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Computed columns in data entity

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Posted on by @rp@n

Hi all,

What is Computed columns in data entity? What is the use of computed columns? When we exactly used computed columns?

Please give me more shed on this

Thsnks!

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Satish Panwar 14,671 Moderator on at

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Hi..all the information you are looking for is in standard documentation. Take a look at below in this case:

docs.microsoft.com/.../data-entity-computed-columns-virtual-fields

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@rp@n 30 on at

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Thanks Satish,

I have read the docs. I have one doubt.

Could you please let me know why we need computed columns?

Is there any specific data type which can use for computed column only.

Please give me more shed on this

Thanks!

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Satish Panwar 14,671 Moderator on at

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It's an unbounded data field. Mostly used for reads. You read combined data or send /write combined data and then handle that.

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@rp@n 30 on at

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Thanks Satish

Here unbounded data fields means is it picture or static text fields?

Please give me more shed on this

Thanks!

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Sukrut Parab 71,710 Moderator on at

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Unbound fields means not connected to any underlying data source . The data type can be anything out of the available options for example string , integer etc.

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@rp@n 30 on at

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Thanks Sukrut

Based on the above , could please give me one example

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Satish Panwar 14,671 Moderator on at

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The standard documentation has one example...

We want the output to be in specifoc format...that's achieved by computed column. Check method formatNameAndAddress(). Then see how it's used in last section.

docs.microsoft.com/.../data-entity-computed-columns-virtual-fields

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André Arnaud de Cal... 301,119 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @rp@n,

Another example would be handling some reference fields. E.g. I have had a scenario where a table has two reference fields to a table ID and a field ID. As these can be different per environment, the computed column was able to export the table and field name. During the import, it looked up the table and field ID for that environment.

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@rp@n 30 on at

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Thanks Andre,

Could you please give me example based on above. I understand but still doubt

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Blue Wang on at

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Hi @rp@n,

It is mainly used for unmapped fields.

For example, you can query or calculate the value of some fields through SQL, such as sum or avg. At this time, you can add calculated fields to the entity to calculate and display it.
Assuming your table has an annual salary column, you can return through the view, and you can get your monthly salary through salary / 12.

You can add the computed column to the select list of columns only.

Regarding examples, it is used in many entities, such as PSAActualEntity.

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