Information

  • Data areas of a module are data logical units which contain fields.
  • A data area
    • must have at least one data item assigned to it as a data field.
    • can have any number of data items assigned to it as data fields.
  • Each data area must have a determining data item (DDI). 
  • From a user point of view, a record is just what a data area is from a customizing point of view.

Create New Data Area

 Procedure

  • Click on the module title of the module created in the previous step and select Insert → Data Area Assignment from the context menu.
    • A blank data area record will be inserted.
  • Click on the No name link.
  • Click on the 000 link next to the Data table field in the Data Areas module.
  • The Data Dictionary module will be opened next to it.
  • Enter or select the data table number of the data table the data of which you want to have in the DT field, e.g. DT461
    • All data items of the data table will then be displayed.
  • Copy the ID number of the data item the data of which you want to be in the area to the DDI data field in the Data Areas module via Drag&Drop or enter the number manually.
    • In the Data Areas module, an ID number for the new data area will be generated automatically. 

By carrying out the steps described above, a valid data area is created, however, it will still be empty. In the next step you will fill the new data area with data fields (columns).

Fill Data Area with Data Fields

 Procedure

  • Right-click on the new data area in the Data Areas module and select Insert → Data field from the context menu.
    • An empty line for a data field will be inserted.
  • Copy the ID of the DDI to the first field in the line via Drag&Drop.
  • Right-click on the required task and select the Insert → Data field context menu command. 
    • Another blank line will be inserted. 
  • Copy the ID of another DI to the first field of the new line from the opened Data Dictionary module.
  • Insert further data field lines in the same way and copy the ID of the required data items from the Data Dictionary module to the new data area.
  • Save.

The new data area is now filled with data fields. Particular attributes of these data fields are already preset with values from the respective data items or with default values. They can be changed or extended in line with the requirements for the new data area. For more information, please see the following Customize Data Fields topic. In the next step you will assign the new data area to the newly created module. 

Assign Data Area to a Module

 Procedure

  • Copy the ID number of the data area you just created to the empty line (which was inserted in the Modules module before) in the DA field via Drag&Drop.
  • Define the position of the new data area within the module by entering the respective number in the data area assignment line in the Pos. parameter. Enter 1 for the first record.
    • If no data area position is defined and the module is started, the following message will be displayed: Module-area assignments not found.
    • Each data area which is furthermore assigned must also receive a position number.
  • Save.

Create, Assign, and Structure Additional Data Areas

Procedure

  • Create another area in the same way and assign it to the module.
  • The two data areas are on the same level in the module, i.e. if you were to start the module now, the data areas would simply be displayed below one another: first all data of the data area with Pos. = 1, and then all data of the data area with Pos. = 2, etc. If you want the data in the user module to be displayed hierarchically, e.g. tasks of project 1 under project 1, tasks of project 2 under project 2, you have to structure the data areas in module customizing.  
    • To do so, drag the second data area to the first data area by using SHIFT + holding down the left mouse button and then release the mouse button. The second area is thus subordinated to the first area.
    • Value 1 will automatically be entered in the Parent area field in the second data area (position number of the parent area).
    • Save.


Edit Data Areas

Information

  • Data areas can either be opened directly from the Modules module for editing (by clicking on the required area) or, if you know the ID of the data area in question, you can also open and edit it directly in the Data Areas module.
    • For an overview of all parameters which define the data area itself, please click here. 
    • The data fields assigned to the data area can also be parameterized here, in the Data Areas module. In the next topic you will find a description of the most important data field parameters. For a complete data field parameter list, please click here.
    • The assignment of data areas to modules also includes its own parameters. For a description of these parameters, please click here.