Data stores

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Data stores

17min

Data stores allow you to store data from a  or transfer data between individual  or  runs. You can use data stores to store data from apps during  execution. Data stores are similar to a simple database.
How to create a data store
1
In the left sidebar, click Data stores.
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2
Click + Add data store.
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3
Enter settings for the new data store.
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Field
Description
Data store name
Enter the name for the data store. For example, Contacts.
Data structure
A data structure is a list of the columns for a table that indicates the column name and data type.
You have three options:
Select a data structure that has been already created
Leave the field empty
If you don't select a data structure, the database will only contain the primary key. Such a database type is useful if you only want to save keys and are only interested in knowing whether or not a specific key exists in the database.
Add a new data structure
Click the Add button to create a new data structure.
Data storage size in MB
Allocate the size for the data store from your total Internal data storage.
The reserved amount can be changed at any time.
The total internal data storage capacity depends on the plan you have purchased.
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Manage the data structure of a data store
Add a new data structure
During the process of setting up a data store, you can set up a new data structure.
To set up the data structure while adding a data store, click the Add button for the Data structure field
You can access this dialog by clicking the Add button when creating or editing the data store:
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Data structure name
Enter the name for the data structure.
The data structure name is its unique identifier and cannot be changed later.
Specification
There are two options for how you can specify the data store columns.
Click the Add item button to specify the properties of one column manually.
Enter the Name and Type for the data store column and define the corresponding properties.
Use the Generator button to determine the columns from the sample data you provide.
For example, the following JSON sample data creates three columns (name, age, phone number) with phone number as a collection of mobile and landline:
{   "name":"John",
"age":30,
"phone number": {
"mobile":"987654321",
"landline":"123456789"
}
}
Strict
If enabled, the data structure will be compared to the structure of the payload and if the payload contains extra items not specified in the data structure, the payload will be rejected.
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Update the data structure of a data store
Be careful when updating the data structure of a data store. Before updating the structure, make a backup of the data.
Changes in the data structure of a data store might lead to unexpected results. 
When you want to update the data structure of a data store, you should keep in mind that:
The data structure field names are unique identifiers of the data store columns. When you rename a field of a data structure,  cannot retrieve the original data in the data store column, because they use a different column identifier.
You can update the data structure field label anytime without the effects mentioned in the previous point.
The changes to the data store structure apply only to the new data you put in the data store.  doesn't change or validate the original data to fit the updated structure.
The best approach to updating the data structure of a data store is to create temporary fields with copies of your data. Update the data in the temporary fields and make sure they conform to the final data structure.
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Rename a field of the data store structure
You can update the Label of a data store structure field anytime.
To change the data store structure field Name:
1
﻿Create a backup of the data in the data store﻿.
2
Create a field in your data store with the new name.
3
Copy all data from the oroginal column to the new column.
4
Update all data in the original column to empty fields. This step prevents storing the data in the original column alongside the data in the new column.
You have put the data from the original data store column into the new data store column. In addition, you have a data store backup to check that the update was successful.
Change the type of a field of the data store structure
1
﻿Create a backup of the data in the data store﻿.
2
Either create a temporary field for the updated data type, or you can skip this step and update the field type in place.
3
Use a conversion function to update the type of all values in the data store column to the new type. For example, to convert text to date, use the parseDate function.
Actions
Adds or replaces a record in the data store.
Field
Description
Data store
Select or add the data store where you want to create a record.
Key
Enter the unique key. The key can be used later to retrieve the record. If you leave this field blank, the key will be generated.
Overwrite an existing record
Enable this option to overwrite the record. The record you want to overwrite must be specified in the Key field above.
Record
Enter the desired values to the record's fields.
The maximum size of the record in the data store is 15 MB.
The module throws an error when you try to add the record which is already in the data store under the same name and the Overwrite an existing record option is disabled.
Updates a record in the selected data store.
Field
Description
Data store
Select or add the data store where you want to create a record.
Key
Enter the unique key of the record you want to update.
Insert missing record
Enable this option to create a new record if the record with the specified key doesn't already exist.
Record
Enter the desired values to the record's fields that you want to update.
The maximum size of the record in the data store is 15 MB.
Retrieves a record from the selected data store.
Field
Description
Data store
Select the data store you want to retrieve a record from.
Key
Enter the unique key of the record you want to retrieve.
Return Wrapped Output
Choose if you want the output to be returned in the same way that the Search records module returns data.
Returns the value true if the record exists in the specified data store or false if the record doesn't exist in the data store.
Field
Description
Data store
Select the data store you want to check for the record existence.
Key
Enter the key of the record you want to check for existence
Deletes a specified record from the selected data store.
Field
Description
Data store
Select the data store you want to check for the record existence.
Key
Enter the key of the record you want to delete.
Deletes all records from the selected data store.
Field
Description
Data store
Select the data store you want to delete all records from.
Performs a search for records based on filter settings.
Field
Description
Data store
Select the data store you want to check for the record's existence.
Filter
Set the filter for the search.
Select the column, operator and required value (search term) for the search.
If you use the datetime operators, you need to provide a value in a date format. Use the parseDate function for this purpose.
Sort
Key: Select the column name you want to sort the results by.    
Order : Select whether you want to sort results in ascending or descending order.
Limit
Set the maximum number of search results  will return during one execution cycle.
Continue the execution of the route even if the module returns no results
If enabled, the  will not be stopped by this module.
Returns the number of records in the selected data store.
Field
Description
Data store
Select the data store whose records you want to count.
Manage records in a data store
﻿ allows you to view, update, and delete the records in your data store.
1
In the left sidebar, click Data stores.
2
Click Browse next to your data store.
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Click Add to add new records to the data store. You can add multiople records by clicking Add multiople times. Newly inserted records are highlighted in green.
Click an existing field to change it. Changed records are highlighted in yellow.
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Click Save to save all your changes to the data store. Click Discard changes to throw away any changes you have made, including added records and edited records.
You cannot use Discard changes to get back records that you have deleted.
To delete records from your data store, first select the records you want to delete by selecting the check boxes next to the records. Then, click the Delete icon.
You cannot roll back deleted records.
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When you want to make large-scale changes in your data store, like deleting a high number of records or changing the data store structure, you should make a backup of your data first.
There are two options of how to backup the data in your data store with Make:
Create a   
Use the Make API.
To back up your data using a  :
1
Clone the data structure of the original data store. Name the data structure to clearly show that it's for the backup data store.
2
Create a data store with the backup data structure. Name the data store to clearly show that it's a backup of your data.
3
Create a ﻿. Name the  to clearly show that it's for backing up data in the data store.
4
Add the Data Store > Search Records module to the . In the Data Store field, select the data store which contains the data you want to back up.
5
Add the Data Store > Add/Replace Record module to the .
6
Run the .
The backup data store now contains all data from the original data store.
You can reduce the number of operations by using the Text Aggregator and CSV or SQL-processing tools and apps.
Troubleshooting
There is no automated process to restore lost values in your data stores. However, there is a manual approach that you can use to fix the issue.
To locate and restore the missing data:
1
Open the specific scenario where the missing items were stored.
2
Review the execution history and identify the instances where items were inserted into the data store.
3
Copy the identified missing data into your data store.
There are two challenges that occur when you update the data structure of a data store:
When you rename a field of the data structure, the data in the field becomes inaccessible.

If you want to access the data again, add a field to the data store structure with the original field name.

With the data in the original field accessible again, you can follow the steps to update the data store structure﻿.

When you change the type of a field in a data structure, the original data keeps the original data type and the new data has the new type.
Before updating the data structure of a data store, create a backup of your data﻿.
You get this error message if you currently have a datastore that has already been assigned your allocated datastore storage.
You can edit any of your existing data stores to free up space.
1
In the left sidebar, click Data stores.
2
Click Edit next to a data store.
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3
Reduce the data storage size in the Data storage size in MB field.
You can now add a new data store.
Make sure that when you create a new data store you do not assign all of your space to only one record unless you need it.
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Field	Description
Data store name	Enter the name for the data store. For example, Contacts.
Data structure	A data structure is a list of the columns for a table that indicates the column name and data type. You have three options: Select a data structure that has been already created Leave the field empty If you don't select a data structure, the database will only contain the primary key. Such a database type is useful if you only want to save keys and are only interested in knowing whether or not a specific key exists in the database. Add a new data structure Click the Add button to create a new data structure.
Data storage size in MB	Allocate the size for the data store from your total Internal data storage. The reserved amount can be changed at any time. The total internal data storage capacity depends on the plan you have purchased.


Data structure name	Enter the name for the data structure. The data structure name is its unique identifier and cannot be changed later.
Specification	There are two options for how you can specify the data store columns. Click the Add item button to specify the properties of one column manually. Enter the Name and Type for the data store column and define the corresponding properties. Use the Generator button to determine the columns from the sample data you provide. For example, the following JSON sample data creates three columns (name, age, phone number) with phone number as a collection of mobile and landline: { "name":"John", "age":30, "phone number": { "mobile":"987654321", "landline":"123456789" } }
Strict	If enabled, the data structure will be compared to the structure of the payload and if the payload contains extra items not specified in the data structure, the payload will be rejected.

Field	Description
Data store	Select or add the data store where you want to create a record.
Key	Enter the unique key. The key can be used later to retrieve the record. If you leave this field blank, the key will be generated.
Overwrite an existing record	Enable this option to overwrite the record. The record you want to overwrite must be specified in the Key field above.
Record	Enter the desired values to the record's fields. The maximum size of the record in the data store is 15 MB.

Field	Description
Data store	Select or add the data store where you want to create a record.
Key	Enter the unique key of the record you want to update.
Insert missing record	Enable this option to create a new record if the record with the specified key doesn't already exist.
Record	Enter the desired values to the record's fields that you want to update. The maximum size of the record in the data store is 15 MB.

Field	Description
Data store	Select the data store you want to retrieve a record from.
Key	Enter the unique key of the record you want to retrieve.
Return Wrapped Output	Choose if you want the output to be returned in the same way that the Search records module returns data.

Field	Description
Data store	Select the data store you want to check for the record existence.
Key	Enter the key of the record you want to check for existence

Field	Description
Data store	Select the data store you want to check for the record existence.
Key	Enter the key of the record you want to delete.

Field	Description
Data store	Select the data store you want to delete all records from.

Field	Description
Data store	Select the data store you want to check for the record's existence.
Filter	Set the filter for the search. Select the column, operator and required value (search term) for the search. If you use the datetime operators, you need to provide a value in a date format. Use the parseDate function for this purpose.
Sort	Key: Select the column name you want to sort the results by. Order : Select whether you want to sort results in ascending or descending order.
Limit	Set the maximum number of search results will return during one execution cycle.
Continue the execution of the route even if the module returns no results	If enabled, the will not be stopped by this module.

Field	Description
Data store	Select the data store whose records you want to count.

Data stores

Data structures

How to create a data store

Manage the data structure of a data store

Add a new data structure

Update the data structure of a data store

Rename a field of the data store structure

Change the type of a field of the data store structure

Actions

Add/Replace a Record

Update a Record

Get a Record

Check the Existence of a Record

Delete a Record

Delete All Records

Search Records

Count Records

Manage records in a data store

Add or edit records

Delete records

Back up data in the data store

Troubleshooting

Restore lost data from your data store

Update the data store structure

Out of space error