Bookshelf v7.5.2: How a Multi-Value Link Is Constructed

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How a Multi-Value Link Is Constructed

A multi-value link is based on a link object definition; the link is referenced in the Destination Link property of the Multi Value Link object definition. It is the link object definition that specifies the one-to-many relationship between the master and detail business components. The multi-value link object definition performs two roles:

To give fields in the master business component access to primary record field values through the link.

To allow embedding of detail data in the same business component as master data, so both can appear in the same applet.

The object types illustrated in Figure 111 participate in the configuration of a multi-value link.

Figure 111. Multi-Value Link Architecture

The object type box in the diagram labeled (Multi Value) Field indicates that either field or multi-value field is correct for referring to this object type in this context. Multi Value Field is a distinct object type, but only in the sense that it can be accessed in the Object Explorer. It is only a representation of the Field object type. Multi-value fields are those fields that have a non-blank Multi Value Link property and a Multi Valued property value of TRUE; all other fields are single-value fields.

The details of the object definition relationships appear in Figure 112.

Figure 112. Multi-Value Link Details

The roles of the object definitions in Figure 112 are explained in the following list. References to the address example refer to the Account Addresses dialog box illustrated in Figure 109.

Master business component. The master business component is the "master" in the master-detail relationship specified in the link. Fields from this business component are displayed in the applet from which the multi-value group applet is initiated. The master business component in the Account Addresses dialog box example is Account.

NOTE: The Account Addresses dialog box example is illustrated in Figure 109. The explanations of object definitions below refer to this example.

Multi-value fields. Multi-value fields are fields in the master business component that are populated by the current (typically primary) record in the detail business component through the multi-value link and link object definitions. Each of these fields has the name of the multi-value link specified in its Multi Value Link property, and a Multi Valued property setting of TRUE. A multi-value field has a blank Column property setting because its values are obtained from the current record in the detail business component, rather than from the master business component's base table.

Key field. The key field in the master business component is the primary key for that business component. The key field is referenced in the Source Field property of the Link object definition.

Multi Value Link object. The Multi Value Link object definition defines the relationship between the link object definition and fields in the master business component, using the following properties:

Destination Link. Identifies the link.

Destination Business Component. Identifies the detail business component.

Primary Id Field. Identifies the field in the detail business component that designates which record is the primary.

In the example, the multi-value link is called Business Address.

Link. The Link object definition specifies a master-detail relationship between the two business components. The Link object definition can be used in other contexts, such as master-detail views or other multi-value links. The multi-value link identifies the link in its Destination Link property. In the address example, the link is Account and Business Address.

Detail business component. The detail business component supplies the detail records in the master-detail relationship. In the address example, this is Business Address.

Foreign key field. The foreign key field contains row ID values that point back to records in the master business component and uniquely identify the master for each detail business component record. The foreign key field is used in the specification of the link; the link identifies the foreign key field in its Destination Field property. In the address example, the foreign key field is Account Id.

NOTE: There is no foreign key field specified in a link based on an intersection table.

Primary ID field. The primary ID field in the master business component holds the row ID value of the primary record for each multi-value group in the detail business component. It is identified in the Primary Id Field property of the multi-value link. The primary ID field allows the primary detail record to be identified for each master record. For more information, refer to Primary ID Field.