How to Define External Sets and their Elements

To define an external set in text format (as opposed to HTML format):

1.	Choose Define, Sets, External Sets.

The External Sets window is displayed.

2.	In the Set Name field, type a unique name for the set.

3.	Define the SQL statement that describes the external set.

It is advised to label output expressions. This label (or alias) is used as element name, and can be used when re-computing elements.

4.	If this is an export set, and you want to have USoft Batch compute the set elements for you, click the Compute button or choose Compute Elements from the Special menu. You can then change these, if required. Child sets have to be added manually.

5.	In the File Format field, click the lookup button and choose the File Format.

6.	If required, type a string of characters in the Record Separator field.

7.	If required, check the Table based Set checkbox, and click the subtype button to specify a Definer table. See: "Storing External Set Data in Tables" for details.

8.	For each element of the external set:

•In the Sequence field, type a (sequence) number to indicate the left-to-right ordering of the elements within the set.

•In the Element Name field, type a unique name for the element.

•In the Data Type field, click the lookup button and select a data type supported by your RDBMS.

NOTE: Binary data types like the BLOB data type cannot be exported or imported.

•In the Length or Format fields, specify either the length, or the format of the element.

•If the element itself is a set, click the Child Set lookup button and select an item from the list that appears.