Ecrion Forum : Generic Support

Generic Support : Placeholder Constant for base64 image

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:07:49 +0000

Author: justinw
Subject: Placeholder Constant for base64 image
Posted: 27 Nov 2012 at 1:07pm

Question: I have been asked to create a placeholder constant valuein Data Architect .dax file and during the render process in a .Net applicationreplace the placeholder with base64 for an image generated in memory. We don't want to store images on the network, just write them intothe stream. I have created a template where the image data is coming from anode in the XML and it works when I embed the base64 image data in the .daxfile. If I can do a replace while reading the stream for the .dax file, I coulddynamically insert images.

Answer: Excellent question.

This can be accomplished by following the steps below:

1. Inserta string constant in your dax diagram. This constant will be used to store thebase64 string representing your image (From Home - Functions - Constant; doubleclick to edit and select Value Type = string)

2. InData Architect's XML editor he will see a structure like this, representing theconstant:

Note that the element which contains the base64 stringhas id="13". This value is different from dax to dax.

Also, this can be referenced in the UI for easier access.

A list of overridable parameters can be obtained byclicking Parameter Information in DA Ribbon under the Help Group. Please see the attached image.

The dialog says that for object 6, you can set "value"to something.

3. Inyour .NET Application, you need to use our Ecrion.DAS API and set anappropriate JobProperty for the constant value. Below you have a snippet codeon how to do this:

Ecrion.DAS.JobParameters jp = newEcrion.DAS.JobParameters();

jp.Diagram = new Ecrion.DAS.LocalDiagram("daxPath");

Ecrion.DAS.JobProperty prop = new Ecrion.DAS.JobProperty("13","value", "data:," + image_base64_string);

jp.Diagram.Properties.Add(prop);

Generic Support : Import data from a CSV to my Database?

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:28:30 +0000

Author: justinw
Subject: Import data from a CSV to my Database?
Posted: 18 Jul 2012 at 2:28pm

Question: Can the Data Architect take data from a CSV file and add content to a table in my database?

Answer: Yes you can do so. First, you will need to ensure that you have the latest version of the Data Architect as this feature was added in 2012. Secondly, the following steps highlight the process in which to set up and run this to import your data accordingly.

For this example, we'll refer to a CSV file with three columns: number, first name, and last name. This sample id done in relation to the sample db that is available with the application when installed.

1. Open the Data Architect

2. In the File Tab, select New, and then select Database Document Output.

3. In the Home Tab, under the Other Data Sources group, select CSV.

4. For this example we select Employees.csv (as shown above) and in the options menu, check the box for "Contains Column Names" and press OK.

5. In the Database Output box, double click on the Database element. Under Choose Connection, select the database connection of your choice (in this example Sample DB) and select OK.

6. Right click on the Database element and select New Schema. Write schema name in the text box (in this example dbo).

7. Right click on Schema and select New Table. In the resulting dialog, enter the database information to match your connection and needs. As an example:

a. Name: Emp
b. Command Type: Insert
c. Add a column for each required: FIRST_NAME (Type=Text) and LAST_NAME (Type=Text)

8. After selecting OK, drag corresponding lines from CSV Data Source to match Database Output.

9. In the View Tab, select Output View (here you will see the generated SQL commands). Select Execute SQL.

10. In the SQL Command dialog, select Execute.

11. To see the results within your database, navigate back to Design View. In the Data Connections window, right click on Sample DB and select Reload Schema. Drag and drop Emp Table into the Design Area. Right click on the block and select View Data. The resulting imported data should be present.

This functionality also supports adding a new table or replacing existing content within a table. If you would like to obtain a sample of this process, you can always reach out to support@ecrion.com and we'll deliver the above for testing.

Generic Support : Converting string date

Thu, 31 May 2012 10:15:16 +0000

Author: justinw
Subject: Converting string date
Posted: 31 May 2012 at 10:15am

Question: I need help formatting a date in string format to date-time format in the Data Architect. How is this accomplished?

Answer: This can be accomplished by using a combination of accepted formats and an available function within the Data Architect.

1. The supported date time formatsare the following: datePartForMat timePartForMat

·        datePartForMat:
o   d/M/yyyy
o   dd/M/yyyy
o   d/MM/yyyy
o   dd/MM/yyyy
o   d-M-yyyy
o   dd-M-yyyy
o   d-MM-yyyy
o   dd-MM-yyyy
o   and reversed (eg: yyyy/MM/dd, yyyy-M-dd, etc)
·        timePartForMat
o   hh:mm:ss

An option would be to use a “Convert to Date” function block inside the DAX (from All Functions –Conversion – to datetime).

This function block has 2 inputparameters:

· Input – you can usea constant of type “string” as input and pass the value from your applicationin the desired format

· Format – here youcan use a constant string for formatting purposes. Note that the format stringand the input string must match

See the sample diagram below.