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About Metadata Files

A metadata file is an XML or JavaScript file that describes the Siebel CRM Desktop application. Siebel CRM Desktop uses these files in the following ways:

• XML files. Describes the default synchronization objects, synchronization mapping, custom views and forms in Microsoft Outlook, and so forth.
• JavaScript files. Describes business logic that Siebel CRM Desktop uses for data validation, custom actions that Siebel CRM Desktop provides access to in toolbars, and other custom processing that Siebel CRM Desktop performs in Microsoft Outlook.

The following items describe how Siebel CRM Desktop uses metadata files with a customization package:

• A customization package contains a collection of metadata files. These files describe the entire Siebel CRM Desktop application that you deploy to Microsoft Outlook.
• A customization package consists of a set of metadata files.
• Siebel CRM Desktop requires that a customization package include a minimum number of files. These files are described in About Files in the Customization Package.
• You can use a single metadata file with more than one customization package. These metadata files can be part of another customization package. Figure 5 illustrates this relationship where the same metadata file occurs in different packages. For example, packages 1 and 3 include metadata file 2.
• Siebel CRM Desktop associates a customization package with a single Siebel responsibility. It associates a user with the responsibility as a way to acquire access to the customization package and the Siebel CRM Desktop configuration that you deploy to Microsoft Outlook.

For more information, see About Files in the Customization Package.

How Siebel CRM Desktop Reuses, Modifies, and Updates Metadata Files

Siebel CRM Desktop associates each customization package with a collection of metadata files, and it can associate each metadata file with more than one customization package.

After Siebel CRM Desktop associates a metadata file with an active deployment package, you cannot modify the metadata file. To create a new metadata file, you can export, modify, and then reimport the metadata file. Even though multiple customization packages can reference the same metadata files, it is typical for one or more metadata files that different customization packages use to contain different information.

For example, the Microsoft Outlook Sales Representative responsibility is different and separate from the Microsoft Outlook Sales Manager responsibility. Although you can use an existing responsibility and associate it with a customization package, it is recommended that you create a new responsibility. This technique provides you with more control over which users Siebel CRM Desktop associates with which customization package.

For more information, see Republishing a Customization Package.