Types of Data Sources
There are four data source types available to you for data source creation. While the Type field is a required field for creating and modifying a data source, the value specified in the Type field for a data source can be changed later, as you work with your data. The main purpose of this field is use with TMS Dashboard, as well as use when querying for a particular data source.
Below, we outline each type of data source to help you choose the type you want to use as you go forward with building new data sources.
|
Type Name |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Cross Tab |
Use this type when you want to structure your data like an Excel spreadsheet, with rows and columns. For example, a Cross Tab data source might be created to show a count of work orders by month and by resource. "Month" serves as the column headings, "Resource" serves as the row headings, and the work order counts appear at each column/row intersection. The Cross Tab can be used with the graphing widget on the dashboard. |
|
Detailed List |
Use this type when you want only a list of values returned from the TMS database for each data field. It is commonly used for reports and dashboards. |
|
Summary List |
Use this type when your data source has at least one field with a Summary Function, such as Count, Average, or Sum. All other fields are then "grouped by" fields. For example, you might want to quickly execute a count of work orders by type. |
|
View |
Use this type when you are constructing a data source for use on a module's Query Results page. For example, you could create a data source that lists all work orders by associated asset, for the Work Orders module. |
