Associations

DataSmith does not automatically know what to do with highlighted data. You have to tell DataSmith how to identify the information in the data file by assigning it an Association. For example, once all of the feature labels have been highlighted, you can assign the association Feature Label to them. Then, when the data is processed, the Feature Labels will go into the database as Feature Labels.

Associations - Routine

Associations - Feature

Associations - Sample

Associations - Properties

Associations - Filters

View Associations in Tree

One of the simplest ways to prevent problems while outputting your data is to check that your characteristics have associations, and that those associations are correct. For example, if you do not have a characteristic with an association of Feature Label, your data probably will not reach your database because DataSmith will not know where to put it.

To view all of your associations in the tree, select View from the menu bar, then select Options. Within the Options dialog, select Association. Click OK.

The Associations for each characteristic will be shown to the right of characteristic.

Selecting an Association

Right click on any characteristic within the tree and open the Properties dialog.

Click the Associate button.

Within the Associations dialog, expand the tree to locate the association you wish to select.

Click the association to select it. The name of the association will appear under Association Selected.

If an association has already been selected, it will be shown under Association Assigned.

Click OK or double click on the association to assign it to the characteristic.

Filter Associations

Routine Filters, Sample Filters and Feature Filters can be created and changed in DataSmith by creating characteristics and using the Filter associations in the Associations tree. Filters can also be created in DataUtility. DataSmith handles the filters differently because it handles the components of the Filters separately. Filters, Filter Labels, Filter Types, and Filter Overrides each have an association. The term Filter Overrides is the same as the Filter Elements in DataUtility. Refer to the DataUtility Help Documentation for more information on creating filters.

Creating new filters or making changes to filters in an already existing database is not recommended! Assigning filters should be done at the time the database is first created. After the initial creation of the database, new filters should not be created, and existing filters should not be changed. Filter Values can be created or changed, but should not be deleted.