Oracle Commerce Platform - Dynamic Metadata Repository

Dynamic Metadata Repository

You create dynamic item types and properties by creating metadata items in the dynamic metadata repository (/atg/repository/dynamic/DynamicMetadataRepository). These metadata items store the data that is used to generate the dynamic item types and properties. The descriptors for these items types and properties are generated when the metadata items are checked in (on the Content Administration server) or deployed (on the staging or production server).

The dynamic metadata repository has three item types:

das_gsa_dynamic_type – To create a dynamic item subtype, you create an item of type das_gsa_dynamic_type. The item has properties whose values identify the name of the dynamic subtype, the parent item type, and the repository.
das_gsa_dynamic_prop – To create a dynamic property (either of an existing static type or of a dynamic subtype), you create an item of type das_gsa_dynamic_prop. The item has properties whose values identify the name of the dynamic property, the item descriptor it is a property of, the repository, and the data type of the property.
das_gsa_dynamic_attr – To set an attribute of a dynamic item subtype or dynamic property, you create an item of type das_gsa_dynamic_attr. Each attribute you set requires a separate das_gsa_dynamic_attr item. The item has properties whose values identify the name of the attribute, the dynamic item subtype or dynamic property it is an attribute of, the repository, and the data type of the attribute.

So, for example, to generate a dynamic property for the sku item type in the product catalog repository, you create an item of type das_gsa_dynamic_prop in the dynamic metadata repository. To generate a subtype of the sku item type, you create an item of type das_gsa_dynamic_type in the dynamic metadata repository, and create subtype-specific properties as items of type das_gsa_dynamic_prop. To specify the attributes of these dynamic subtypes and dynamic properties, you create items of type das_gsa_dynamic_attr.

To create items in the dynamic metadata repository, use the startSQLRepository script to import data specified in repository XML files. For example, an XML file for creating a das_gsa_dynamic_type item would include:

<add-item item-descriptor="das_gsa_dynamic_type" ...>

The Importing Dynamic Item Types and Properties section shows examples of XML files for creating, modifying, and deleting das_gsa_dynamic_type, das_gsa_dynamic_prop, and das_gsa_dynamic_attr items. The tables below describe key properties of these item types that you can set, and how their values are used to generate dynamic item types and properties. Use this information when you write XML import files for creating dynamic item types and properties.

Properties of the das_gsa_dynamic_type item type:

id

The repository ID of the das_gsa_dynamic_type item. You can either specify this value explicitly or omit it and a value will be assigned automatically when the item is created.

repository

The full pathname of the repository for the dynamic subtype. For example, for a subtype of the product item type, this would be /atg/commerce/catalog/ProductCatalog.

type_name

The name of the dynamic subtype. For example, for a subtype of the product item type, this might be electricalProduct.

item_descriptor

The parent item type of the dynamic subtype. This can be either a dynamic or static item type. For example, for an electricalProduct subtype of the static product item type, set this to product. For a solarElectricalProduct subtype of the electricalProduct subtype, set this to electricalProduct.

Properties of the das_gsa_dynamic_prop item type:

id

The repository ID for the das_gsa_dynamic_prop item. You can either specify this value explicitly or omit it and a value will be assigned automatically when the item is created.

data_type

The repository data type of the dynamic property. This can be one of the following: string, big string, float, double, int, date, enumerated, timestamp, boolean, long. See Backing Map Properties for more information.

property_name

The name of the dynamic property.

item_descriptor

The item type that the dynamic property applies to. This can be either a static or a dynamic item type.

repository

The full pathname of the repository for the dynamic property. For example, for a property of the product item type, this would be /atg/commerce/catalog/ProductCatalog.

enumeration_order

Used only if data_type is enumerated. Specifies the enumerated values and their ordering. For example, [blue,green,red].

Properties of the das_gsa_dynamic_attr item type:

id

The repository ID for the das_gsa_dynamic_attr item. You can either specify this value explicitly or omit it and a value will be assigned automatically when the item is created.

attribute_name

The name of the attribute.

data_type

The repository data type of the attribute. Typically set to string.

property_name

The name of the dynamic property the attribute is associated with. Should be null if the attribute is associated with a dynamic subtype.

item_descriptor

If the attribute is associated with a dynamic subtype, set this to the name of the subtype. If the attribute is associated with a dynamic property, set this to the static item type or dynamic subtype that the property applies to.

repository

The full pathname of the repository for the dynamic property or subtype the attribute is associated with. For example, for a property of the product item type, this would be /atg/commerce/catalog/ProductCatalog.

value

The value of the attribute.

is_dynamic_property

Set to true if the attribute is associated with a dynamic property. Omit this property if the attribute is associated with a dynamic subtype.

Dynamic Metadata Repository

Content Administration Programming Guide