SQL GURU's please!

Delvis · 6 Aug 2015 at 12:37

Hello

I'm after some help, how viable it is to give is a different question.

-I'm an SQL n00b
-We have an SQL database, there is some software that connects to this database that lets you view 'items' on this database.
-These items have locations, types, manufacture dates listed as drop down boxes...On some of these drop down boxes once an item is added we cannot edit the location.
-Where in the hell do I locate this option to enable the editing of said drop down boxes in my database?

I've seen some dbo. sections for Tables, with the drop down names listed, but can't seem to change anything enables the editing of said drop down menus...

What am I missing?

butcherster · 6 Aug 2015 at 12:42

Do you mean you can't find anywhere to edit the values in some sort of GUI?

What database server are you using, and what GUI are you using?

You probably need to run a query to update the values, be careful if you don't know what you're doing though else you could update records you aren't meaning to.

UPDATE dbo.TableName set ColumnName = 'some new string'
WHERE IdentiferColumn = 2

Missing the where condition there will set every value, which you probably don't want...

Burnsy2023 · 6 Aug 2015 at 12:47

I take it this is MS SQL Server considering the dbo. syntax? Screenshots may be useful here.

Delvis · 6 Aug 2015 at 12:48

Hello

Well I don't know SQL very well at all in short.

It's running SQL Server 2008 I believe, I'd be using Server Management Studio to view/edit.

Basically we have a third party app that connects to the database, records are then added to this via drop down menus, some of these cannot be edited (they are greyed out) was a record is added to the database...

I can drill down to Databases/'database name'/Tables, this lists dbo files, here it lists the drop down menus, but for the life of me the only thing different on the ones that can't be edited is an option called 'InUse' under the columns folder =/ But that doesn't do anything if changed. So I'm at a loss

Delvis · 6 Aug 2015 at 12:54

Burnsy2023 said:
I take it this is MS SQL Server considering the dbo. syntax? Screenshots may be useful here.

Hello

Exscuse the photo edit:

I can get here, for instance it is the 'Category' part that shows in the program we use, however it is this that would be greyed out once something is added to the database.

Burnsy2023 · 6 Aug 2015 at 13:34

So what exactly do you want to change? If you can give us details of what the data currently is and what you want it to be, we could probably write the SQL for you.

Delvis · 6 Aug 2015 at 13:39

Burnsy2023 said:
So what exactly do you want to change? If you can give us details of what the data currently is and what you want it to be, we could probably write the SQL for you.

It's hard to explina being a complete noob.

We use some software that connects to teh database using a GUI. Imagine an item where it has six drop down lists, when you create an item all lists are available to select or change. Once an item is added on to the database you can view it and change 5/6 of the drop down lists, one of them is greyed out.

butcherster · 6 Aug 2015 at 13:39

It also depends on your application logic - if you're not seeing changes reflected immediately in your application then maybe it is cached and only refreshed from the database every so often?

Delvis · 6 Aug 2015 at 13:41

butcherster said:
It also depends on your application logic - if you're not seeing changes reflected immediately in your application then maybe it is cached and only refreshed from the database every so often?

Am I able to check this at all? i.e. is there a setting somewhere?

Burnsy2023 · 6 Aug 2015 at 13:41

Delvis said:
It's hard to explina being a complete noob.

We use some software that connects to teh database using a GUI. Imagine an item where it has six drop down lists, when you create an item all lists are available to select or change. Once an item is added on to the database you can view it and change 5/6 of the drop down lists, one of them is greyed out.

So do you want to "ungrey" out one of the options?

Burnsy2023 · 6 Aug 2015 at 13:42

Delvis said:
Am I able to check this at all? i.e. is there a setting somewhere?

It could be an option or it might be part of the application code and not editable.

butcherster · 6 Aug 2015 at 13:55

I'd love to help but I don't think we'll be able to, you'll have to give screenshots of the application, and dumps of the data from the tables you think power the application.

Burnsy2023 · 6 Aug 2015 at 13:56

butcherster said:
I'd love to help but I don't think we'll be able to, you'll have to give screenshots of the application, and dumps of the data from the tables you think power the application.

Indeed. We need much more info on the DB to understand the DB logic as well as what you want to achieve.

Delvis · 6 Aug 2015 at 14:22

Burnsy2023 said:
So do you want to "ungrey" out one of the options?

Yes.

I assumed there would just be an option to state said field was not editable.

Burnsy2023 said:
Indeed. We need much more info on the DB to understand the DB logic as well as what you want to achieve.

I'd need to edit the screenshots beyond belief if I'm honest, all you would see is a bunch of drop down boxes with one of them greyed out in the app.

I'm assuming there is no 'general' piece of code or data that does the above for applications? Or is SQL that customisable?

Burnsy2023 · 6 Aug 2015 at 14:25

Delvis said:
I assumed there would just be an option to state said field was not editable.

That's probably in another column on the table. What you're suggesting is very application specific.