Siebel CRM Desktop for IBM Notes Administration Guide > How Siebel CRM Desktop Works > Metadata That Siebel CRM Desktop Uses >

About Metadata Files

A metadata file is an XML, DXL, or JavaScript file that Siebel CRM Desktop uses to display Siebel CRM data and user interface behavior. CRM Desktop uses these files in the following ways:

• XML files. Describes the default synchronization objects, synchronization mapping, custom views and forms in IBM Notes, and so on.
• DXL files. Includes design elements that IBM Notes uses to display an object. For example, it uses a DXL file to display the Sharing Bar on a predefined IBM Notes calendar entry form.
• JavaScript files. Describes business logic that CRM Desktop uses for data validation, custom actions that it provides access to in toolbars, and other custom processing that it does in IBM Notes.

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

• A customization package includes a collection of metadata files. These files describe the entire CRM Desktop add-in that you deploy to IBM Notes.
• A customization package consists of a set of metadata files.
• CRM Desktop requires that a customization package include a minimum number of files. These files are described in 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.
• CRM Desktop creates a relationship between a customization package and a single Siebel responsibility. It creates a relationship between the user and this responsibility so that the user can access the customization package and the CRM Desktop configuration that you deploy to IBM Notes.

For more information, see Files in the Customization Package.

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

Siebel CRM Desktop creates a relationship between each customization package and a collection of metadata files, and it can use each metadata file with more than one customization package. You cannot modify the metadata file after CRM Desktop creates a relationship between this metadata file and an active deployment package. You can export, modify, and then reimport the metadata file to create a new metadata file. Although multiple customization packages can reference the same metadata files, one or more metadata files typically use different customization packages that include different information.

For example, the IBM Notes Sales Representative responsibility is different and separate from the IBM Notes Sales Manager responsibility. Although you can create a relationship between an existing responsibility and a customization package, it is recommended that you create a new responsibility. This configuration provides you with more control in determining the users that CRM Desktop uses with a customization package.

For more information, see Using the Windows Registry to Control Siebel CRM Desktop.