VI. Appendix
140
Developer handbook DATAformXTension © 1992-2004 www.gassenhuber.de
The DATAform database is configured so that the elements that are not found in the database
via their object number are created automatically as new records or elements in the element
list.
Using the same method you can also attach new subboxes from QuarkXPress to already exist-
ing DATAform records.
Database design
The logic of box numbering is dependent on the database into which the articles will be import-
ed. In the DATAform database the following procedure is used:
An article module consists, seen from a QuarkXPress point of view, from a main text box and
any other boxes that together make up the article. From the database view point an article mod-
ule is made up of a record with related records.
All DATAformTags, including the definitions for the main text box, are saved in the related
records. The related records contain a field for the box ID whose value identifies the main
record as well as the related records.
The main box of the module, i.e. the box with the article text, is assigned the unique number:
Record number * 1000 +1 in the example *#25001
All further boxes receive numbers from 25100 on i.e. *#25101, *#25102 etc.
With this method a module may theoretically contain 900 boxes without coming into conflict
with another one. The database can therefore also attach individual boxes to the main record or
update them; the main record can at any moment be identified as such.
For the transfer all boxes of a record receive the record number as the group number: Example
*G25. They may then be combined as a group in QuarkXPress.
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