Object Definitions and Instances

Object definitions are stored in a Library, either in an Application Area or a Domain. To use an object definition of any type—Table, Program, Load Set, for example—you must create an instance of it in a Work Area and install the instance to the database.

The instance is itself a defined object. Oracle LSH includes a predefined object instance type corresponding to each primary definitional object type: Table instance, Load Set instance, Program instance, Report Set instance, Workflow instance, Data Mart instance, and Business Area instance. An instance object contains only a pointer to the definition, a name, description, and, depending on the object type, may have a few other characteristics.

Secondary object types, such as Source Code and Parameter, also have a corresponding predefined object instance type: Source Code instance, Parameter instance. For information on primary and secondary Oracle LSH object definitions and instances, see the chapter on each primary object type in the Oracle Life Sciences Data Hub Application Developer's Guide. Also see Object Types with Operations and Object Ownership.