MyWraps data types

This help page describes the data types provided in the MyWraps report generator, and the signature properties that can be requested.

Unlike most other development environments, you don’t define the database, it’s tables or columns before you use them. WrapCreator automatically saves all wrap data in the database in the most efficient way.

The ability to select a data type for a column is only used to define the features of the existing data in the database for the report generator.

Example:

  • If a cell always contains an integer, you should define the corresponding report column as an integer, so that it is right-adjusted automatically. Text values are left-adjusted.
  • Numbers are nicely formatted using thousand and if necessary decimal separators.Text values are displayed as they are.
  • Marking a column as numeric ensures that it is properly sorted. Numbers are sorted according to their value, so 2 appears before 10. Text is sorted one position at a time from left to right, so 10 appears before 2.
  • For a column containing integer values, you also get access to additional aggregation functions like min and max that are not available for text columns

MyWraps only returns cells that are named and searchable.

Data types

This metadata controls how a cell appears in the report, e.g.

Options.Columns= ... %2Cpartcost.double.f2%2C ...
  • string designates a text field, e.g. “This is a text string”.
  • int is an integer, a whole number without decimals, e.g. 42.
  • double defines a floating-point number with decimals, e.g. 3.1415
  • percent is a percentage with decimals, e.g. 314.15%
  • date formatted according to the Wrapsite settings, e.g. 14/10/1955 for local UK day/month/year.
  • time formatted according to the Wrapsite settings, e.g. 23:45 for local UK time a quarter to midnight.
  • datetime date and time together, e.g. 14/10/1955 23:45
  • oadate is a date in Excel format, i.e. as an Excel serial number, an integer value for dates, e.g. 20376 for Oct 14, 1955.
  • oadatetime refers to a time and date in Excel format, i.e. as an Excel serial number, a decimal value for time and date, e.g. 20376.9895833333 for 14/10/1955 23:45
  • anchor designates a field as containing HTML code that will be rendered in the MyWraps result, e.g. to add images or hyperlinks to a report.

Format specifier

For numeric values, a format specifier like .f2 can be appended to the data type to explicitly define how you want the value to be displayed in the report, e.g. “.f2” for two fixed decimals. For more information, study the Microsoft C# format specifiers.

Examples

  • f1 – fixed, one decimal
  • p1 – percent, one decimal

Signature properties

This metadata can be requested from signature fields, e.g.

Options.Columns= ... %2CSignature.sig-datetime%2C ...
  • sig-detail returns all the below information
  • sig-summary is the contents of the signature field, e.g. CM 14/10/1955, i.e. user nickname and date
  • sig-date returns the date when the signature was made, e.g. 14/10/1955
  • sig-time returns the signature’s time, e.g. 23:45
  • sig-datetime returns both the above, e.g. 14/10/1955 23:45
  • sig-username the name of the signee, the user that made the signature, e.g. ChrisMartin
  • sig-firstname is the first name of the signee, e.g. Chris
  • sig-lastname is the surname of the signee, e.g. Martin
  • sig-nickname returns the nickname or initials for the signee, e.g. CM
  • sig-company contains the company name registered for the signee, e.g. Fleischmann
  • sig-location says where the signee is located, e.g. Exeter