Querying a data block

Question

HI,
Can someone tell me how do I make non database fields on a form queryable?
I have for example Country Name displayed on a form, but that is a non database item, the real database item is the country code. So when the user tries to query in this field, it doesnt return the correct results.
Please assist
Thanks
s

Answer 1

To query a block using a non-base table item, you have to modify the DEFAULT_WHERE clause of the block using the Pre-Query trigger of the block. In your situation, where you want to query records where the country code is equal to the country name selected, in your Pre-Query trigger your code would look something like this:
/* Sample Pre-Query trigger - code is untested */
DECLARE
   v_temp_where   VARCHAR2(500);
BEGIN
   v_temp_where := 'COUNTRY_CD = (select country_cd from country where country_name = '||:YOUR_BLOCK.COUNTRY_NAME||')';
   /* Forms 6i */
   Set_Block_Property('YOUR_BLOCK', DEFAULT_WHERE, v_temp_where);
   /* Forms 9i or higher */
   Set_Block_Property('YOUR_BLOCK', ONETIME_WHERE, v_temp_where);
END;Since you didn't specify your Forms version, I've given two options for setting the WHERE clause of your block.
Hope this helps,
Craig B-)
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