In the cases when the user needs to view (and possibly change) table records linked with features, but there is no need to browse the whole joined tables, the possibilities offered by the menu command of the map browser window Feature+Info (or the command pane button 
) may be more useful.
This command is enabled only in the case if only one feature is selected in the window. In this case the system opens a feature information window shown at figure 33-2.
Figure 33-2. Feature information window
This window displays table records linked with selected feature of the map browser window. Using it, it is possible to change field values of records, remove records, unlink records from selected feature and also add new records linking them with selected feature at the same time.
The content of the feature information window is changed automatically when the user selects another feature in the map browser window.
The menu command View+Always on Top allows the user to make the information window visible all the time even when it is not active. In this mode it is convenient for the user to view information selecting one necessary feature after another.
The command View+Update causes redrawing of all the contents of the window. In some cases in shared editing of maps and tables of GDB by several users the system is unable to automatically update the table display in the browser window and displays a warning message recommending to perform the command Update.
The user has a possibility to perform setting of control elements of the window (menu, toolbars, shortcut keys). Executing the setting is described in detail in chapter 12 “Themes”, subsection “Customizing window control elements”.
If several features are selected in the map browser window or none is selected, no data is displayed in the feature information window.
The title of feature information window indicates the type and layer of selected feature or contains the string “No features selected” or “Several features selected” is shown.
The pane of tables shows a tree containing a pane of all tables of the current GDB linked with the type of selected feature (in this browsed theme). Apart from the table itself, the tree contains all cataloged queries which are based on the present table or, in a general case, such queries for which this table is the root table of the join. Tables are marked with symbol 
, queries – with symbol 
.
The tree can also contain linked tables and queries from external databases (see section “External databases”).
After selecting one of the tables in the pane of tables the user gets display of names and field values of the table record linked with selected feature in the record pane. If selected table is not linked with the type of selected feature, the record pane is empty. If the table is linked with the present feature type, but there is no record linked with selected feature, field names and empty field values are displayed.
If the user selects a query in the pane of tables, the record pane of the information window will display only those table fields which are displayed in the query in the same order and with the same names. Besides, reference tables set in the query will be used to display and edit the fields.
If the record linked with selected feature is not a part of the query (it does not satisfy the condition of searching records), the record pane will be empty.
In the case, when access to the table for some particular user is allowed only through queries (chapter 87 “Permissions to GDB and its components”), the record will be displayed, only if some query (but not a table) is selected in the pane of tables.
In the left part of the status bar the number of this record among records linked with selected feature is displayed. This number is not related to a sequence number of the record in the table. Actually, for a unique link the following message will always be displayed: “Record 1”, for a multiple link – something like “Record 3 of 10”. If no records are linked with this feature, the message “New record” is shown.
In the right part of the status bar the link mode between a table and a feature type (unique or multiple link) is indicated and also if editing and adding records is enabled (depending on the characteristics of the set query).
To move among records linked with one and the same selected feature the menu commands Record+Previous, Record+Next are used (the toolbar buttons 
and 
correspond to them) and also the command Record+Go to Number (the number among linked records is meant).
To change field values of the linked record it is required to edit these values and after that perform the menu command Record+Save or push the toolbar button 
.
To add a new record linking it with selected feature at the same time, it is necessary to enter required field values first, and then perform the menu command Record+Add and Link or push the toolbar button 
. It should be noted that this operation is possible only in the case of a multiple link or provided no record of this table is linked with selected feature.
When editing field values the commands Fields+Clean (the button 
) and Fields+Restore (the button 
) may be useful. The command Clean enters empty values in all fields of the record. The command Restore cancels the made changes of field values restoring those values which the fields had at the moment of starting viewing of the present record or at the moment after performing the command Save.
The menu command Record+Unlink (the button 
) breaks the link between a record and selected feature.
The command Record+Remove (the button 
) causes removal of the linked record.
In the cases when the user changed field values of the record without saving these changes and then ends working with this record (for example, selecting another feature), the system asks for confirmation: “The record is changed but not saved. Save?”. If the answer is Yes the made changes will be saved, if No the record fields will retain the previous values.
The user has a set of possibilities for setting field display in the record pane. It concerns a set of displayed fields and their order in the pane and also use of reference tables.
To cancel display of one or several fields it is necessary to select names of these fields and perform the menu command Fields+Hide. It is possible to restore the display using the command Fields+Show which opens a dialog box with a list of hidden fields.
To change the order of fields in the pane it is necessary to select one or several field names in the pane (even not neighboring fields can be selected) and then drag them upwards or downwards to a new place while holding down the left mouse button. The cursor should be placed on the name of the field before which it is necessary to insert selected field or fields. After releasing the button, the fields will be moved. To move the fields to the end of the list they should be dragged below the last field.
After setting the query, the user retains the possibilities described above to hide or, on the contrary, show some table fields, to change their order. However, the command Fields+Order as in Query permits the user to restore the set and order of fields used in the set query or in the table at any moment.
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