External (Shared) Lookup Tables

External (shared) lookup tables can be shared across multiple graphs. This allows an easy access, but removes them from a graph’s source.

Creating External (Shared) Lookup Tables

How to create an external (shared) lookup table:

1. Select File > New > Other…​
2. Expand the Data Shaper > Other item and select the Lookup table item.

3. The New lookup table wizard opens. Select the desired lookup table type, define it and confirm.
4. Select the file name of the lookup table within the lookup folder.
5. Click Finish and your external (shared) lookup table will be created.

See Types of Lookup Tables or particular lookup table types.

• Simple Lookup Table
• Database Lookup Table
• Range Lookup Table
• Persistent Lookup Table
• Aspell Lookup Table

Linking External (Shared) Lookup Tables

Linking of an external lookup table is adding a link to the external table to the graph. In a graph, you can use internal lookup tables or linked external lookup tables only. So you have to create an external (shared) lookup table first and then you can link it to an existing graph. A single external (shared) lookup table can be linked to multiple graphs.

Right-click either the Lookups group or any of its items and select Lookup tables > Link shared lookup table from the context menu.

A File selection wizard will display the project content. Expand the lookup folder in this wizard and select the desired lookup table file from all the files contained in this wizard.

Linking Multiple External Lookup Tables at Once

You can even link multiple external (shared) lookup table files at once. Right-click either the Lookups group or any of its items and select Lookup tables > Link shared lookup table from the context menu.

After that, the File selection wizard displaying the project content will open. Expand the lookup folder in this wizard and select the desired lookup table files from all the files contained here. You can select adjacent file items when you press Shift and press the Down Cursor or the Up Cursor key. If you want to select non-adjacent items, use Ctrl+Click at each of the desired file items instead.

Internalizing External (Shared) Lookup Tables

Internalization of an external lookup table creates an internal copy of the lookup table within the graph.

To internalize any linked external (shared) lookup table file into internal lookup table, right-click the external (shared) lookup table items in the Outline pane and select Internalize connection from the context menu.

When done, use the wizard to internalize metadata assigned to the lookup table and/or its DB connection (in the case of Database lookup table). The internalization of metadata or database connection is optional, the internal lookup table can work with external metadata or database connection.

Click OK.

The selected linked external (shared) lookup table items will disappear from the Outline pane Lookups group, but at the same location, newly created internal lookup table items appear. If you have also decided to internalize the linked external (shared) metadata assigned to the lookup table, their item is converted to internal metadata item which can be seen in the Metadata group of the Outline pane.

However, the original external (shared) lookup table file still remains to exist in the lookup subdirectory. You can see it in this folder in the Project Explorer pane.

Internalizing Multiple Lookup Tables at once

You can even internalize multiple linked external (shared) lookup table files at once. To do this, select the desired linked external (shared) lookup table items in the Outline pane. After that, you only need to repeat the process described above for each selected lookup table. You can select adjacent items when you press Shift and press the Down Cursor or the Up Cursor key. If you want to select non-adjacent items, use Ctrl+Click at each of the desired items instead.