Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Amazing Charts Data Dictionary

Does anyone know if Amazing Charts has a database data dictionary?

I'm not sure what you are asking. Do you mean a dictionary for correctly spelling words or do you mean words used in the "meat " of the program? Most of the databases are locked so they cannot be used. There is a way to get to the spell check program and figure out what's really going on in the spelling box

There are two things that come to mind when asking for a database data dictionary:

1. Some databases, like the Advantage database from Sybase or DBISAM from Elevate Soft, don't use two files for their database (transaction log and database file) like SQL Server does. Each table gets its own transaction table file and data table file. If there is any binary large object data, there will be a third file for that. These databases often have a special file called a data dictionary that is used to access the other files. Sometimes, this file is REQUIRED if the tables in the database are not considered "free" tables. In other words, you have to have the data dictionary file to access the others. As mentioned, this is not an issue with SQL Server. You merely have to have the SA password from Amazing Charts or you can mount a copy of the database files in another instance of SQL Server that is the same version as the one used by Amazing Charts (SQL 2005 for older versions of AC, SQL 2012 for newer versions).

2. He could be asking if Amazing Charts has published a database schema document. Such documents show all the tables and their relationships so someone who's looking around will know what is held where. To my knowledge, AC publishes no such document. If anyone wishes to go spelunking through the AC database, that someone would need to be a skilled DBA like me. One should not think that just because one knows how to open up SQL Server Management Studio that one can start making even minor changes or running complex queries. Proceed with caution.

JamesNT