Re: [binarycloud-dev] entity definition format

[John P. C. <jp...@jp...>]

On Sun, Aug 19, 2001 at 01:49:25PM -0400, John Donagher wrote:
> On Sun, 19 Aug 2001, Andreas Aderhold wrote:
> 
> > OK, will that work for the 4NF ?

> > i.e. "get all interest names for user with this id"
> > 
> > user_id
> > user_interests -> userinterests
> > 
> > userinterests:
> > user_id
> > interest_id-> interests
> > 
> > interests:
> > interest_id
> > interest_desc
> > 

This seems like an example of a multi-lined "owned object".  I didn't go back
and read the original mail, so I hope this is useful.  There would be 3 
entities: user, userinterest, interest.  The owned object would be 
"userinterest", with a parententity of user.  In the parent entity, you 
define how a parent relates to it's "owned objects" like this:

'ownedobjects' => array (
	'fkey'		=> 'PATH1', // from userinterest
	'invfkey'	=> 'PATH2', // from user
	'entity'	=> 'userinterest', // the ownedobject entity
	'path'		=> 'USERINTERESTS', // how to reference from the parent object
)  

and in the owned object entity:

'parententity' => 'user'

Once all the meta data work is done, then all the linking of user and
userinterests will be done automatically (thanks to ent2qry).  There will 
also be a ready made multiline UI for choosing interests to associate with 
this user (assuming the user layout file is correct).  

More concrete examples can be given as needed.

HTH,

jpc