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Task 4:  Build a data set

Now, you are ready to build your data set. A data set identifies the data to retrieve from the data source. If your report connects to a JDBC data source, such as the sample database, you use a SQL SELECT statement to specify the data to retrieve.

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Customers

Figure 1-11 New Data Set

Figure 1-11  New Data Set
[tut_newdataset.png]
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The Query page displays information to help you create a SQL query. Available Items lists all the schemas in the data source, including CLASSICMODELS, which you use for this tutorial and other reports you want to create with the sample database. You can click the plus (+) sign next to CLASSICMODELS to display the tables. The text area on the right side of this dialog shows the following required keywords of a SQL SELECT statement:
select
from
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select customerName,
contactLastName,
contactFirstName,
phone
from Customers
Although the data set editor shows table and column names in uppercase letters, you can type these names in the case you prefer because SQL is not case-sensitive. If you do not want to type the query, you can drag columns and tables from Available Items to the text area.
The SELECT statement that you created, which is shown in Figure 1-12, gets values from the CUSTOMERNAME, CONTACTLASTNAME, CONTACTFIRSTNAME, and PHONE columns in the CUSTOMERS table.

Figure 1-12 SQL SELECT statement in Edit Data Set

Figure 1-12  SQL SELECT statement in Edit Data Set
[editdataset02.png]
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Choose Finish to save the data set. If you typed the query correctly, Edit Data Set appears. If you made a mistake, an error message appears before Edit Data Set opens. Edit Data Set displays the columns you specified in the query, and provides options for editing the data set.
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Choose Preview Results to make sure the query is valid and that it returns the correct data. Figure 1-13 shows some of the data rows that the query returns.

Figure 1-13 Data rows returned by a SQL SELECT statement

Figure 1-13  Data rows returned by a SQL SELECT statement
[previewresults.png]
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