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aschurman
11-16-2007, 08:07 AM
Hello, I wanted to request for an improvement on the Table Output step.

Proposal:
I believe that the Table Output step should use a list of fields that will be used in the step... like the "Select" step, maybe in another tab or something.

Reason:
I have seen/needed in many transformations the need to insert data into a table, and then retrieve the Primary Key assigned to it... and later use that information for following steps. Since the, table output uses all fields, I cant have there data requiered for the next steps, pushing me to use splits of data, select fields, and then Joins/lookups based on many fields in other to rejoin the data.

I believe this will cause no harm to the Kettle application and will make it more flexible.

Ohhh one more thing.. in order to maintain back compatibility with previews transformations, may you can put it in another tab with a check box that says "Specify Fields"... that way for prev. transf will continue to use all since the check box will be out.

Hope this helps.. thanks.

MattCasters
11-16-2007, 08:24 AM
We already have a step for that, it's called "Combination Lookup/Update".

HTH,

Matt

aschurman
11-16-2007, 08:56 AM
Matt,

I don't see how to use the Combination lookup/Update for what I as doing.

Let me explain with a CASE of USE just in case I miss explained

TABLE INPUT STEP: get 10 fields from a table(s)
TABLE OUTPUT (OR SIMILAR): insert 5 files from prev select and retrieve the primary Id assigned.
TABLE OUTPUT2: insert the other 5 filelds from INPUT + primary key prom previews step.

MattCasters
11-16-2007, 09:10 AM
That's exactly what that step does. :-)

sboden
11-16-2007, 11:47 AM
A similar request is open as http://jira.pentaho.org/browse/PDI-16 ... it's already open since 2.3.1 :D

Regards,
Sven