Select Records
Description
The Select Records activity retrieves records from a specified database table and returns the results as an IbDataTable.
It provides a simple, UI-based way to select columns, define filter conditions, sort records, and limit the number of records returned without writing SQL queries.
Use Select Records for retrieving data from a specific database table using UI-based configuration.
For advanced data retrieval involving joins, subqueries, aggregations, Common Table Expressions (CTEs), or other custom SQL, use the Execute Query activity.
Common Capabilities
Process Data Support
This activity supports dynamic configuration using variables from the Process Data Drawer.
You can bind values from Model Data, Form Data, System Data, Enterprise Variables, and Activity Outputs.
Learn more → Using Process Data
Design-Time Configuration
The following properties define how the activity connects to the database and retrieves records.
Connection Type
Specifies the database engine (for example, SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL). Selecting the correct type ensures compatibility with the target database.
Connection Name
Select a preconfigured database connection that defines the server, credentials, and security settings.
Schema
Specifies the database schema that contains the target table.
Table Name
Specifies the database table from which records will be retrieved.
Columns
Specifies the columns to retrieve from the selected database table.
Select only the columns required by the workflow to avoid retrieving unnecessary data.
Leave this empty to retrieve all columns from the table.
Filter
Defines optional conditions used to determine which records are retrieved from the selected table.
Use the Filter Expression builder to configure filter conditions without writing SQL.
If no filter is specified, records are retrieved without applying filter conditions, subject to the configured Max Records value.
Sort Columns
Specifies how the retrieved records should be sorted.
Select one or more columns and specify the required sort direction, such as ascending or descending.
Max Records
Specifies the maximum number of records to return.
Using an appropriate limit is recommended when working with large database tables to avoid retrieving unnecessary data and consuming excessive system resources.
Timeout
Specifies the maximum time (in seconds) that the activity will wait for the select operation to complete.
The default value is 600 seconds.
Outputs
DataTable
Returns an IbDataTable containing the records retrieved from the selected database table.
The returned DataTable can be passed directly to other activities that accept IbDataTable, or used for further processing within the workflow.
If no records match the configured selection criteria, the DataTable will contain no rows.
Wait All Incoming
Controls how this activity behaves when multiple incoming execution paths converge.
Determines whether the activity executes when:
- any incoming path completes, or
- all relevant paths have completed before execution
Learn more → Execution Control
On Error
Defines how the workflow behaves if this activity encounters a runtime error.
Supported strategies include Fault, Continue, Suspend, and Retry.