Local Point and Shoot list with the Access Definition.

Using Point and Shoot

To facilitate row selection you can temporarily specify selection criteria to limit the list to specific rows and use it in combination with Point and Shoot Editor commands.

As an example, assume you are creating a test database of ORDERS and related DETAILS. To meet your testing requirements, you need orders posted more than 3 years and 1 month ago, but less than 4 years ago. Most orders that meet your requirements are for salesmen with an identifier that begins with the letters SE, but several are for two salesmen with the identifiers, NE005 and NC005. First, open Table Specifications to define selection criteria for ORDERS, the Start Table. Select the option on the Selection Criteria tab to combine all column criteria with AND. As criteria for the ORDER_POSTED column, specify:

BEFORE (3Y 1M)

and, as criteria for the ORDER_SALESMAN column specify:

LIKE ‘SE%'

Without closing Table Specifications, select the Access Definition Editor and choose Edit Point and Shoot List from the Tools menu to open the Point and Shoot Editor. ORDERS rows for orders posted before February 1998 for salesmen with an identifier beginning with SE are displayed.

Use the Options menu Select All Rows command to select all displayed rows. You can then use Find to locate and unselect rows for which the order was posted in 1997. Close the Point and Shoot Editor, saving the file. On the Table Specifications dialog, change the criteria for the ORDER_SALESMAN column to:

IN (‘NE005', ‘NC005')

and again choose Edit Point and Shoot List from the Tools menu on the Access Definition Editor. Click Yes at the prompt asking if you want to keep unknown entries. When the Point and Shoot Editor opens, ORDERS rows for orders posted before February 1998 for salesmen with the identifiers NE005 and NC005 are displayed. Select the rows appropriate for the test database and, again, close the Point and Shoot Editor, saving the file.

The Point and Shoot File now contains primary key values for all desired ORDERS rows. This file can be referenced in an Access Definition or Extract Process Request used to extract rows from the production database and the resulting Extract File used to create the test database.