Piping extended attributes

The first time PowerBuilder connects to a database, it creates five system tables called the extended attribute system tables. These system tables initially contain default extended attribute information for tables and columns. In PowerBuilder, you can create extended attribute definitions such as column headers and labels, edit styles, display formats, and validation rules.

For more information about the extended attribute system tables, see Appendix A, “The Extended Attribute System Tables.”

Piping extended attributes automatically

When you pipe data, you can specify that you want to pipe the extended attributes associated with the columns you are piping. You do this by selecting the Extended Attributes check box in the Data Pipeline painter workspace:

The sample shows the Data Pipeline painter workspace. Displayed in the Table box at top is department _ copy. The Key shown is department _ x, the Options box displays Create - Add Table, Max Errors is set to 100, Commit is set to 100, and the Extended Attributes check box is selected.

When the Extended Attributes check box is selected, the extended attributes associated with the source database's selected columns automatically go into the extended attribute system tables of the destination database, with one exception. When you pipe a column that has an edit style, display format, or validation rule associated with it, the style, rule, or format is not piped if one with the same name exists in the extended attribute system tables of the destination database. In this situation, the column uses the style, rule, or format already present in the destination database.

For example, for the Phone column in the Employee table, the display format with the name Phone_format would be piped unless a display format with the name Phone_format already exists in the destination database. If such a display format exists, the Phone column would use the Phone_format display format in the destination database.

Piping the extended attribute system tables

Selecting the Extended Attributes check box never results in the piping of named display formats, edit styles, and validation rules that are stored in the extended attribute system tables but are not associated with columns in tables you are piping. If you want such extended attribute definitions from one database to exist in another database, you can pipe the appropriate extended attribute system table or a selected row or rows from the table.

Piping an entire database

If you want to reproduce an entire database, you can pipe all database tables and extended attribute system tables, one table at a time.