Viewing table history

When you run an Analytics command, or a series of commands, to create an output table, a record of the process is retained with the table. This record is the table history, and it includes:

  • The date and time the output table was created

  • The names of the source table, any interim tables, and the new output table

  • The command, or series of commands, used to create the output table

  • The number of input and output records

  • Control totals, if any have been specified

How the table history is useful

The table history is very useful if you need to revisit how a specific table was produced, and see the exact steps, or data transformations, that occurred.

You can also open the details for any command in the table history and copy the syntax. Copying syntax is an easy way to replicate steps, or to use existing script logic as a starting point, in your ongoing script development work.

View the history for a table

The table history has two different presentations, one text-based, and the other visual. The visual table history makes it easy to see the flow or sequence of commands, and the source and interim tables, that culminate in the output table.

  1. Do any of the following to view the history for a table:

    • In the Overview tab of the Navigator, right-click a table and select Table History.

      The visual table history opens in the display area, and the associated table also opens.

    • Open a table, and from the Analytics main menu, select Tools > Table History.

      The visual table history opens in the display area.

    • Open a table, type DISPLAY HISTORY in the command line, and press Enter.

      The visual table history opens in the display area.

  2. In the visual table history, double-click any of the diamonds containing a command name to see the command details in an easy-to-read display.

    The Command Details dialog box opens. Any command syntax truncated in the display area is provided in full in the command details. You can copy syntax from the dialog box and paste it into a script, or the command line.

  3. At the bottom of the display area, select Text to switch to the text presentation of the table history.

    The text-based table history gives you the option of copying or printing the content.