Ordering component definitions

When you create a set of component definitions, you should work from the bottom up, and define child components before defining the components in which they are referenced.

The order in which component definitions are created is important when you load the component definitions into the database using the MedML Installer utility. When the MedML Installer utility processes a compound component, the child components referenced in the parent component definition must be present in the database. If the child components are not in the database, the MedML Installer utility cannot create the parent component.

You can organize study component definitions in any way that is convenient, as long as you follow the component order described in Creating an XML file, and you can create multiple study component definition XML files. If you separate study component definitions into multiple files, load them in a sequence that maintains the prescribed component order.