Deleting Dependent Elements Automatically (Delete Flags)

Using delete flags you can set up for relations and links which operations will be automatically executed for dependent master elements by DataView if a user deletes a relation record in a relation table (for relations) or a record in a linked table (for links).

For relations and links there are two delete flags each. For type relations no delete flags are available:

>

For relation: Controls the automatic deleting of dependent master records in entity 2 when relation records in the relation table are deleted (in list refine).

For link: Controls the automatic deleting of dependent records in table 2 when records in table 1 are deleted.

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For relation: Controls the automatic deleting of dependent master records in entity 1 when relation records in the relation table are deleted (in aggregate list).

For link: Controls the automatic deleting of dependent records in table 1 when records in table 2 are deleted.

The values you can enter into the delete flags to control deleting and the operations DataView will execute depending on the relation, can be found in the following table:

Relation	Delete Flag	Entry	Automatic operation for dependent elements
Relation from entity 1 to entity 2	User deletes relation record in list refine:
	>	-	No action
		D	DataView deletes dependent child record in master table of entity 2
	User deletes relation record in aggregate list:
	<	-	No action
		D	DataView deletes dependent child record in master table of entity 1
Link from table 1 to table 2	User deletes record in table 1:
	>	-	No action
		D	DataView deletes dependent child record in table 2
		N	DataView creates an empty entry in the key field of the dependent child record in table 2. The record itself still exists (and can be linked again later).
	User deletes record in table 2:
	<	-	No action
		D	DataView deletes dependent child record in table 1
		N	DataView creates an empty entry in the key field of the dependent child record in table 1. The record itself still exists (and can be linked again later).

Please note that the delete flag procedure is functionally connected with the standard procedure for securing referential integrity without any user activities required. Additionally, already defined check values have thew following effects:

• For relations not only a user action but also a delete action automatically executed by DataView according to the rules of the standard procedure can delete dependent elements.
• Automatically deleting master elements may not be executed by DataView if this is not allowed by check flags of other relations, which are directed to the entity or originate from it (analogously also applies to linked tables)

Example: In the meditronic application deleting an Item-Supplier relation (item is not provided any longer) is to have the effect that also the supplier is automatically deleted in the supplier master. The delete flag entry > = D in the refine relation Item-Supplier assures that.