Solution Data Library

The Solution Data Library is used to store transit data for a solution, and to transfer data from one solution to another.

For example: Solution1 updates the data in Solution Data Library and then Solution2 uses the same data inside a Form or Workflow. Here, Solution1 and Solution2 can either have a parent-child relationship or be two independent solutions.

Solution Data Library data can be viewed from within a form, using Data Connections, or by the Solution Developer during the solution design process. On the Evolve site, there is no user interface to view Solution Data Library data.

Solution Developers can do the following: 

  • Create a Solution Data Library
  • Edit a Solution Data Library
  • Delete a Solution Data Library
  • Check where a Solution Data Library is used
  • View data in a Solution Data Library
  • Add data and update data in a Solution Data Library
  • Import and Export a Solution Data Library
Note:

If a Solution Data Library has a calculated column and that column is mapped to a form field, the form field must be designated read-only. If you add a form field value that is mapped to a calculated solution field, the form field value will not be updated for all fields.

Fields beginning with numbers cannot be added.

If a string type field is added to a Solution Data Library, existing records will include a Null (zero) value for this newly-added field. So, when you filter for empty strings in a Solution Data Library, check for both Null (zero) and empty values to avoid incorrect results. Use the following expression for this: COALESCE([Column_Name],'') =''

Create a Solution Data Library

To create a Solution Data Library:

  1. Open User App.
  2. Go to Solutions page.
  3. Select the Solution and click Edit Solution. This will open Solution Designer / Composer.
  4. Under Composer, go to the Solution tab.
  5. Click Solution Data to open the Solution Data Library window.
  6. Select the scope (Global or Local/App Name).
    Note:

    If the Solution Data Library is created at the Global level, it will be visible in solutions from all apps in the current Evolve environment. If it is created at the App level, it will be visible in the solutions in the current app only. (The "current app" is the app you are currently using.)

  7. Click Create and provide the following details:

    • Name – Name of the Solution Data Library
    • Description – Short description of the Solution Data Library, including the purpose

    • Provide the following properties to create a field inside the Solution Data Library:

      • Field Name – Name of the field
      • Field Type – Data type of the field
      • Is Calculated Column – Check this if the field is a calculated column
      • Formula – Formula for the calculated column. Applicable only if the Is Calculated Column property is checked
      Note: Formulas which work in Excel also work in Solution Data Libraries.
    • Click Add Field to create a field. You can create multiple fields, and all created fields are added to the Solution Data Library.
    • After you have created all the fields you need, click OK to create the Solution Data Library.
  8. If you want to create additional Solution Data Libraries, click Create again and follow step 4 again.

Calculated columns

When creating calculated columns, use square brackets and avoid the use of the 'equal to' operator (as is common in spreadsheetgear or Excel). If you do not follow these instructions, the formulas will not work and validate will indicate the correct formula.

1. Example: Valid formulasConcatenate([field1],[field2]) ​ SUM([field1],[field2])​ Concatenate([field1],"-",[field2])​

2. Example: Invalid formulas where validate indicates success but calculation does not work=Concatenate([field1],[field2]) ​ Concatenate(field1,field2)​ =SUM([field1],[field2]) ​ SUM(field1,field2)​ SUM([field1]:[field2]) - may have a random result​

3. Example: Invalid formulas where validate also results in an errorSUM(field1,field2) - field1 and field2 are not valid fields of the solution set​ SUME(field1,field2) - SUME is not a valid Excel formula

Edit a Solution Data Library

To edit a Solution Data Library:

  1. Open User App.
  2. Go to Solutions page.
  3. Select the Solution and click Edit Solution. This will open Solution Designer / Composer.
  4. Under Composer, go to the Solution tab.
  5. Click on Solution Data, to open the Solution Data Library window.
  6. Select the scope (Global or Local/App Name) of the Solution Data Library you want to edit. This populates the Solution Data Libraries for that scope in the table below.
  7. Select the Solution Data Library and click Edit.

  8. When editing a Solution Data Library, you can

    • Change the description
    • Delete existing fields
    • Add new fields
    Note: You cannot change the name of the Solution Data Library and you cannot edit the existing fields of the Solution Data Library; changing these impacts existing solutions where this Solution Data Library was used.
  9. Make the changes and click Update. This will update the Solution Data Library.
  10. If you need to edit additional Solution Data Libraries, follow steps 4 through 6 again.

Delete a Solution Data Library

To delete a Solution Data Library:

  1. Open User App.
  2. Go to Solutions page.
  3. Select the Solution and click Edit Solution. This will open Solution Designer / Composer.
  4. Under Composer, go to the Solution tab.
  5. Click on Solution Data, to open the Solution Data Library window.
  6. Select the scope (Global or Local/App Name) of the Solution Data Library you want to delete. This populates the Solution Data Libraries for that scope in the table below.
  7. Select Solution Data Library and click the Remove button.
Note:

The Remove button will only be enabled if the Solution Data Library you are trying to remove is not used anywhere else.

Check where a Solution Data Library is used

To check where the Solution Data Library is used:

  1. Open User App.
  2. Go to Solutions page.
  3. Select the Solution and click Edit Solution. This will open Solution Designer / Composer.
  4. Under Composer, go to the Solution tab.
  5. Click on Solution Data, to open the Solution Data Library window.
  6. Select the scope (Global or Local/App Name) of the Solution Data Library for which you want to check usage. This populates the Solution Data Libraries for that scope in the table below.
  7. Select Solution Data Library, and then click Where Used.
  8. The Where Used window includes information on the use of the Solution Data Library.
Note:

The Where Used button will only be enabled if the Solution Data Library you are checking has been used in one or more solution.

View data in the Solution Data Library

To check the data in a Solution Data Library:

  1. Open User App.
  2. Go to Solutions page.
  3. Select the Solution and click Edit Solution. This will open Solution Designer / Composer.
  4. Under Composer, go to the Solution tab.
  5. Click on Solution Data, to open the Solution Data Library window.
  6. Select the scope (Global or Local/App Name) of the Solution Data Library for which you want to view data. This populates the Solution Data Libraries for that scope in the table below.
  7. Select Solution Data Library, and then click View Data.
  8. The Solution Data Library data will appear in tabular form.
Note:

If there is no data in the Solution Data Library, you will receive this message: “There is no data in the data set.”

Add data and update data in the Solution Data Library

To add data and update data in the Solution Data Library, use the following plug-ins:

Note:

To add a value from a Form Field to the Solution Data Library, form fields must first be promoted to solution fields. For more information, see Solution Fields.

If the solution field and column names in the Solution Data Library are the same, the solution field will automatically be mapped with the Solution Data Library.

Import and Export a Solution Data Library

Solution Developers can import and export Solution Data Libraries (data and schema).