virtual field

A field holding calculated results that is not stored in the project database, but is generated and displayed on demand. When a view needs to display a virtual field, Archibus instructs the database server program to find the appropriate data and make the calculation. The database server program passes the value to Archibus so that the view can display it. Storing calculated data as virtual fields enables the database to store less data and reduces traffic between Archibus and the database server. If you are editing values in a table on which virtual fields depend, calling the Refresh command recalculates the values and updates the display.

Compare a virtual field to an actual field - a field that represents an actual column of data stored in a table. For example, the Area field of the Rooms table holds area values for room records.