Managing Data Tables

Data tables store information that you can use across all the workflows in your AUTTO account. This key feature allows data management capabilities to be integrated into your workflows, allowing them to be updated in real-time.

This article discusses managing data tables in AUTTO.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Creating a New Data Table
  • To Add Columns to a Data Table
  • Table Column Types
• Editing or Viewing a Data Table
  • To Edit or View a Table Column's Settings
  • To Delete a Table Column
• Deleting a Data Table
• Related Articles

Introduction

This article covers managing data tables, e.g. creating, editing, and deleting data tables, in AUTTO.

If you are looking for information on data table concepts in AUTTO, including how to apply them in your workflows and the actions that you can use with your data tables, see Using Data Tables.

For information on importing data into and exporting data out of data tables, see Importing and Exporting Data.

Although not required, a basic understanding of database concepts may prove useful when working with data tables in AUTTO.

Creating a New Data Table

To create a new data table:

1. On your Dashboard, click the Main Menu, then Data Tables.
2. On the Data Tables page, click New Data Table.
   
   
   
   
3. On the Table Editor, enter a name for the table, and an optional description, if required.
4. Enter a square bracket name for the table. The square bracket name will make the data table available for use in your workflows. For more information, see Working with Square Brackets.

NOTE: A data table's square bracket name is prefixed with !, which denotes that it is persistent and available for use in your workflows. Normal square brackets do not have this prefix.

5. Click Add Column to add columns to the data table. For more information, see To Add Columns to a Data Table.
   
   
   
   
6. After adding the table columns, click Table Setup Complete to lock the table from further editing. This also means that you can also start populating the table with data, e.g. add or import data into it.
7. Click Done.

To Add Columns to a Data Table

After entering the required table name and square bracket name, you can start adding columns to your new table.

1. Click Add Column.
2. Select the appropriate column type from the list. For example, for a column that will store full names, select Text. For more information on data types, see Table Column Types.
3. On the Column Editor, enter a name for the column, and an optional description, if required.
   
   
   
   
4. Check the Compulsory column box if data is required every time a record is inserted in the table.

NOTE: You can also specify all columns in a data table to be compulsory by checking the Cells in all columns compulsory box at the bottom of the Table Editor. When viewing a table's specifications, you will know that a column is compulsory by the presence of an * before the table name.

5. Enter a square bracket name for the column.
6. Check the Unique ID box if the column will not be allowed to accept duplicate values. For example, you can check this box if you do not want duplicate email addresses to appear in a table.

NOTE: The Unique ID can be used as a secondary key for referencing the column in another table.

7. To set optional validation criteria for the column, click Advanced Options. Otherwise, click Done to save the column and close the Column Editor. To add more columns to the data table, repeat Steps 1-7.

NOTE: Validation criteria in Advanced Options may vary depending on the column's data type.

Table Column Types

Data table columns can be any of the following types:

Name	Type	Description
Text	String	Allows any text input
Yes/No	Boolean	Allows a Yes/No answer
Time	Time	Allows time input
Email	String	Allows input of email addresses
Rich Text	String	Allows rich text input
Number	Numeric	Allows any numeric input
Date	Date	Allows date input
Value	String	Allows multiple values to be displayed in a list
File	Blob	Allows file attachments

Editing or Viewing a Data Table

Only unused data tables are allowed to be edited. Once a table is populated with data, and you have started using it in your workflows, you cannot edit the data table and its columns any more.

You also cannot delete a table column in a used data table. However, you can always view a data table's specifications.

You will know that a table contains data if you see a icon to its right. This means that the table specifications cannot be edited any more.

To edit or view a data table, click the downward-pointing arrow to its right.

To Edit or View a Table Column's Settings

You can only edit column settings in unused tables. If the table is already populated with data, you cannot edit the column settings any more, though you can still view the settings using this same procedure.

To edit or view a column:

1. Click the  icon to the right of the column, then click Edit.
   
   
2. Make your changes to the column specifications, then click Done.

To Delete a Table Column

You can only delete columns in unused tables. If the table is already populated with data, you cannot delete any of its columns.

1. Click the icon to the right of the column.
2. Click Delete.
   
   
   
   
3. Click Delete on the message to confirm the operation.

NOTE: If you do not see a Delete button when you click the icon to the right of a column, it means that the table is locked and already contains data.

Deleting a Data Table

Data tables can be deleted at any time. However, be careful that your workflows will not be impacted if you delete a data table.

To delete a data table:

1. Click the icon to the right of the table.
2. Click Delete.
   
   
3. Click Delete on the message to confirm the operation.

Related Articles

• Using Data Tables
• Importing and Exporting Data
• LookUp
• Table Builder
• Update Data Table