Database components are available as both Benefit Formula Components and Accrual Basis Components.  This type of component may be either a Data Dictionary field or an expression.  Because benefit formulas do not refer directly to Data Dictionary fields, you must create a component of this type to incorporate a reference to one or more such fields.  Once defined as a benefit formula component, you may then refer to the component in the Benefit Formula dialog box of a Benefit Definition.

When the component is a Data Dictionary field rather than an expression, the ability to give the benefit formula or accrual basis component the same name as the underlying field is particularly useful. If the Data Dictionary field referenced is a date, the summary and detailed results will display the date in readable date format, instead of as a numeric (i.e., the number of days since 1/1/1900).

When the component is a database expression, this type of component simply evaluates an arithmetic expression and returns the answer. The value returned will be constant over time. Consequently, fields that contain age, service, or pay receive no special treatment. If these items should be projected over time, you may wish to use an accrual definition instead. If any date-type Data Dictionary fields are referenced in the expression, the detailed results will display them in date format, instead of as a numeric (i.e., the number of days since 1/1/1900).

Field is the name of the Data Dictionary field to which this component refers. Only numeric and date fields from the Data Dictionary are included in the list. When the field is an array field, you have two ways of recognizing its values: return the most recent value or return all values.

For example, suppose the Location field is an effective date array containing:

	Date	Code
	7/16/2000	1
	3/23/2005	2
	11/24/2008	3

Return the most recent value allows you to treat the array as a scalar (or single) value. Onl;y the last value (after date sorting) in the array is used. In the example above, the value 3 would be returned.

Return all values allows you to treat the array as a time dependent set of values and return the value associated with each calculation date. If the array field is a start/stop array and the date is within a start/stop range, the associated value is returned; 0 is returned for dates not included in a range. If the array field is an effective data array, associated values are returned for each calculation date within an effective date range; 0 is returned for dates prior to the earliest effective date.

If a member was hired on 7/16/2000, decremented on 6/15/2013, and was to commence benefits on 10/1/2013, then these are the primary calculation dates for this person and the Location codes associated with those dates:

	Date	Code
	12/31/1999	0
	12/31/2000	1
	12/31/2001	1
	12/31/2002	1
	12/31/2003	1
	12/31/2004	1
	12/31/2005	2
	12/31/2006	2
	12/31/2007	2
	12/31/2008	3
	12/31/2009	3
	12/31/2010	3
	12/31/2011	3
	12/31/2012	3
	6/15/2013	3
	10/1/2013	3
	12/31/2013	3
	12/31/2014	3

Note: The effective dates of the array field are not added to the set of calculation dates.

The expression box contains the database expression itself, which may include any number of database fields.  Refer to the fields by simply typing their names. Database expressions may contain logical statements, which are evaluated as 1 if true and as 0 if false.