Panduit Database Structure

The Panduit Part Selection Tool uses an open design that allows the user to easily re-design the dialogs with new or different filter criteria or even completely different component groups. This requires the use of Microsoft Access.

Note: Always back up this file before trying to make your own modification. Many changes cannot be undone.

Files and Tables

The data and dialog structures for the Panduit Plug-ins are stored in the Panduit.mdb file located in the Plugins\Panduit folder.

Product Tables

Each product has its own table containing data and fields that are specific to that product group. Panduit precedes all the standard product group tables. For example:

Panduit_abrasion
Panduit_cable_ties
Panduit_duct

Product Queries

Corresponding to the Panduit product tables are the Panduit product queries. The queries link fields in the standard Promis.e parts database to the product group tables. This allows standard part fields like Description or Color to be stored in the main parts database and product-specific fields like Duct area to be stored in part-specific tables. The main parts database, currently being used by your project, is dynamically linked to the Panduit.mdb. This makes the Panduit.mdb file portable, and once changes are finalized, the file can be transferred to another machine without resetting links and queries to a new set of file paths. Example query names:

Panduit_abrasion_query
Panduit_cable_ties_query
Panduit_duct_query

Button Table

The Button table (ButtonTable) allows you to specify a dialog name for displaying the query information.

Setting	Description
Button Name	The name of the button to display in the main part selection dialog or in one of the other Panduit tools. Button names should be single words without spaces, commas, colons, etc.
Dialog_Title	The name of the dialog that will be dynamically created to show the query.
Show	Determines if the button will be displayed in the main parts dialog and if the table name will appear in the first selection list after the button is selected. Entire dialogs can be enabled or disabled by toggling the Show field.
Table_Name	The query or table name that is displayed by the dialog.

A tool is provided for editing the button table. Select the Button Table Editor option to display the Button Table Editor dialog.

Setting	Description
Button Name	When you select a button in the Button Name field, the database columns for that button will appear.
New	To add a new row to the button table, select the New button. Blank setting fields will appear for the new row. Enter the desired information and select the Apply button.
Edit	To edit the displayed information, select the desired row and then select the Edit button. Editing (Setting) fields will appear for the selected row. Edit the information as desired and select the Apply button.
Delete	To delete a row from the button table, select the row and then select the Delete button.

Index Table

The Index table (IndexTable) allows control of the fields to display and the types of filter to use in each dialog.

Setting	Description
ID	Determines the order in which the fields appear in the dialog. The lowest number is the first field to appear in the dialog.
Dialog_Title	Must match the dialog title in the button table which in turn tells the software which query to use.
Table_Name	You can take data from more than one table. In the Table_Name column, give the name of the table from which the data is coming.
Field_In_Database	The name of th field in the query.
Show_In_Filter	Determines if the field will be displayed as a filter field in the dialog (such as the upper part of the dialog, selection field, neither or both).
Filter_Type	Determines the type of filter that will be applied to that field. Text - Indicates the records will be filtered for all records with the user-entered text as any part of the field. This is typically used for a description field where there are too many different entries to easily display in a list format. Set - Creates a filter list that shows all possible entries that are available in the database for that field. Use this when the possible selections will fit in a manageable list. CSV - Used when multiple entries may be available for a part. For example a lug may accept 12, 14, or 16 gauge wire. The data could be entered into the database as 12,14,16. The software would create a list filter but it would see this as three possible entries instead of one and 12, 14 and 16 would appear as separate selections in the list. The user could select any one of them and the part would be included in the filter. Max/Min - Used when the user is expected to enter an actual value and all parts returned need to be above or below the user entered value. URL - Used to designate a hyperlink field.
Filter_Label	Used for the field name that will appear in the dialog.
Select_Label	Used for the field name that will appear in the dialog.

A tool is provided in Promis.e for editing the Index table. Select Index Table Editor to display the Index Table Editor dialog.

Setting	Description
Button Name/Dialog	When you select a button in the Button Name field and a dialog name in the Dialog field, the database columns for that button and dialog will appear.
New	Adds a new row to the Index table. Blank setting fields will appear for the new row.
Edit	To edit the displayed information, select the desired row and then select the Edit button. Editing (Setting) fields will appear for the selected row.
Delete	Removes the selected row from the Index table.
Up Arrow/Down Arrow	Allows you to move a selected row up or down in the list of rows (which affect the order in which the fields appear in the dialog).
Exchange	Switches the positions of two selected rows (hold down the <Ctrl> key to in order to select the second row).

To Add Product Groups and Dialogs to Panduit Database