Virtual Tables

Virtual Tables

A Virtual Table is designed for scenarios where you want to display a subset of your data or restrict access to certain information for specific user groups based on your Master (main) Table. The key difference between a Master Table and a Virtual Table lies in their purpose, a Master Table serves as the single source of truth, containing the complete dataset and structure which you can create a Virtual Table from.  This allows you to efficiently manage and customize the data shown as needed!

Use Cases

  1. I have uploaded my locations file that includes sites with different statuses, but I want to display only my Open and Closed locations on my Sitewise Map.  How can I achieve this? 
  2. My master table has multiple attributes that I don't want our Lite users to be able to access such as Sales. Is there a way to restrict this? 
  3. I have a polygon table loaded into Sitewise that covers territories we are currently reviewing. Can I split this out based on status?  
Keep reading to discover how to set up virtual tables to unlock the full potential of your data! 

Creating a Virtual Table 

  1. Click on the gear icon  in the top right corner. 
  2. Select ‘Settings’ from the dropdown menu. 
  3. Select ‘Tables’ from the pop-up screen. 
  4. Click on the Create Virtual table icon  in the top right corner of the pop-up.  
  5. Give your virtual table a name.  
    1. The recommended format to follow is “[Original Table Name] VT – [Filter/Description]”.
      2. NotesFor Example: If you have a Master Table named "ABC Locations" then your virtual table would be named “ABC Locations VT – Open”.
  6. From the Create a Virtual Copy From Table dropdown, select the table you want to create a VT from.   
  7. Tick off the appropriate options as needed:  
    1. Editable: allows users (who have write access) to move the locations, edit attributes or add/delete records. 
    2. Enable Attachments: allow users to attach files to records in this table such as an image of a site. 
    3. Shared: choose which groups to share the data/table with. 
      1. Read access: Users will only be able to view the data/sites. 
      2. Write access: Gives users the ability to edit the records ONLY IF Editable option is also selected. 
  8. Leave the reference name blank. This is a field that the Sitewise team will utilize if required. 
  9. Apply a filter: You can filter based on any of the attributes in the table you chose. Make sure to choose the relational operator ‘In List’. This reduces the risk of user error as it enables you to select from the predetermined options based on the current table. As you type, the options will appear for selection. If you want to add more filters from different attributes, click the + button to the right. With multiple filters, you can choose whether you want to match all or just any one of the expressions.
  10. Click Save. This table is now saved to your account and can be used in your maps.
Notes
Note:  If you want to filter for options that you will be manually adding to the table in the future. Then select ‘=’ and type the options separated by a comma. 
InfoA Virtual Table cannot be exported out of the platform because it is a view of the data from the Master Table to facilitate visualization. If you need to work with this subset of data outside Sitewise, you can export the Master Table and recreate the Virtual Table by applying the same filters in an external tool like Excel. 

To learn how to add a virtual table to your mapset, follow the steps in Adding Data to a Mapset. If you wish to edit the data in your layer, please refer to the Working with Point and Polygon Data guide.
NotesNote: Keep in mind that any edits made to a virtual table, such as adding and deleting records will affect the master table since they are linked. 

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