ViewFoundSet

Overview

A View Foundset Datasource is a virtual table that loads data at runtime, often based on a QBSelect query object. It is useful for combining datasets from multiple tables, improving performance compared to standard relations, valuelists, or aggregates.

Creating View Foundset Datasources

View Foundset Datasources can be created in two ways:

1. Solution Explorer: Accessed via Datasources -> View foundsets -> Create view foundset in the Solution Explorer context menu. This opens the Table Editor for defining the datasource structure.

2. Runtime Creation: Created via databaseManager.getViewFoundSet(String name, QBSelect query). This returns a ViewFoundSet object with essential operations like getSize(), getRecord(), and loadAllRecords(), but it doesn’t support find() or search().

Data Broadcast and Monitoring Changes

View Foundsets do not listen for databroadcast changes by default but can be enabled using viewfoundset.enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause queryTable, int flags). Available flags include:

• MONITOR_COLUMNS: Tracks changes in specific columns.

• MONITOR_JOIN_CONDITIONS: Listens for changes in join conditions.

• MONITOR_WHERE_CONDITIONS: Tracks updates to WHERE clause columns.

• MONITOR_INSERT: Monitors inserts, triggering a full query update.

• MONITOR_DELETES: Tracks deletions, updating records as needed.

• MONITOR_DELETES_FOR_PRIMARY_TABLE: Monitors primary table deletions more efficiently.

• MONITOR_AGGREGATES: Observes changes impacting aggregates in the query.

Editable View Foundsets

A View Foundset can be made editable with save() if the primary key (PK) is included in the QBSelect. Data updates pause databroadcast refreshes until the records are committed.

Commands Summary

• Create view foundset datasource: Opens the Table Editor.

• Edit table/view: Edits the View Foundset structure via the Table Editor.

• Delete View Foundset: Deletes the View Foundset.

• Rename View Foundset: Renames the View Foundset.

For more details, refer to the View Foundset Datasource documentation in the Data modeling section.

Constants Summarized

Type	Name	Summary
Number	MONITOR_AGGREGATES	Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen for changes in columns (selected) of the given datasource in the query that can affect aggregates.
Number	MONITOR_COLUMNS	Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen also for column changes of the given table/datasource.
Number	MONITOR_DELETES	Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen for deletes on the given table/datasource.
Number	MONITOR_DELETES_FOR_PRIMARY_TABLE	Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen for deletes on the given table/datasource which should be the primary/main table of this query.
Number	MONITOR_INSERT	Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen for inserts on the given table/datasource.
Number	MONITOR_JOIN_CONDITIONS	Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen also for column changes of the given table/datasource in the join statement - like order_lines.
Number	MONITOR_WHERE_CONDITIONS	Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen also for column changes of the given table/datasource that are used in the where statement - like order_lines.
String	VIEW_FOUNDSET

Properties Summarized

Type	Name	Summary
Boolean	multiSelect	Returns true if this foundset is in multiselect mode and false if it's in single-select mode.

Methods Summarized

Type	Name	Summary
Boolean	dispose()	Dispose and unregisters a view foundset from memory when is no longer needed.
JSFoundSet	duplicateFoundSet()	Get a duplicate of the viewfoundset.
void	enableDatabroadcastFor(queryTable)	Databroadcast can be enabled per select table of a query, the select table can be the main QBSelect or on of it QBJoins By default this monitors only the column values that are in the result of the QBSelect, you can only enable this default monitoring for a table if for that table also the PK is selected in the results.
void	enableDatabroadcastFor(queryTableclause, flags)	Enable the databroadcast for a specific table of the QBSelect or QBJoin with flags for looking for join or where criteria or deletes/inserts.
Object	forEach(callback)	Iterates over the records of a foundset taking into account inserts and deletes that may happen at the same time.
Object	forEach(callback, thisObject)	Iterates over the records of a foundset taking into account inserts and deletes that may happen at the same time.
String	getCurrentSort()	Get the last sort columns that were set using viewfoundset sort api.
String	getDataSource()	Returns the datasource (view:name) for this ViewFoundSet.
Array	getEditedRecords()	Get the edited records of this view foundset.
Array	getFailedRecords()	Get the records which could not be saved.
String	getName()	Get foundset name.
QBSelect	getQuery()	Get the cloned query that created this ViewFoundSset (modifying this QBSelect will not change the foundset).
JSRecord	getRecord(index)	Get the ViewRecord object at the given index.
JSRecord	getRecordByPk(pk)	Get the ViewRecord from the primary key values.
Number	getRecordIndex(record)	Get the record index.
String	getSQL()	Returns the internal SQL of the JSFoundset.
String	getSQL(includeFilters)	Returns the internal SQL of the JSFoundset.
Array	getSQLParameters()	Returns the parameters for the internal SQL of the QBSelect.
Array	getSQLParameters(includeFilters)	Returns the parameters for the internal SQL of the QBSelect.
Number	getSelectedIndex()	Get the current record index of the foundset.
Array	getSelectedIndexes()	Get the indexes of the selected records.
JSRecord	getSelectedRecord()
Array	getSelectedRecords()	Get the selected records.
Number	getSize()	Get the number of records in this viewfoundset.
Boolean	hasRecordChanges()	Check whether the foundset has record changes.
Boolean	hasRecords()	Returns true if the viewfoundset has records.
void	loadAllRecords()	This will reload the current set of ViewRecords in this foundset, resetting the chunk size back to the start (default 200).
void	revertEditedRecords()	Revert changes of all unsaved view records of the view foundset.
void	revertEditedRecords(rec)	Revert changes of the provided view records.
Boolean	save()	Saves all records in the view foundset that have changes.
Boolean	save(record)	Saved a specific record of this foundset.
void	setSelectedIndex(index)	Set the current record index.
void	setSelectedIndexes(indexes)	Set the selected records indexes.
void	sort(sortString)	Sorts the foundset based on the given sort string.
void	sort(sortString, defer)	Sorts the foundset based on the given sort string.
void	sort(recordComparisonFunction)	Sorts the foundset based on the given record comparator function.
JSRecordMarkers	validate(record)	Validates the given record, it runs first the method that is attached to the entity event "onValidate".
JSRecordMarkers	validate(record, customObject)	Validates the given record, it runs first the method that is attached to the entity event "onValidate".

Constants Detailed

MONITOR_AGGREGATES

Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen for changes in columns (selected) of the given datasource in the query that can affect aggregates. This means that when there are deletes, inserts or updates on columns selected from that datasource, a full re-query will happen to refresh the aggregates.

IMPORTANT: in general, this flag should be set on (possible multiple) datasources from the query that have group by on their columns, and the columns don't contain the pk, or that have the actual aggregates on their columns (because all those could influence the value of aggregates).

For example (ignoring the fact that in a real-life situation these fields might not change), a view foundset based on this query:

SELECT orders.customerid, orders.orderdate, SUM(order_details.unitprice) FROM orders LEFT OUTER JOIN order_details ON orders.orderid = order_details.orderid GROUP BY orders.customerid, orders.orderdate ORDER BY orders.customerid asc, orders.orderdate desc

will want to enable databroadcast flag MONITOR_AGGREGATES on both "orders" (because if "orderdate" or "customerid" - that are used in GROUP BY - change/are corrected on a row, that row could move from one group to the other, affecting the SUM(order_details.unitprice) for the groups involved) and "order_details" (because if "unitprice" changes/is corrected, the aggregate will be affected).

But if the above query would also select the orders.odersid (and also group by that) then the orders row that you select for that sum will always be unique and only #MONITOR_COLUMNS has to be used for those - if needed.

Type Number

MONITOR_COLUMNS

Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen also for column changes of the given table/datasource. This is used by default if you just use enableDatabroadcastFor() without flags. If you use the one with the flags you need to give this one if you just want to listen to column changes that are in the result for a given datasource and pk.

This constants needs to have the pk's selected for the given datasource (should be in the results).

Type Number

MONITOR_DELETES

Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen for deletes on the given table/datasource. This will always result in a full query to detect changes whenever an delete on that table happens.

Type Number

MONITOR_DELETES_FOR_PRIMARY_TABLE

Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen for deletes on the given table/datasource which should be the primary/main table of this query. If a delete comes in for this table, then we will only remove the records from the ViewFoundSet that do have this primary key in its value. So no need to do a full query. So this will only work if the query shows order_lines for the order_lines table, not for the products table that is joined to get the product_name. Only 1 of the 2 monitors for deletes should be registered for a table/datasource.

This constants needs to have the pk's selected for the given datasource (should be in the results)

Type Number

MONITOR_INSERT

Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen for inserts on the given table/datasource. This will always result in a full query to detect changes whenever an insert on that table happens.

Type Number

MONITOR_JOIN_CONDITIONS

Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen also for column changes of the given table/datasource in the join statement - like order_lines.productid that has a join to orders and is displaying the productname. If a change in such a join condition (like order_lines.productid in the sample above) is seen then the query will be fired again to detect changes.

Type Number

MONITOR_WHERE_CONDITIONS

Constant for the flags in #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to listen also for column changes of the given table/datasource that are used in the where statement - like order_lines.unit_price > 100. If a change is seen on that datasource on such a column used in the where a full query will be fired again to detect changes.

Type Number

VIEW_FOUNDSET

Type String

Properties Detailed

multiSelect

Returns true if this foundset is in multiselect mode and false if it's in single-select mode.

Type Boolean true if this foundset is in multiselect mode and false if it's in single-select mode.

Methods Detailed

dispose()

Dispose and unregisters a view foundset from memory when is no longer needed.
Returns whether foundset was disposed.
If linked to visible form or component, view foundset cannot be disposed.

Normally ViewFoundSets are not hold on to by the system, so if you only use this inside a method it will be disposed by itself.
This method is then just helps by also calling clear()

For ViewFoundSets that are also registered  by using true as the last argument in the call: databaseMananager.getViewFoundSet(name, query, boolean register)
are hold on to by the system and Forms can use it for there foundset. Calling dispose on those will remove it from the system, so it is not usable anymore in forms.

Returns: Boolean boolean foundset was disposed

Sample

vfs.dispose();

duplicateFoundSet()

Get a duplicate of the viewfoundset. This is a full copy of the view foundset.

Returns: JSFoundSet foundset duplicate.

Sample

var dupFoundset = foundset.duplicateFoundSet();

enableDatabroadcastFor(queryTable)

Databroadcast can be enabled per select table of a query, the select table can be the main QBSelect or on of it QBJoins By default this monitors only the column values that are in the result of the QBSelect, you can only enable this default monitoring for a table if for that table also the PK is selected in the results.

you can use #enableDatabroadcastFor(QBTableClause,int) to specify what should be monitored more besides pure column values per pk. Those have impact on performance because for the most part if we see a hit then a full query is done to see if there are changes.

Parameters

• QBTableClause queryTable The QBSelect or QBJoin of a full query where this foundset should listen for data changes.

Returns: void

Sample

var select = datasources.db.example_data.order_details.createSelect();
 var join = select.joins.add("db:/example_data/products");
 join.on.add(select.columns.productid.eq(join.columns.productid));
 select.result.add(); // add columns of the select or join
 var vf = databaseManager.getViewFoundSet("myorders",select)
 vf.enableDatabroadcastFor(select);
 vf.enableDatabroadcastFor(join);

enableDatabroadcastFor(queryTableclause, flags)

Enable the databroadcast for a specific table of the QBSelect or QBJoin with  flags for looking for join or where criteria or deletes/inserts.
These  flags can be a performance hit because the query needs to be executed again to see if there are any changes.
For certain flags #MONITOR_COLUMNS and #MONITOR_DELETES_FOR_PRIMARY_TABLE the pk for that table must be in the results.

Parameters

• QBTableClause queryTableclause The QBSelect or QBJoin of a full query where this foundset should listen for data changes.

• Number flags One or more of the ViewFoundSet.XXX flags added to each other.

Returns: void

Sample

var select = datasources.db.example_data.order_details.createSelect();
 var join = select.joins.add("db:/example_data/products");
 join.on.add(select.columns.productid.eq(join.columns.productid));
 select.result.add(); // add columns of the select or join
 var vf = databaseManager.getViewFoundSet("myorders",select)
 // monitor for the main table the join conditions (orders->product, when product id changes in the orders table) and requery the table on insert events, delete directly the record if a pk delete happens.
 vf.enableDatabroadcastFor(select, ViewFoundSet.MONITOR_JOIN_CONDITIONS | ViewFoundSet.MONITOR_INSERT | ViewFoundSet.MONITOR_DELETES_FOR_PRIMARY_TABLE);
 vf.enableDatabroadcastFor(join);

forEach(callback)

Iterates over the records of a foundset taking into account inserts and deletes that may happen at the same time. It will dynamically load all records in the foundset (using Servoy lazy loading mechanism). If callback function returns a non null value the traversal will be stopped and that value is returned. If no value is returned all records of the foundset will be traversed. Foundset modifications( like sort, omit...) cannot be performed in the callback function. If foundset is modified an exception will be thrown. This exception will also happen if a refresh happens because of a rollback call for records on this datasource when iterating. When an exception is thrown from the callback function, the iteration over the foundset will be stopped.

Parameters

• Function callback The callback function to be called for each loaded record in the foundset. Can receive three parameters: the record to be processed, the index of the record in the foundset, and the foundset that is traversed.

Returns: Object Object the return value of the callback

Sample

foundset.forEach(function(record,recordIndex,foundset) {
 	//handle the record here
 });

forEach(callback, thisObject)

Iterates over the records of a foundset taking into account inserts and deletes that may happen at the same time. It will dynamically load all records in the foundset (using Servoy lazy loading mechanism). If callback function returns a non null value the traversal will be stopped and that value is returned. If no value is returned all records of the foundset will be traversed. Foundset modifications( like sort, omit...) cannot be performed in the callback function. If foundset is modified an exception will be thrown. This exception will also happen if a refresh happens because of a rollback call for records on this datasource when iterating. When an exception is thrown from the callback function, the iteration over the foundset will be stopped.

Parameters

• Function callback The callback function to be called for each loaded record in the foundset. Can receive three parameters: the record to be processed, the index of the record in the foundset, and the foundset that is traversed.

• Object thisObject What the this object should be in the callback function (default it is the foundset)

Returns: Object Object the return value of the callback

Sample

foundset.forEach(function(record,recordIndex,foundset) {
 	//handle the record here
 });

getCurrentSort()

Get the last sort columns that were set using viewfoundset sort api.s

Returns: String String sort columns

Sample

//reverse the current sort

//the original sort "companyName asc, companyContact desc"
//the inversed sort "companyName desc, companyContact asc"
var foundsetSort = foundset.getCurrentSort()
var sortColumns = foundsetSort.split(',')
var newFoundsetSort = ''
for(var i=0; i<sortColumns.length; i++)
{
	var currentSort = sortColumns[i]
	var sortType = currentSort.substring(currentSort.length-3)
	if(sortType.equalsIgnoreCase('asc'))
	{
		newFoundsetSort += currentSort.replace(' asc', ' desc')
	}
	else
	{
		newFoundsetSort += currentSort.replace(' desc', ' asc')
	}
	if(i != sortColumns.length - 1)
	{
		newFoundsetSort += ','
	}
}
foundset.sort(newFoundsetSort)

getDataSource()

Returns the datasource (view:name) for this ViewFoundSet.

Returns: String

Sample

solutionModel.getForm("x").dataSource  = viewFoundSet.getDataSource();

getEditedRecords()

Get the edited records of this view foundset.

Returns: Array an array of edited records

Sample

var editedRecords = foundset.getEditedRecords();
for (var i = 0; i < editedRecords.length; i++)
{
   application.output(editedRecords[i]);
}

getFailedRecords()

Get the records which could not be saved.

Returns: Array an array of failed records

getName()

Get foundset name. If foundset is not named foundset will return null.

Returns: String name.

Sample

var name = foundset.getName()

getQuery()

Get the cloned query that created this ViewFoundSset (modifying this QBSelect will not change the foundset). The ViewFoundSets main query can't be altered after creation; you need to make a new ViewFoundSet for that (it can have the same datasource name).

Returns: QBSelect query.

Sample

var q = foundset.getQuery()
q.where.add(q.columns.x.eq(100))
var newVF = databaseManager.getViewFoundset("name", q);

getRecord(index)

Get the ViewRecord object at the given index. Argument "index" is 1 based (so first record is 1).

Parameters

• Number index record index (1 based).

Returns: JSRecord ViewRecord record.

Sample

var record = vfs.getRecord(index);

getRecordByPk(pk)

Get the ViewRecord from the primary key values.

Parameters

• Array pk pk values as array

Returns: JSRecord ViewRecord record.

Sample

var record = vfs.getRecordByPk(1);  // or getRecordByPk(1,2) or ([1,2]) for multicolumn pk

getRecordIndex(record)

Get the record index. Will return -1 if the record can't be found.

Parameters

• JSRecord record Record

Returns: Number int index.

Sample

var index = foundset.getRecordIndex(record);

getSQL()

Returns the internal SQL of the JSFoundset. Optionally, the foundset and table filter params can be excluded in the sql (includeFilters=false).

Returns: String String representing the sql of the JSFoundset.

Sample

var sql = foundset.getSQL(true)

getSQL(includeFilters)

Returns the internal SQL of the JSFoundset. Optionally, the foundset and table filter params can be excluded in the sql (includeFilters=false).

Parameters

• Boolean includeFilters include the foundset and table filters [default true].

Returns: String String representing the sql of the JSFoundset.

Sample

var sql = foundset.getSQL(true)

getSQLParameters()

Returns the parameters for the internal SQL of the QBSelect. Table filters are on by default.

Returns: Array An Array with the sql parameter values.

Sample

var parameters = foundset.getSQLParameters(true)

getSQLParameters(includeFilters)

Returns the parameters for the internal SQL of the QBSelect. Table filters are on by default.

Parameters

• Boolean includeFilters include the foundset and table filters [default true].

Returns: Array An Array with the sql parameter values.

Sample

var parameters = foundset.getSQLParameters(true)

getSelectedIndex()

Get the current record index of the foundset.

Returns: Number int current index (1-based)

Sample

//gets the current record index in the current foundset
var current = foundset.getSelectedIndex();
//sets the next record in the foundset
foundset.setSelectedIndex(current+1);

getSelectedIndexes()

Get the indexes of the selected records. When the foundset is in multiSelect mode (see property multiSelect), a selection can consist of more than one index.

Returns: Array Array current indexes (1-based)

Sample

// modify selection to the first selected item and the following row only
var current = foundset.getSelectedIndexes();
if (current.length > 1)
{
	var newSelection = new Array();
	newSelection[0] = current[0]; // first current selection
	newSelection[1] = current[0] + 1; // and the next row
	foundset.setSelectedIndexes(newSelection);
}

getSelectedRecord()

Returns: JSRecord

getSelectedRecords()

Get the selected records. When the viewfoundset is in multiSelect mode (see property multiSelect), selection can be a more than 1 record.

Returns: Array Array current records.

Sample

var selectedRecords = foundset.getSelectedRecords();

getSize()

Get the number of records in this viewfoundset. This is the number of records loaded, note that when looping over a foundset, size() may increase as more records are loaded.

Returns: Number int current size.

Sample

var nrRecords = vfs.getSize()

// to loop over foundset, recalculate size for each record
for (var i = 1; i <= foundset.getSize(); i++)
{
	var rec = vfs.getRecord(i);
}

hasRecordChanges()

Check whether the foundset has record changes.

Returns: Boolean true if the foundset has any edited records, false otherwise

hasRecords()

Returns true if the viewfoundset has records.

Returns: Boolean true if the viewfoundset has records.

loadAllRecords()

This will reload the current set of ViewRecords in this foundset, resetting the chunk size back to the start (default 200). All edited records will be discarded! So this can be seen as a full clean up of this ViewFoundSet.

Returns: void

revertEditedRecords()

Revert changes of all unsaved view records of the view foundset.

Returns: void

revertEditedRecords(rec)

Revert changes of the provided view records.

Parameters

• Array rec an array of view records

Returns: void

save()

Saves all records in the view foundset that have changes. You can only save columns from a table if the pks of that table are also selected by the view foundset's query.

Returns: Boolean true if the save was successfull, false if not and then the record will hav the exception set.

save(record)

Saved a specific record of this foundset. You can only save columns from a table if also the pk is selected of that table

Parameters

• JSRecord record ;

Returns: Boolean true if the save was successfull, false if not and then the record will hav the exception set.

setSelectedIndex(index)

Set the current record index.

Parameters

• Number index index to set (1-based)

Returns: void

Sample

//gets the current record index in the current foundset
var current = foundset.getSelectedIndex();
//sets the next record in the foundset
foundset.setSelectedIndex(current+1);

setSelectedIndexes(indexes)

Set the selected records indexes.

Parameters

• Array indexes An array with indexes to set.

Returns: void

Sample

// modify selection to the first selected item and the following row only
var current = foundset.getSelectedIndexes();
if (current.length > 1)
{
	var newSelection = new Array();
	newSelection[0] = current[0]; // first current selection
	newSelection[1] = current[0] + 1; // and the next row
	foundset.setSelectedIndexes(newSelection);
}

sort(sortString)

Sorts the foundset based on the given sort string. Column in sort string must already exist in ViewFoundset.

Parameters

• String sortString the specified columns (and sort order)

Returns: void

Sample

foundset.sort('columnA desc,columnB asc');

sort(sortString, defer)

Sorts the foundset based on the given sort string. Column in sort string must already exist in ViewFoundset.

Parameters

• String sortString the specified columns (and sort order)

• Boolean defer when true, the "sortString" will be just stored, without performing a query on the database (the actual sorting will be deferred until the next data loading action).

Returns: void

Sample

foundset.sort('columnA desc,columnB asc');

sort(recordComparisonFunction)

Sorts the foundset based on the given record comparator function. Tries to preserve selection based on primary key. If first record is selected or cannot select old record it will select first record after sort. The comparator function is called to compare two records, that are passed as arguments, and it will return -1/0/1 if the first record is less/equal/greater then the second record.

The function based sorting does not work with printing. It is just a temporary in-memory sort.

NOTE: starting with 7.2 release this function doesn't save the data anymore

Parameters

• Function recordComparisonFunction record comparator function

Returns: void

Sample

foundset.sort(mySortFunction);

function mySortFunction(r1, r2)
{
	var o = 0;
	if(r1.id < r2.id)
	{
		o = -1;
	}
	else if(r1.id > r2.id)
	{
		o = 1;
	}
	return o;
}

validate(record)

Validates the given record, it runs first the method that is attached to the entity event "onValidate". Those methods do get a parameter JSRecordMarkers where the problems can be reported against. All columns are then also null/empty checked and if they are and the Column is marked as "not null" an error will be added with the message key "servoy.record.error.null.not.allowed" for that column.

An extra state object can be given that will also be passed around if you want to have more state in the validation objects (like giving some ui state so the entity methods know where you come from)

It will return a JSRecordMarkers when the record had validation problems

Parameters

• JSRecord record ;

Returns: JSRecordMarkers Returns a JSRecordMarkers if the record has validation problems

validate(record, customObject)

Validates the given record, it runs first the method that is attached to the entity event "onValidate". Those methods do get a parameter JSRecordMarkers where the problems can be reported against. All columns are then also null/empty checked and if they are and the Column is marked as "not null" an error will be added with the message key "servoy.record.error.null.not.allowed" for that column.

An extra state object can be given that will also be passed around if you want to have more state in the validation objects (like giving some ui state so the entity methods know where you come from)

It will return a JSRecordMarkers when the record had validation problems

Parameters

• JSRecord record The ViewRecord to validate

• Object customObject An extra customObject to give to the validate method.

Returns: JSRecordMarkers

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