Table options

Several options can be specified for each table. These options control how data is stored in the table and how records can be accessed in the table.

Allow Active Locking   Mark this option to allow active locking for this table. If you don’t mark this option, any change or edit table statements that reference this table and include the lock keyword will produce errors when you attempt to compile them.

We strongly recommend that you avoid using active locking in your application. Application performance can degrade when active locking is used, especially when your application uses a SQL database.


Use 4 byte header Virtually all Dexterity applications use a four-byte header at the beginning of each table. However, Great Plains Accounting files do not. This option should always be marked, unless you are creating a product that integrates with Great Plains Accounting files.

Unmark the Use 4 byte header option only if you’re creating an application that integrates with Great Plains Accounting files. This option is not intended for use with any other Dexterity-based applications.


Use Restriction   Mark this option if you want to create a restriction that is always applied to the table. Rarely will you mark this option.

If you’re creating a product that integrates with Great Plains Accounting files, and the file you’re integrating with uses variant records, mark this selection. Before you mark this selection, create the table definition and save it, and then reopen it. Mark the Use Restriction option; the Default Restriction window will appear, allowing you to create a default restriction for the table.

We recommend that you don’t mark the Use Restriction selection unless you’re creating an application that integrates with Great Plains Accounting files. This selection is not intended for use with other Dexterity-based applications.


Use Row Timestamp   Mark this option to add a field named DEX_ROW_TS to the table definition in the SQL database. This additional column stores the UTC date and time the record was created or updated. This option applies only when the SQL database type is used.

Table relationships

Table relationships link tables that have fields in common. These relationships allow the Dexterity Report Writer to select fields from all of the related tables and use them on a single report. For more information about creating table relationships, refer to Table relationships.


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