Creating a Top-Down Data Exchange

You can create a town-down data exchange using a traditional method or using a shortcut.

This task shows you how to:

Create a Top-Down Data Exchange (Traditional Method)

You create a top-down exchange when all the required parameters have already been created in Isight prior to opening the Data Exchanger Component Editor.

Note: A file opened as read-only supports only read actions, not write actions. Alternatively, a file opened for writing supports both read and write actions.

  1. Double-click the Data Exchanger component icon .
    The Data Exchanger Component Editor appears.
  2. From the Data Exchanger Component Editor, select some data in the Data Source area.

    For more about selecting data, see Highlighting Data.

  3. Adjust the swipe details, as desired.

    For more information about using the Swipe Details area, see Editing the Swipe Details.

  4. Select the parameter to represent the data by doing one of the following:

    • In the Parameter list (in the Parameter Read/Write area), enter a new parameter.

    • In the Parameter list, select or enter the name of an existing parameter. You can type the name of a scalar parameter, the name of an aggregate member, or the name of an array element.

    • Click a parameter in the Parameters table.

    Note: If the parameter you chose is already used in a read or write action, the selected data will not be selected and the Data Source area will be scrolled to show where the parameter is used. In this case it is necessary to select a parameter before selecting the data.

  5. Apply the new read or write action using one of the following methods:

    • Click the Read or Write button adjacent to the Parameter list.

    • Right-click in the Data Source area, and select Insert Read or Insert Write.

    • Click in the Parameter list, and press Enter.

    • Click the Op column in the Parameter table until the desired option appears. This option’s initial setting is read-only for a read-only data source, and toggles from write to read for read/write data sources. The correct default action is always initially displayed.

    The action is executed. If this is a Read action, the data are highlighted in green and the parameter’s value is updated. If this is a Write action, the data are replaced with the value of the parameter and the result is highlighted in pink.

  6. To remove the Read or Write action, click the button or right-click the highlight in the Data Source area, and select Remove Read/Write Instruction.
  7. Return to Step 1 to define more data source information, if desired.
  8. Click OK to save your changes and to close the Data Exchanger Component Editor.

Create a Top-Down Data Exchange (Shortcut)

You can create a read or write action using an existing parameter with only two mouse clicks.

  1. Double-click the Data Exchanger component icon .
    The Data Exchanger Component Editor appears.
  2. From the Data Exchanger Component Editor, single-click the word to read/write in the Data Source area.
  3. In the Parameters table, click the Op column that corresponds to the parameter that you want to use.

    The default behavior is to cycle through the options, where the first choice in the cycle sequence is based on how the source is opened. Clicking in the Op column selects the parameter and creates the Read or Write action in one step. If the file is open for reading, a Read action is created. If the file is open for writing, a Write action is created.

    Note: This procedure works only if the parameter has not been previously used in a Read or Write action. If the parameter has already been used, clicking on the Op column selects the location originally read/written, and attempts to change a write to a read (a read is not changed).

    To create a second read/write for a parameter already used once, do the following:

    • Select the parameter from the Parameters table or the Parameter list in the Parameter Read/Write area.

    • Select the data to read or write.

    • Click the Read or Write button.

  4. To remove the Read or Write action, click the button or right-click the highlight in the Data Source area, and select Remove Read/Write Instruction.
  5. Return to Step 1 to define more data source information using this shortcut method.
  6. Click OK to save your changes and to close the Data Exchanger Component Editor.