Design - Flat File Definitions
Clicking Design, opens the File Definition designer canvas.
The first time this is opened for your File Definition, this canvas will be blank.
This area creates, maintains, and displays dataviews belonging to your File Definition - regardless of whether they apply to Source or Destination files.
These dataviews tell Statelake what files and records are to be used, and how they are to be used.

There is a different dataview for each file type as selected - a Flat File generates a File Dataview.
Existing File Definition Dataview
If a Dataview already exists, it will display here on the designer canvas, as illustrated below.

Where a dataview exists and displays on the design canvas, the various tabs are accessible via the buttons on the dataview.
Dataview Tabs
Tab Name | Description |
---|---|
Preview | Click to see a preview of the data extracted by the query. ![]() |
Records | Click to open the Records tab. ![]() |
Fields | Click to open the Fields tab. ![]() |
Calcs | Click to open the Calcs tab. ![]() |
Link | Click to open the Link settings window. This will only be available to select where the dataview has a link to another dataview. ![]() |
New File Definition Dataview
To create the initial dataview for a new File Definition, or to add another dataview, select File and New (or Ctrl-N) to create a new dataview to configure.
While the following examples illustrate a File Dataview, all dataviews are created in the same manner.

Make sure to select the appropriate dataview - in this case it is File Dataview. Click on OK to continue.

Buttons
Button Name | Description |
---|---|
OK | Click to save any changes you have made. All changes will be lost if you do not click the OK button. |
Cancel | Click to Cancel any changes you have made. |