Inserting database tables

As a great way of producing a database report in your publication, it is possible for a database table to be imported and presented as a PagePlus table. The database table could be from one of a comprehensive range of database file formats (Serif databases (*.sdb), Microsoft Access, dBASE), as well as from HTML files, Excel files, ODBC, and various delimited text files.

For multi-table databases, PagePlus lets you select the table to be inserted.

For a high degree of control, it is also possible to filter and sort your database records prior to import.

  • Insertion of database tables adopts the same principles as those used for Mail merge. However, instead of creating letters or labels you are merging content into a table.

To insert a database table:

  1. Click PagePlus tbr tools insertdatabasetable Inserting database tables Insert Database table from the Tools toolbar’s Table flyout.

  2. Using the pointer, draw an area on your page that will contain your database information.

  3. If there are many fields in your database table you may consider presenting the information on a page with landscape orientation. Alternatively, you can choose only a subset of those fields (see below).

  1. In the dialog, navigate to your database file and select it. Use the drop-down menu to change file format if you can’t find the database file you require.

  2. Click Open.

  3. (Optional; for multi-table databases) The Select Table dialog displays the tables within your database. Select your table and click OK.

  4. The Merge List dialog shows all the table rows (records) in the table—choose to Select All records, Toggle Select (invert all current selections) or use a custom Filter… The filter option also lets you sort the records to be merged. The Edit… button lets you edit Serif Database SDB files only. Click OK.

  5. The list of fields available in the table are shown in the Select Fields dialog. Uncheck any fields that you don’t want to be included in the import process. Again, Select All, Select None, or Toggle Select options are available.

  6.  Click the OK button. The database table appears on your page.

Filtering your records

Records can be filtered via the Merge List’s Filter… button by using the Filter Records tab then subsequently sorted into any combination with the accompanying Sort Records tab. The option helps you limit the number of records imported to only those you require.

You can use the Boolean operators “And” and “Or” to build up your filter criteria row-by-row.

The Sort Records tab is used to sort by three prioritized field names, either in ascending or descending order.

Inserting database tables