Database XML excerpt files contain table definitions, relations and row excerpts to provide a preview of the report. These files are used by the HTML5 based Web.TextControl to provide table names, available field names and relations. This XML file can be easily created using the Windows version of the template designer TX Text Control Words.

If you want to export SQL databases including relations, additional steps are required to export a complete excerpt file. But the template designer TX Text Control Words gives you everything you need to complete this task.

This tutorial shows how to export the excerpt file from a simple SQL database and how to define the relations.

  • Open TX Text Control Words that is located in your Windows start menu or start screen:

    Create database excerpt files from SQL databases
  • Open the Mailings tab and choose Data Source from the Data Source drop-down button.

    Create database excerpt files from SQL databases
  • Select Microsoft SQL Server as your Data source and click OK.

    Create database excerpt files from SQL databases
  • Type in or search the Server name, search for the Database name, specify the authentication and confirm with OK.

    Create database excerpt files from SQL databases
  • To setup the relations between tables, select Edit Data Relations to open the Edit Data Relations dialog. In the opened dialog, click on Add... to add a new relation.

    In the opened Create Data Relation dialog, choose a Main Table and a Child Table and the specific columns for which to create the relation. Confirm with OK to add the relation.

    Create database excerpt files from SQL databases

    Repeat this process with all required relations in your data source.

  • If your data source has been added successfully, you can save the excerpt using the Save Excerpt menu item of the Data Source drop-down button. In the opened dialog Save Data Base Excerpt, select the root table and set the maximum number of exported rows. Then select an export file name and confirm with OK.

    Create database excerpt files from SQL databases

The complete data structure, data relations and, if available, preview data is exported to the XML excerpt file.

This XML file can be loaded using the LoadXMLDatabase method of Web.TextControl.