How to: Create a View Based on a Query

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Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

A Microsoft Dynamics AX view is a virtual table whose contents are defined by a query. For more information about how a view retrieves data, see View Basics.

Views are created in the Application Object Tree (AOT). Before you create a view, identify a query that retrieves the data records and fields that you want the view to return. For more information about how to create a query, see How to: Create Queries by using the AOT.

To create a view

  1. Press CRTL-D to open the AOT, expand the Data Dictionary node, right-click Views, and then click New View. A view is added to the list of views in the AOT.

  2. Expand the new view, right-click the view, and then click Properties. The properties window opens and displays the view properties. Set the value of the following properties.

    Property

    Value

    Label

    Specify a label for the view.

    Name

    Specify a name that uniquely identifies the view.

  3. Press CTRL-D to open a second AOT window, expand the Queries node, and then drag a query onto the Metadata node of the view. Notice how the Query property of the view is populated with the name of that query. The query provides the data source information for the view.

  4. Close the AOT window that displays the queries.

  5. Right-click Fields, and then click New View Field. Notice that a field is added to the Fields list in the AOT.

  6. Click the field you created to display the field properties in the properties window. Set values for the following field properties.

    Property

    Value

    DataField

    Specify a field from the data source. You must set a DataSource value before you try to specify a field.

    DataSource

    Specify the data source where the field originates

    Name

    Specify a name that uniquely identifies the field in the view.

  7. Repeat the previous step for each field you want the view to return.

  8. Expand Field Groups, right-click AutoReport, and then click New Field.

  9. In the properties window for the new field, specify a field name in the DataField property. Add any other fields that you want to include when the view data is printed. For more information about how to use field groups, see Defining Field Groups.

  10. Click the view to display the view properties in the properties window. Set values for the following properties.

    Property

    Value

    TitleField1

    Specify a field to display in the window caption for the view.

    TitleField2

    Specify a field to display in the window caption for the view.

  11. Right-click the view in the AOT, and then click Save.

  12. Close the properties window.

The view is complete and ready to use. To see the data that the view returns, right-click the view in the AOT, and then click Open. The Table browser window opens and displays the view data. Use the Table browser to verify that the view returns the expected data records and fields.

Once you create the view, you can use it as the data source for a form that displays the view fields. For more information about how to create a form, see Walkthrough: Creating a Form by Using the AOT.

See also

View Properties

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