Linking Data

The Link Data feature enables you to tie database entities to other database entities. For example, a particular artist is stored in only one database record, a "person" record. All works of art created by that artist should be linked to the artist through the linking mechanism described below. This ensures that data is consistent across the database.

To link data:

1. Choose a course (project) from the Project List and click the Go button.
   Note: Click the Select Project button in the Almagest header to return to the Project List page.
   


2. Click the Log On button to authenticate for linking privileges.
   


3. Search for the data for which you want to add a link
   • from the Explore section in the menu on the left, select Search
   • select the type of data you are searching for
   • enter search criteria in the data-specific fields
   • Click the Search button to initiate the search for data.
     Note: If you are an editor of the selected course or project, you can limit the search to only data elements that are part of the project by clicking the Search 'project' button; to search the entire Almagest repository, click the Search All of Almagest button.
     
     The Search Result List displays, showing the data in the Almagest database that matches the search criteria you specified.
     
   
   
4. Click the Edit  button.
   


5. Click on the Back To Display button at the bottom of the screen.
   


6. If you do not see the Link  button or any link icons on the display page, click on the Edit  button.
   


7. Look through the list of fields displayed. If you see the field for which you'd like to make a link, click on the "link" icon for that field. Otherwise, click on the Link  button at the top of the page.
   


8. If no relation is selected, choose the relation from the list.
   


9. Next, click on the Search for a record to Link button.
   


10. Some relations apply to only one data type. For those relations, you will be taken directly to a search page. Other relations can be applied to multiple data types, and you need to select the type that applies to the link you want to make. After you make that selection, you will be taken to a search page.
    


11. Search for the record for which you would like to make a link to the original entity.
    


12. From the Search Result List, link the desired item by clicking Link It. If the item you are looking for does not appear in the Search Result List, you may need to try a different search or add it to the database before linking.
    


13. You will then be returned to the record display page for the original database entity, and the link will appear in the list of data fields.

Related Topics

Searching the Almagest database
Adding data to the Almagest database
Editing data within Almagest