Add data fields to a project without modifying the datasource
Additional fields can be added to a datasource at the project level without changing the datasource by using the Export/Import Subject Details located under Management - Subjects. Although this is more commonly done for reporting purposes, some situations might require mid-project updates if the wrong data is being used, or there is missing data for triggers, for example.
Updating the datasource is the ideal method for adding a new data field to a project. The method described below should only be used for expired projects, or projects that do not have automatic updates enabled. Any subject datasource automatically updated will result in the manually added data to the project being permanently lost.
Scenario
While preparing reports, the administrator receives a request to provide a report summarizing all courses at different levels (100, 200, 300, etc). However, there is no independent field that indicates the level of the course in the subject datasource.
A field containing level information will need to be added to the datasource for this project.
Steps
- Manage the project.
- Go to Subjects - Export/Import Subject Details.
- Select Courses in the Select Information Source drop-down.
- Select Download CSV File.
- Open the CSV file and add a column labeled "Level" (or the name of the field that you require) and enter the appropriate values in this new column.
- Save the file as CSV.
- Navigate to Export/Import, select Browse to locate the updated CSV file, and select Upload. Blue will display all fields in the CSV file.
- Select the newly created column (e.g. Level) and set the data type.
- Select Import.
- Review Logs and Data and Finalize if there are no warnings or errors.
The column has now been added to the course data at the project level only and can be used for reporting.
Results
When creating a new report for this specific project, select the new data field for the subject in the Group by field. You can then set up a report that will group data according to the course level assigned by the newly added field.
Revert back to the original data by using the Synchronize feature in Management - Fields. This feature also overrides the value of existing fields and only affects data at the project level.