The Data Field Links tab of the XML Database Linkage houses the information that connects each Data Dictionary field to the container and its tag in the XML document that holds its value. 

Select a field: displays all Data Dictionary field names in alphabetical order. An asterisk (*) before a name denotes that the field has not been linked to an XML document field (or has an incomplete definition). The New button allows you to make a new Data Dictionary field. Clicking on a field will show the Data Field Link dialog box where the information that links the field is entered.  Within the Data Field Link dialog:

Field: displays the name of the field selected.

Container: is the path in the XML Schema to the field value. Type the path, or click the  button to Select an XML container path or tag name/path. Check the Alphabetize List box to alphabetize the path names, which are normally ordered by the schema.

Tag (value): is the tag name, within the Container specified above, where the field value will be found. Type the tag name,  or click the  button to Select an XML container path or tag name/path. 

The Translate character input box will be available (unghosted) when the XML schema document defines a value as character while the ProAdmin field is numeric.  Check the box if you need to translate character values from the XML document to integers for array and scalar fields in ProAdmin.  This feature is especially useful if the database has several character strings that represent the same thing. Checking this box allows access to the Table... button where you can enter values on the Character to Numeric Translation dialog box. Click here for more information.

Tag (start date): is available when the Field is a start/stop array field, and is the tag name of the start date for the field.  Type the tag name, or click the  button to Select an XML container path or tag name/path that holds the start date value. 

Tag (end date): is available when the Field is a start/stop array field, and is the tag name of the end date for the field. Type the tag name, or click the  button to Select an XML container path or tag name/path that holds the end date value. 

Tag (eff date): is available when the Field is an effective data array field, and is the tag name for the effective date for the field. Type the tag name or click the  button to Select an XML container path or tag name/path that holds the effective date value. 

Filter: allows you to specify and omit values that are deemed unnecessary.

Example: suppose the earnings path has four values: Start_date, Stop_date, Earnings and EarningsType. In the EarningsType tag name/path, a value of “BE” represents basic earnings; “BO” represents bonus earnings and “ME” represents moving expenses. If the earnings needed were basic earnings, the Filter clause would contain: EarningsType = “BE”. This does not allow bonus earnings and moving expenses to be selected.

Note: be aware that an XML document is by nature a text document and this makes the Filter case sensitive. If the data inside of the XML tags is lower case and you enter a Filter condition in upper case, the condition will not be met.

The Clear button erases all fields and statements from the Database Field Linkage dialog box.

Click OK to save your changes or Cancel to ignore any changes.