AX2468

Using formulas with Axiom feature tags

Axiom supports a number of features that depend on using reserved tags within a spreadsheet. For example, save-to-database operations, action codes, sheet views, and data sources for Axiom forms all use these feature tags.

Generally speaking, feature tags have the following components:

• A "primary tag" that enables use of the feature within the sheet. This tag defines the control row and control column for the feature, and may also contain additional parameters that control options for the feature.
• Various column tags to be placed in the control row, to define the operation of the feature.
• Various row tags to be placed in the control column, to define the operation of the feature.

For example, [Save2DB;TableName] is the primary tag for the Save Type 1 save-to-database feature. The "Save2DB" part of the tag identifies the feature, and the rest of the tag defines parameters for the feature (there are other optional parameters not shown here). The column names that determine the destination columns for the save are the column tags, and the [Save] tag that flags rows to be saved are the row tags.

Using formulas with primary tags

You can use formulas to create primary tags instead of "hard-coding" the tag within the cell. However, the initial bracket and the identifying text must be present as a whole in the formula. You cannot concatenate this part of the tag or reference another cell that contains this tag. For example:

Once Axiom has identified that a cell contains a primary tag, the formula result is evaluated as normal to determine if the feature is actually applied. For example, if the formula contains "[Save2DB" then Axiom recognizes it as a candidate for processing. But if the formula uses an IF statement and therefore the actual result of the formula in the file is a blank cell or other text such as "No Save," then that cell will be skipped for processing.

If the primary tag takes parameters, the parameters can be created by concatenation or by cell reference, without restrictions. All of the following examples are valid:

Using formulas with column and row tags

Once a primary tag has been found in the sheet and identified for processing, its associated column and row tags are fully evaluated. You can use any kind of formula construction to create these tags.

For example, the row tag [Save] can be created by concatenation or by cell reference, without restrictions. All of the following examples are valid: