RE: [binarycloud-dev] entity definition format

[Andreas A. <a.a...@th...>]

Hi Alex,

> > 2. i noticed <maxlength> which i can forsee being used for setting a
> > maxlength in a input field (HTML), and for possibly determining the
> > field length in the database.  (is this correct?)  BUT, there was no
>
> Correct on both accounts.
>
> > LENGTH value anywhere.  if HTML forms are to be built on the entities,
> > having a MAXLENGTH as well as a LENGTH would be desired.
>
> Yes, I see your point. I was toying with the idea of associating
> UI controls with each field type. That may still happen, so:
> <!-- look here -->
>             <uicontrol>
>                 <name>TextField</name>
>                 <params>
>                     <length>20</length>
>                 </params>
>             </uicontrol>
>         </field>
Hmm. But isn't that markup stuff something for the template engine/up to the
designer? I'm not quite sure if integrating the UI stuff with the entities
is wise or not.
Imagine you use the size/length attribute of an input field within more
contextes. So you have a from_a with size="20" is fine, in form_b using the
same entitiy size="20" does not fit, you need size="40" in form_c you need
style="width: 80px" and the so on...
Ok, maybe you can override this in the template and the etydef values are
defaults or whatever. Anyway, I think markup stuff does not belong here.

> > 3. could you explain a field PATH a bit?
> path is sort of like the way you ref a table.field_name in sql:
> location.locationid is an entity path that points to a field in an entity.
> it could also be a sql table_name.field_name path - it's intentionally
> similar.
Extremely nice.

<required>
Antoher question. Does the <required /> tag mean "not null" in the database
only or with the form? I think this should not be combined, caus there are
applications you have the db-field defined "not null" (requried) but no
input value coming from the ui whatever, not required or not present.
</required>

Andi