Data dictionary tables

Access details related to tables, columns, and field labels in your instance.

Tables

All of the information on an instance is stored in tables, which consist of a series of records. The record in turn holds a series of fields that hold the individual bits of data and can be viewed either as a list or a form.

The Tables [sys_db_object] table contains a record for each table in the database.

Access the Tables [sys_db_object] table by navigating to System Definition > Tables. From the Tables list, an administrator can create a custom table, or select an existing table to view table details. In the table form, an administrator can access table administration options.

• View, add, or modify columns with a searchable and sortable embedded list, define the auto-number format, make the table extendable by other tables, and create modules for the table.
• Launch a schema map for a table by clicking the Show Schema Map related link.
• Open the dictionary entries for the table by right-clicking the form header and selecting Show Dictionary Record.
• Navigate directly to the default list or form view for the table by clicking the Show List or Show Form related link.
• Delete all records from a table by clicking the Delete All Records.

The following image shows a list of the tables that extend the Application File table.

Figure 1. Tables

Dictionary Entries

The Dictionary Entries [sys_dictionary] table, also called the System Dictionary, defines every table and field in the system. It contains information about data type, character limit, default value, dependency, and other attributes of a field.

Access the system dictionary in one of these ways:

• To see the system dictionary list view, navigate to System Definition > Dictionary.
• To view particular dictionary definition, right-click the list header, form header, or field label, and select Configure Dictionary.

The following image shows a filtered list of dictionary entries for the Incident table and the Task table, which it extends.

Figure 2. Dictionary Inc Task

Field Labels

The Field Labels [sys_documentation] table, also called the Language File, contains information about the labels and hints for each table and column in the system.

Access the language file in one of these ways:

• To see the list view, navigate to System Definition > Language File.
• To see the field label for a particular field, right-click the field label on the form.

The following image shows the language file filtered to display only labels on the Incident table.

Figure 3. Field Labels