Creating Joins in a Reporting Object

A join is a temporary connection between two or more data sources that share at least one common field. After you join two data sources, each time that WebFOCUS retrieves a record from the first data source (the host file), it also retrieves the matching records from the second data source (the target file).

For more information on joining data sources, see the WebFOCUS InfoAssist User's Manual.

Note:

• When you join two FOCUS data sources, the target file field must be indexed or the join must be a WHERE-based join. If you attempt to link to a non-indexed target file, the Reporting Object tool offers you the opportunity to create a WHERE-based join. For more information on creating WHERE-based joins, see Join Group in the WebFOCUS InfoAssist User's Manual.
• Since every procedure creates a new session on the Reporting Server when it is run, the duration of your connection is always limited to a single procedure. Therefore, any join issued at the beginning of a procedure is in effect only for those report requests that are called in the same procedure.

Procedure: How to Create a Join

1. Right-click the Joins component and select New, or select the Join component and click New on the ribbon.

   The Join tool opens, displaying the data source associated with the Reporting Object.

2. Create a join using the Join tool.

   For more information on using the Join tool, see Join Group in the WebFOCUS InfoAssist User's Manual.

3. When you are finished, click OK to return to the Reporting Object tool.

Procedure: How to Delete a Join

To delete a join, right-click the join and select Delete, or select the join and click Delete on the Quick Launch toolbar.

Procedure: How to Rename a Join

1. In the Join tool, select a join by clicking its connector line, and then click Edit on the Join toolbar.

   The Edit Join dialog box opens.

2. Type a new description in the Description box and click OK to return to the Join tool.

   The new description appears under the Join component in the Reporting Object tool. The internal name used for the join remains the same name assigned to the join when you created it.

Procedure: How to View or Edit Join Syntax in a Text Editor

1. Select the join and click Edit on the ribbon, or right-click the join and select Edit.

   The join code is displayed in a text editor.

2. Make the desired changes and click Save to return to the Reporting Object tool. To exit without making any changes, click Close.