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Specialized Classes

A class property gives an object access to specific functionality. The class refers to a dynamic-link library (DLL) that is installed on the client or server machine and holds the required functionality. You can use Siebel Tools to view Class and DLL objects. If you need to make these objects visible in Siebel Tools, see Siebel Tools Reference.

NOTE:  When referring to a DLL on a UNIX system, its equivalent is a SO file.

Because the functionality for specialized classes is not published, you must understand what specialized classes represent and how to use them most effectively. Using the class property incorrectly can cause issues whose cause is difficult to determine. For example, records may be added randomly to the database, records may be deleted, or run time errors may occur. In general, the class property should be used with extreme care.

The following objects have a class property and can be configured using Siebel Tools:

NOTE:  You need to use only the class property of an object when copying existing business components or applets.

Most of the standard business components have a class property of either CSSBusComp or CSSBCBase. The most fundamental class is CSSBusComp, from which CSSBCBase is derived. All other classes used for business components are derived from one of these two classes. This base class provides common functionality across all business components, including record navigation, business component events, undo, merge, search, and sort. CSSBCBase adds functionality to CSSBusComp that is associated with using the Siebel State Model, and allows the use of user properties such as Deep Copy and Deep Delete. It is recommended that you use CSSBusComp for all new business components and CSSBCBase if expected functionality is not available. CSSBusComp and CSSBCBase are not classified as specialized classes.

The rest of the supplied business components are based on classes that are derived from either CSSBusComp or CSSBCBase. For example, the Person Forecast business component has the class property set as CSSBCRevenueForecast, which is derived from CSSBCMstrFcstChild, which in turn is derived from CSSBusComp. You can view these relationships in Siebel Tools. This class dictates that each time users submit their current forecast, a new forecast record is created. The class controls this behavior and it cannot be altered through configuration. These remaining classes are considered specialized classes.

When you copy a business component, understand that you are not only copying fields, MVLs, or Pickmaps, but also specialized functionality, of which you cannot be certain.

The following guidelines can help you determine if and when you need to adjust a class property.


 Configuration Guidelines 
 Published: 18 April 2003