1. The Ultimate Generic date/time framework
Quick start and Setup for MS-SQL Server
Gino Scheppers
16/02/2012
06/03/12

2. How to test the MS-SQL Server template universe?
 Open the MS-SQL template universe in
designer (3.1 or higher)
 Change your connection to a valid MS-SQL
Server database
 Start playing with the objects and predefined
filters in the [Generic Timestamp Table]-class.
 The objects in this class are based on fields
from the derived table called:
GenericTimestampTable

3. First example (LOV Filter)
Drag & drop some result objects and the predefined LOV example into the
query panel, and run the query

4. First example – Run the above query

5. Second example
Drag & drop some result objects and the predefined Date (Timestamp-type)
Prompt Example, run the query

6. Second example – Run the above query

7. Third example
With the objects from the Miscellaneous (Timestamp Objects)-class
Use the between operator in combination with a [Begin Range] and [End
Range] object

8. Third example – Result
Based on current date - 17/02/2012, this is the result.

9. Summary
 The above three examples illustrates the ease
of use of the date/time framework, and the
benefits you get after implementing the
framework in your own MS-SQL universes.
 Of course, the GenericTimestampTable-
derived table is not needed in your own
universes. I only use it for demo purpose. It’s
the fastest way to show you the tremendous
possibilities without struggling with the setup
first.

10. Steps to change a existing universe (summarized)
s Open the MS-SQL-template-universe and change
the connection to a valid MS-SQL database.
s Open your target universe
s Copy and past the derived table with name
‘GenericTimestampDimension’ to the target
universe
s Copy/Past the ‘Miscellaneous (Timestamp Objects)’
class from the template universe to the target
universe.
s Create a filter-prompt object for every date/time
object where an ad-hoc ‘List of values’ is needed.
(check the filter-example in the Generic Date table
class)
s Recreate (if necessary) the LOV of the
GenericDateDimension object (see next slide)

11. Steps 6 (Very important, don’t forget, this step!)
 recreate the LOV with following objects
and parameters.

12. Also need a Super Generic Date-Dimension table?
 Steps:
 Copy/paste the derived table
(GenericTimestampTable) to
your target universe
 Copy the ‘Generic
Timestamp’-class to your
target universe
 Disable the LOV’s the
objects

13. Final step
1. Drag & drop the
Learn the end-user (in 5 steps)
date/time object you want the ‘ultimate between-trick’
to query in the Query 5
Filters panel
2. Select a between
condition
3. Select a [Begin Range]
object from the 3
Miscellaneous
(Timestamp objects) class
4. Select a [End Range]
object from the 1
2
Miscellaneous 4
(Timestamp objects) class
5. Run the query.

14. That’s all folks
And the good news, lot’s of good
stuff can be found on my
Wordpress-Blog
Can you find 10 good reasons why
to use the Ultimate Generic
Date/Time framworke?
No, check my Blog-post.
It’s free! But a small donation to my PayPal account
gino.scheppers@telenet.be is welcome…