Defining Join Conditions

Define the join conditions. You can do this using one of the following options:

Via :

We recommend this method because the system searches for all the possible join conditions for any field or attribute that the user specifies, ensuring that the join conditions are defined without errors.

1. The Link Maintenance dialog box appears.

   In a tree structure on the left-hand side of the screen, all of the InfoProviders that are already included in the join are displayed along with their fields or attributes. If you double-click on one of these fields or attributes, the system displays on the right-hand side of the screen all of the fields or attributes with which you are able to create a join condition.

2. In the Selection column, set one or more of the indicators for the fields or attributes for which you want to create a join condition. The system generates valid join conditions between the fields or attributes that you specify.

3. You use the pushbutton to undo all of the join conditions.

4. With All Characteristics or Basic Characteristics Only, you can choose the appropriate display variant.

   Recommendation

   We recommend that you use the Basic Characteristics Only option. The All Characteristics setting displays all of the technical options involved in a join. If you are unable to find a join condition on the basic characteristic level, then the All Characteristics setting is useful, but this is an exceptional case.

5. When you have finished making your settings, click on the icon.

With the Mouse:

1. Position the cursor over a row in an InfoObject.

2. Press the left mouse button and, keeping the left mouse button pressed down, trace a line between this row and a row in another object. Providing that the join condition between the two rows that you have indicated is valid, the system confirms the join condition by displaying a connecting line between the two rows.

Select the join type if required.

1. Left Outer Join:

   If you want to use a left outer join operator to connect an object, select the object and choose  Join Type  Left Outer Join  from the context menu.

   Note

   This function is not available for InfoCubes.

   More information: Left Outer Join

2. Antijoin

   If you want to use an antijoin operator to connect an object, select the object and choose  Join Type  Antijoin  from the context menu.

   More information: Antijoin

   Note

   InfoProviders that are connected using a left outer join condition or an antijoin condition are displayed in different colors from the InfoProviders that are connected using inner join operators. The system displays all of the valid join conditions that originate from this object. The connecting lines that represent these join conditions are labeled as Left Outer Join or Antijoin.

   Note

   If you use a left outer join operator or an antijoin operator to connect two objects, you have to make sure that all join conditions except for these two objects are linked when you formulate join conditions.

   Note: You cannot add an object that you have already connected using the left outer join operator or antijoin operator to another object.

3. Inner Join:

   You can also switch from an Antijoin or a Left Outer Join to Inner Join from the context menu.

   The system displays all the valid join conditions that originate from this object, using unlabeled connecting lines.

With , you can find out if all existing objects are directly or indirectly connected with one another.

Activate the InfoSet.