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url: >-
  /statelake/administering-statelake/designer/data-definitions/file-definitions/flat-file-definitions/design-flat-file-definitions.md
---

# 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. |