Calculation Options
By default, an aggregate is recalculated when data are reloaded. You can however control when calculation occurs. An aggregate has two main calculation modes:
| Calculation Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Manual | Data are aggregated only when users request it by refreshing data in a form or table. |
| Automatic | Data are aggregated when the value for a specific field in a data source is changed, or any value for an object in a data source is changed. |
To change the calculation mode, click Calculation Options. Click Manual if data should be aggregated only when users request it. Automatic calculation is defined by adding one or more calculation triggers which controls when data are aggregated. To add a calculation trigger, do the following:
- Click Automatic if the value for any of these fields are changed.
- Click Add.
- In the Data Source box, select the data source which triggers a recalculation when changes to objects in the data source occurs.
- If data only should be recalculated when the value for a specific field is changed, in the Field box, select the field which triggers a recalculation. If no field are specified, data are recalculated when any value is changed for an object in the data source.
- If the aggregate for an object is independent of other objects in the data source, you can constrain the recalculation to occur only when values for the bound object are changed. That is, in a table where a data source is bound to a row, the bound object is defined as the object represented by a row. To do this, in the Triggered By box, select Bound Object. For example, if the aggregate summarizes sales year to date for a product, and the sales amount is changed for a given product and month, the aggregate has to be recalculated whenever the sales amount is changed for the bound product. If the aggregate is dependent of other objects in the data source, in the Triggered By box, select Any Object. For example, if the aggregate summarizes sales year to date for a product compared to sales year to date for all prodcuts, the aggregate has to be recalculated whenever the sales amount is changed for any product.