The Table Format determines which data and in which order that data appears in the query combo box for that table. The most common instances of this are the Locality, Taxon, and Collecting Event (in databases that share Collecting Events) tables.
To edit a table format:
- In Specify, go to System in the menu at the top and select Schema Configuration… from the drop down menu.
The Schema & Localization Tools window will appear.
- Select the appropriate language in the Available Locales box then click Edit a Schema.
The Schema Configuration – English window will appear.
- In the Tables box, select the table whose data is to be edited.
- Click the ellipses after the Table Format field to reveal the available table formats.
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At this point, you can choose one of the available options to edit or add a new option.
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To edit a currently available format, click the default format you want to edit and click the yellow pencil under the formats box.
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To add a new format, click the green plus under the formats box
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The Table Format Editor will appear. If you are modifying an existing format, the preexisting values from that format will populate the Table Format Editor fields. If you are adding a new format, all of the fields will be blank.
- If you are adding a new format, enter a name and title for the format. The Name is what will appear when selecting the format, the Title is what MySQL will see. From my experience, it is easiest to make them match.
If you are editing an existing format, skip this step.
- To add a field to the Table format, find the field to be added and either double click the field or click it once to highlight it then click Add Field^ to add it to the format.
Fields will appear in the format in the order they were added and separated by whatever value is in the Separator field.
Note: I find if you are not just adding more fields to the existing format, it is easier to delete everything in the Table Format box and start over rather than modify the existing format.
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The separator can be changed by deleting the current separator and entering a new value. Do not forget to add a space if you want there to be a space between the fields.
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To delete a field from the format, either place the cursor after the field and click backspace to delete the field and the separator or click the field and in the menu that appears, select Delete Field.
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To insert a field between two fields already in the format, click the desired location for the field and right click. Select Place Cursor Here, and select the field from the available fields and click Add Field^.
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Once you have the desired table format set, click OK in the Table Format Editor, then Close in the Available Table Formats.
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In the Schema Configuration window, select the format you modified or added.
- Once the correct format is selected, click OK. When you return to the forms, the format should appear as indicated.