The data can be entered into the base in two ways: the main and most important is a direct input from the measurement subsystem (Transient Processor/Laplace DLTS). Both material and sample descriptions are entered through input screens similar to these described in the previous section. The measurement type and the results data are entered automatically during acquisition and computing processes. The only parameter required is the file name.
It is also possible to enter data using the Experiment Database program. On the Material, Sample editing screens pressing the ‘New’ or ‘New copy’ button displays an empty or pre-filled form which, after filling and editing data, can save it into the base.
On the Measurement and Result editing screens there is the ‘Import’ button which invokes a file selection dialogue. Selected file is opened and parameters it contains are stored in the base, together with the file name and location.
The data can be deleted by using any of the editing screens with their ‘Delete’ button or from the tree view screen using the ‘Delete’ pop-up menu command.
Deleting selected item results in the deletion of ALL other items that are linked to it. For example, deleting the sample description also removes all the measurement descriptions related to the sample, which in turn removes all result descriptions related to the measurement descriptions which have been removed.
It is possible to modify data in the base, although some restrictions apply. One can modify all material and sample description and parameters, but only a small part of measurement and result data can be changed. The reason for this is that material and sample descriptions and parameters are stored in the database so modifying them does not affect anything outside the base, provided the identifiers are left intact. However, measurement and result descriptions are kept in separate disk files AND in the base. Any modification made to the base may result in a loss of integrity between data stored in the file and in the base. Thus the only possibility way to change this information is to delete the appropriate description from the base, modify the file contents (the header) and re-load the file. However, for user convenience, there is a shortcut provided: from Measurement form one can request data import of the existing file, setting ‘Reload’ option. This will load data from the original, possibly modified file replacing the database contents, all in one step. One step further goes menu command [View|Reload all measurement files]: it will iterate through the base re-loading data from all available measurement files.
The information about measurement and result data that can be modified is the file location and a comment.
It is also possible to enable modification of some other data, especially for user defined measurement types. I that case data editing is enabled in type definition.
Data that can be modified by the user is displayed, by convention, in fields with light background, while gray background indicates lack of that possibility. For data displayed on lists an asterisk preceding parameter name indicates, that its value is editable. Double-clicking it invokes appropriate dialog box.
After measurement or result data is stored in the base a user may want to change location of the raw data file. However, as a path to the file is stored in the database, the file will not be found unless the data base entry is modified. One way to do it is to select proper path using corresponding combo box on either measurement or result editing screen. This action must be repeated for each and every file that has been moved. If there is no appropriate path on the list it should be added to it by using provided path manipulation form Paths (invoked by ‘Paths...’ button). The same screen may be invoked using [View|Paths...] main menu command.
If file paths are stored as relative to the database file path, moving files together with the base does not break data integrity provided subfolder hierarchy is retained.
The Paths dialogue may also be used for batch change of data files path: it is possible to substitute one path with another in the whole base in one step; the change affects all files with the path being substituted. The form is also used to perform other changes to the list of paths available: adding new ones, editing and deleting them. Simple statistic of path use is provided, as well as information on current Windows and database paths.