Canvases View
Canvases free you from the reins of a typical legacy system and allow you to work with your data the way you want to. In the world of large complex financial software you often need to analyse possible different scenarios with your data and you want to do so safe from changing the real underlying data. Canvases deliver that to you and so much more.
Canvas Features
Any canvas you create is effectively an instant entire copy of the live system that you can safely play around with. You don't need to worry about any of your changes impacting the main system - they are completely isolated.
Canvases are also private by default and can be deleted when you are done using them. If you want other to use the same canvas, you can make it public.
Canvases come in two different styles:
- Standard (the default): This Canvas runs on top of the latest data from the main system.
- Locked As Of A Date: This Canvas runs on top of the data from the main system as of a point in time.
Tip
Using a Locked As Of A Date Canvas is effectively the same as saying the Canvas runs with data that is an entire copy of the main system As Of that date/time.
This Canvas has the added advantage over an actual copy, that you can move the Lock As Of Date and the Canvas will then layer your changes on top of the data from the main system as of the new date/time.
Using a Standard Canvas has the advantage that you're always seeing the latest data from the main system and pulling that into your canvas.
Caution
Note: Running in a canvas will result in the system running marginally slower than if you were just running in the main system itself. Running a Locked As Of A Date Canvas will run marginally slower still. If you want a canvas just to test importing, or other tests, it is always easier to just run a standard Canvas than one locked in a specific as of date.
Whichever type of canvas you choose, you are able to login and start using it immediately. Canvases are instant copies of your entire system that you can start working with immediately.
Tip
No longer do you need to wonder about "what if" type scenarios - just create a canvas and see.
Canvas Properties
Canvases have the following properties:
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| [Required] [Key] Name |
The unique user friendly name for this canvas |
| Description | A user friendly description of the purpose of this canvas |
| Lock As Of Date | The date/time that the canvas should use to pull data from the main system up to. By default this is blank meaning a canvas always runs on top of the latest data from the main system. By having a Lock As Of Date you are saying the canvas is effectively a copy of the entire system as of that point in time that you can apply changes on top of. |
| Is Public | Indicates if the canvas is accessibly to other users or not. |
Commands
Note
A Canvas has the standard set of commands and functions when being viewed from a grid. See our standard grid functionality.
Tip
Canvases can be marked as either public or private, this too is available from the standard grid commands.