Desktop User Guides > Reporter > Using variables > Derived variable creation for database questions > Automatically generating derived variables for database questions
 
Automatically generating derived variables for database questions
Derived variables are typically used in cases where database questions do not apply to specific operations. For simple and multiple database questions, derived variables are created on the help fields collection with the default name DBCodes.
For database array questions, derived variable are created on the Array.Fields collection with the default name DBCodes.
Derived questions are generated for database questions if the database questions do not already have any derived variables (otherwise the last derived variables are used). Derived variables are used, instead of the selected database questions, in the following situations:
Adding to a new table/profile
Do one of the following:
Drag the database questions from the Variable Folders pane to the appropriate Add buttons on the Design tab.
Right-click the database questions, and then click an Add item (To Top or To Side for example).
Adding to a filter
Do one of the following:
Drag the database questions from the Variable Folders pane to the Add button on the Filter tab.
Right-click the database questions, and then click Add > To Filter.
Variable Preview
Do one of the following:
Right-click the database questions in the Variable Folders pane, and then click Generate Variable Preview.
Click Variables > Generate Variable Preview.
Editing a user-defined item
Do one of the following:
Drag the database questions from the Variable Folders pane to the Add buttons on the Design tab.
Right-click the database questions, and then click an Add item (To Top or To Side for example).
See also
Derived variable creation for database questions