Cloud Computing: Online Database & Application Builder Tutorial: Creating a new Datasource

Datasources are an intermediate layer of data that can be created from Tables, Queries or a remote source of data such as an xml file.
1) They allow rapid viewing from the Web or Applications via AJAX (browser -> datasource)2) They help keep your Table data safe.

Templates, Charts, Applications & Sites use Datasources as their 'Source of Data'.

You can create as many Datasources as you require and add another anytime. A DS may be 'special purpose' for a one time need - or - needed frequently, such as ongoing updates. Example: Pulling the temperature feed every hour from a remote source, such as the National Weather Service.
There are 2 ways of creating a Datasource: the Wizard or Expert mode. Expert mode will require some knowledge of Php. Wizard mode requires no knowledge of Php. Expert mode can be particularly useful when using remote data (not IN your account) as the original data file. If you are creating a datasource for data WITHIIN your system, Wizard mode will usually be your choice.
Creating the Datasource shown below took much less than a minute.

Let's say you already have a Table in your Account and want to use this Table with a Template. This Template will be used to create a Personalized Pdf - or - a Report with data. You can use this same DS in a Site or an Application.
From your Menu select New -- Datasource. Select Wizard mode. Click continue.

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Name it, describe it, select the drop down list.

Select 'Data from Table' (R/W). The (R/W) means Read & Write. Note this means you can Read or Write. You may restrict this Privilege later - at your discretion.

Click Create.

Step #4

Select the drop down list for your Tables

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Step #5

Select your Table, then Click Create

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Step #6

Your DS has been created. Select it to View its contents

Step #7

Your Datasource will look just like your Original Table.
A the bottom, it will display dependencies; your Table + an automatically created Action (Php). This Action 'connects' the DS to your Table.

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Step #8

Steps 6, 7 and 8 were generated automatically and knowledge of Php was not rewuired.
This Datasource is ready to use and can be bound to Pdfs, Applications and Sites.

This what we mean when we say 'bind your data'. Web pages, applications and Templates are bound to the datasource. An Action is then used to apply any changes from the Datasource to your Tables - or - from your Tables or Queries to the Datasource.
So the purposes are:1) Keep your data safe2) Increase speed via fewer round trips to your Tables

/** Select all rows from table and create an associative array*/ $records = $yc->getRecordsFromTable('census');return $records;

This automatically generated Action will appear in your list of Actions. You did not need to Write it - but could Edit if you needed. This is a 4 Part Action - you are Viewing 'Select'. The other 3 parts (Insert, Update, Delete) can be Viewed and Edited (if necessary), by clicking from the specific item).

Additional examples will follow