Fields

Fields define the columns that a view exposes. Unlike table fields, view fields do not create physical database columns — they reference columns (or expressions) from the view's underlying data sources. Every field on a view is either bound (mapped directly to a data source column) or computed (defined by a SQL expression generated at sync time).

All view field types inherit from the abstract AxViewField base, which provides common properties such as Name, Label, HelpText, and ConfigurationKey. The concrete type determines whether the field is bound or computed and what additional properties are available.

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Field Types

Type	Parent	Description
AxViewFieldBound	AxViewField	Maps to a column on one of the view's data sources. Optionally applies an aggregation function.
AxViewFieldComputed	AxViewField	Value defined by a static method that returns a SQL expression string.
AxViewFieldComputedEnum	AxViewFieldComputed	Computed field typed to a base enumeration.
AxViewFieldComputedString	AxViewFieldComputed	Computed field typed as a string with size and alignment properties.
AxViewFieldComputedDate	AxViewFieldComputed	Computed field typed as a date.
AxViewFieldComputedInt	AxViewFieldComputed	Computed field typed as a 32-bit integer.
AxViewFieldComputedInt64	AxViewFieldComputed	Computed field typed as a 64-bit integer.
AxViewFieldComputedReal	AxViewFieldComputed	Computed field typed as a decimal/real.
AxViewFieldComputedUtcDateTime	AxViewFieldComputed	Computed field typed as a UTC date-time.

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Bound Fields

A bound field is the simplest field type. It maps a column from one of the view's data sources into the view's result set. You specify which data source and which field on that data source.

When the view uses grouping (e.g., GROUP BY), bound fields can apply an aggregation function — Sum, Count, Min, Max, or Avg — so the view returns aggregate results rather than individual rows.

Example

A view over CustTable with a bound field AccountNum:

Property	Value
Name	AccountNum
DataSource	CustTable
DataField	AccountNum
Aggregation	None

This produces a SQL column reference like T1.ACCOUNTNUM AS ACCOUNTNUM in the generated view.

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Computed Fields

A computed field has no direct mapping to a data source column. Instead, its value is defined by a static method that returns a SQL expression as a str. The framework calls this method during database synchronisation and splices the returned string into the CREATE VIEW statement.

How to Create a Computed Column

1. Add a computed field to the view's Fields node (right-click → New → Computed Column of the appropriate type).
2. Create a server static str method on the view class that builds and returns the SQL expression.
3. Set the field's ViewMethod property to the method name (for methods on the view itself) or Method property to ClassName::MethodName (for methods on an external class).

Using SysComputedColumn

The SysComputedColumn class provides helper methods that generate correct SQL fragments. Always use these helpers rather then writing raw SQL — they handle quoting, escaping, and database-agnostic syntax.

/// <summary>
/// Computes the line amount as Quantity * UnitPrice.
/// </summary>
private static server str lineAmount()
{
    DictView dictView  = new DictView(tableNum(MyView));
    str      dsName    = identifierStr(SalesLine);

    str qty   = dictView.computedColumnString(
                    dsName,
                    fieldStr(SalesLine, SalesQty),
                    FieldNameGenerationMode::FieldList);

    str price = dictView.computedColumnString(
                    dsName,
                    fieldStr(SalesLine, SalesPrice),
                    FieldNameGenerationMode::FieldList);

    return SysComputedColumn::multiply(qty, price);
}

Using DictView

The DictView class is used inside computed column methods to resolve the physical SQL column names for fields in the view's data sources. The computedColumnString() method takes the data source name, the field name, and a generation mode, and returns the aliased column reference (e.g., T1.SALESQTY) that is safe to use in the SQL expression.

warning

Never hard-code physical SQL column names in computed column methods. Always use DictView.computedColumnString() to resolve column references. Physical column names can differ from AOT field names and may change between versions.

Example: Conditional Computed Column

/// <summary>
/// Returns 'Active' or 'Inactive' based on the status field.
/// </summary>
private static server str statusText()
{
    DictView dictView = new DictView(tableNum(MyView));
    str      dsName   = identifierStr(CustTable);

    str statusField = dictView.computedColumnString(
                          dsName,
                          fieldStr(CustTable, Blocked),
                          FieldNameGenerationMode::FieldList);

    return SysComputedColumn::if(
        SysComputedColumn::equalExpression(statusField, SysComputedColumn::returnLiteral(0)),
        SysComputedColumn::returnLiteral('Active'),
        SysComputedColumn::returnLiteral('Inactive'));
}

This generates SQL equivalent to:

CASE WHEN T1.BLOCKED = 0 THEN 'Active' ELSE 'Inactive' END

tip

Computed columns are evaluated at sync time, not per-query. The method runs once during database synchronisation to produce a static SQL expression. You cannot use runtime variables, user context, session state, or table buffer data in computed column methods.

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Properties

23/23 properties

Property	Display Name	Type	Description
CommonAxViewField
Name	Name	String	The name of the element.
Label	Label	String	Descriptive label for the field, visible to users via Reporting tools.
HelpText	Help Text	String	Descriptive help text for the field, visible to users via Reporting tools.
GroupPrompt	Group Prompt	String	Prompt displayed when the field is part of a field group.
Tags	Tags	String	Tags for this element separated by semicolon.
CountryRegionCodes	Country Region Codes	String	Comma-separated list of ISO country codes where this field is valid.
CountryRegionContextField	Country Region Context Field	String	Specifies the field used to identify the country context.
ConfigurationKey	Configuration Key	String	The configuration key assigned to the field.
RelationContext	Relation Context	String	Relation context for the field.
AccessModifier	Access Modifier	FieldAccessModifier	Access modifier for the field. Values: Private (0), Public (1), Internal (2).
AosAuthorization	AOS Authorization	NoYes	Whether the field is protected by field-level security. Values: No (0), Yes (1).
IsObsolete	Is Obsolete	NoYes	Determines whether the field is deprecated. Values: No (0), Yes (1).
FeatureClass	Feature Class	String	The feature class used to determine the state of the feature assigned to this field.
BoundAxViewFieldBound
DataSource	Data Source	String	The data source containing the field.
DataField	Data Field	String	The field on the data source to map.
Aggregation	Aggregation	Aggregation	Aggregation function applied to the field. Values: None (0), Min (1), Max (2), Avg (3), Count (4), Sum (5).
ComputedAxViewFieldComputed
Method	Method	String	Fully qualified ClassName::MethodName of the static method that returns the SQL expression.
ViewMethod	View Method	String	Name of a method defined on the view itself that returns the SQL expression.
ExtendedDataType	Extended Data Type	String	EDT that corresponds to the data in this computed field. Enables richer formatting.
IsVirtual	Is Virtual	NoYes	Whether the computed column is virtual. Values: No (0), Yes (1).
Computed EnumAxViewFieldComputedEnum
EnumType	Enum Type	String	The enumeration type used to display the field value. Mutually exclusive with ExtendedDataType.
Computed StringAxViewFieldComputedString
StringSize	String Size	Int32	Maximum number of characters allowed. Values larger than this are truncated.
Adjustment	Adjustment	Adjustment	Whether the field value is left or right aligned when displayed. Values: Left (0), Right (1).

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