Integration of groups with Common Data facility allows to have "master" values of group member properties. When this master value is changed, changes are automatically applied by the group to all its members that have this property.
To create a master value for a certain property:
| • | First, create a common table to contain the master value, using the Create New Table From Variable action of any Common Data context. The source variable for common table creation should be a variable of one of the group members. Its value will be copied to all other group member when the "master value" feature is enabled for it. The common table must be located in the User Common Data container under the group owner, or in the Global Common Data container. |
| • | Then, enable the Use Common Table setting in the Replication Options for the record you want to replicate. If the Common Table was properly created in the previous step, the Current Common Table with Master Value setting will show the description and location of the master value: |
If Common Tables that can be used as a master value for a property were created in both Global and User Common Data containers, the user's container will be used.
Example:
Let's say your Device is a time recorder that has "Bell Table" setting, defining several daily alarms. You can drag the time recorder and drop it on the Global Common Data in AggreGate Client, launching a Create New Table From Variable action. You'll now be prompted to select the variable to be used as a source for the new common table. Select "Bell Table":
Once the variable has been selected, a new common table is created in the global container. It contains the list of alarms that were defined in the dropped Device:
You'll now create a new Device group and populate it with some time recorders:
Next, launch the Group Properties action to configure the group. The group settings dialog will open. Here is what the Replication Options look like:
The Use Common Table setting can be enabled for Bell Table because a corresponding master value is found in the Global Common Data container. Let's enable it and save changes.
Now our group monitors changes to the Bell Table located in the common data. If someone edits the table, updated bell times will be saved to all time recorders in the group.