Adding data

This section describes the available tools to add new data.

Adding object classes

Using Add object classes dialog

Select Edit -> Add object classes from the menu bar, or right-click on the root item in Object tree to display the context menu, and select Add object classes.

The Add object classes dialog will pop up:

../_images/add_object_classes_dialog.png

Enter the names of the classes you want to add under the object class name column. Optionally, you can enter a description for each class under the description column. To select icons for your classes, double click on the corresponding cell under the display icon column. Finally, select the databases where you want to add the classes under databases. When you’re ready, press Ok.

Adding objects

Using Add objects dialog

Select Edit -> Add objects from the menu bar, or right-click on an object class item in Object tree to display the context menu, and select Add objects.

The Add objects dialog will pop up:

../_images/add_objects_dialog.png

Enter the names of the object classes under object class name, and the names of the objects under object name. To display a list of available classes, start typing or double click on any cell under the object class name column. Optionally, you can enter a description for each object under the description column. Finally, select the databases where you want to add the objects under databases. When you’re ready, press Ok.

Using Pivot table

To add an object to a specific class, bring the class to Pivot table using any input type (see Using Pivot table and Frozen table). Then, enter the object name in the last cell of the header corresponding to that class.

Duplicating objects

To duplicate an existing object with all its relationships and parameter values, right-click over the corresponding object item in Object tree to display the context menu, and select Duplicate object. Enter a name for the duplicate and press Ok.

Adding relationship classes

Using Add relationship classes dialog

From the menu bar, select Edit -> Add relationship classes. Alternatively, right-click on either the root item in Relationship tree, or on an object class item in Object tree, and select Add relationship classes from the context menu.

The Add relationship classes dialog will pop up:

../_images/add_relationship_classes_dialog.png

Select the number of dimensions using the spinbox at the top; then, enter the names of the object classes for each dimension under each object class name column, and the names of the relationship classes under relationship class name. To display a list of available object classes, start typing or double click on any cell under the object class name columns. Optionally, you can enter a description for each relationship class under the description column. Finally, select the databases where you want to add the relationship classes under databases. When you’re ready, press Ok.

Adding relationships

Using Add relationships dialog

Select Edit -> Add relationships from the menu bar, or right-click on a relationship class item in either Object tree or Relationship tree, and select Add relationships from the context menu.

The Add relationships dialog will pop up:

../_images/add_relationships_dialog.png

Select the relationship class from the combo box at the top; then, enter the names of the objects for each member object class under the corresponding column, and the name of the relationship under relationship name. To display a list of available objects for a member class, start typing or double click on any cell under that class’s column. Finally, select the databases where you want to add the relationships under databases. When you’re ready, press Ok.

Using Pivot table

To add a relationship for a specific class, bring the class to Pivot table using the Relationship input type (see Using Pivot table and Frozen table). The Pivot table headers will be populated with all possible combinations of objects across the member classes. Locate the objects you want as members in the new relationship, and check the corresponding box in the table body.

Using Entity graph

Make sure all the objects you want as members in the new relationship are in the graph. To start the relationship, either double click on one of the objects, or right click to display the context menu and choose Add relationships. A menu will pop up showing the available relationship classes. Select the class you want; the mouse cursor will adopt a cross-hairs shape. Click on each of the remaining member objects one by one to make the relationships.

Tip

All the Add… dialogs support pasting tabular (spreadsheet) data from the clipboard. Just select any cell in the table and press Ctrl+V. If needed, the table will grow to accommodate the exceeding data. To paste data on multiple cells, select all the cells you want to paste on and press Ctrl+V.

Adding parameter definitions

Using Stacked tables

To add new parameter definitions for an object class, just fill the last empty row of Object parameter definition. Enter the name of the class under object_class_name, and the name of the parameter under parameter_name. To display a list of available object classes, start typing or double click under the object_class_name column. Optionally, you can also specify a default value, a parameter value list, or any number of parameter tags under the appropriate columns. The parameter is added when the background of the cells under object_class_name and parameter_name become gray.

To add new parameter definitions for a relationship class, just fill the last empty row of Relationship parameter definition, following the same guidelines as above.

Using Pivot table

To add a new parameter definition for a class, bring the corresponding class to Pivot table using the Parameter value input type (see Using Pivot table and Frozen table). The parameter header of Pivot table will be populated with existing parameter definitions for the class. Enter a name for the new parameter in the last cell of that header.

Adding parameter values

Using Stacked tables

To add new parameter values for an object, just fill the last empty row of Object parameter value. Enter the name of the class under object_class_name, the name of the object under object_name, and the name of the parameter under parameter_name. Optionally, you can also specify the parameter value right away under the value column. To display a list of available object classes, objects, or parameters, start typing or double click under the appropriate column. The parameter value is added when the background of the cells under object_class_name, object_name, and parameter_name become gray.

To add new parameter values for a relationship class, just fill the last empty row of Relationship parameter value, following the same guidelines as above.

Note

To add parameter values for an object, the object has to exist beforehand. However, when adding parameter values for a relationship, you can specify any valid combination of objects under object_name_list, and a relationship will be created among those objects if one doesn’t yet exist.

Using Pivot table

To add parameter value for any object or relationship, bring the corresponding class to Pivot table using the Parameter value input type (see Using Pivot table and Frozen table). Then, enter the parameter value in the corresponding cell in the table body.

Tip

All Stacked tables and Pivot table support pasting tabular (spreadsheet) data from the clipboard. Just select any cell in the table and press Ctrl+V. If needed, Stacked tables will grow to accommodate the exceeding data. To paste data on multiple cells, select all the cells you want to paste on and press Ctrl+V.

Adding parameter value lists

To add a new parameter value list, just enter the name of the list in the last row of Parameter value list, under the corresponding database item.

To add new values for the list, enter the values in the rows under the corresponding list item.

Note

To be actually added to the database, a parameter value list must have at least one value.