40 Configuring a Relational Many-to-Many Mapping

This chapter describes the various components that you must configure in order to use a relational many-to-many mapping.

For more information, see the following:

Table 40-1 lists the configurable options for a relational many-to-many mapping.

Relational Many-to-Many Mapping Configuration Overview

Table 40-1 lists the configurable options for a relational many-to-many mapping.

Table 40-1 Configurable Options for Relational Many-to-Many Mapping

Option	Type	TopLink Workbench	Java
"Configuring Reference Descriptor"	Basic
"Configuring Method Accessing"	Advanced
"Configuring Read-Only Mappings"	Advanced
"Configuring Private or Independent Relationships"	Advanced
"Configuring Batch Reading"	Advanced
"Configuring Indirection"	Advanced
"Configuring Bidirectional Relationship"	Basic
"Configuring Container Policy"	Basic
"Configuring Mapping Comments"	Advanced
"Configuring a Relation Table"	Basic
"Configuring Table and Field References (Foreign and Target Foreign Keys)" (Source)	Basic
"Configuring Table and Field References (Foreign and Target Foreign Keys)" (Target)	Basic
"Configuring Query Key Order"	Advanced

Configuring a Relation Table

The relation table contains the columns for the primary keys of the source table and target table involved in the many-to-many mapping. You must create this table in the database before completing the mapping. See "Working With Databases" for information on creating database tables.

In Figure 33-5, the PROJ_EMP table serves as the relation table between the PROJECT and EMPLOYEE tables.

Using TopLink Workbench

To select a relation table for a mapping, use this procedure:

Select the mapped attribute in the Navigator. Its properties appear in the Editor.
Click the General tab. The General tab appears.

Figure 40-1 Table Reference Tab, Relation Table Option

Description of "Figure 40-1 Table Reference Tab, Relation Table Option"

Use the Relation Table field to select a database table to define this mapping.