Metadata Plus
Describes Metadata Plus (MDP) 2.0, which is the underlying default storage engine for purchase orders and subscriptions in Optimizely Commerce Connect 13.
MDP lets you extend any system object with a series of meta-fields. It is similar to object-oriented programming. For example, in object-oriented programming, you can create a base Order class, and then a Purchase Order Type object called PurchaseOrder, which inherits its properties and adds specific fields.
The root meta-class is based on a database table called system meta-class. Consider that an abstract meta-class which you must extend to use when associating extended new attributes with a new meta-class. Order becomes a system meta-class, and PurchaseOrder becomes a meta-class that you can extend.
The instance of the meta-class that holds values is called meta-object.
Name | Description |
---|---|
Binary | MSSQL Common Type |
Bit | MSSQL Common Type |
Char | MSSQL Common Type |
DateTime | MSSQL Common Type |
Decimal | MSSQL Common Type |
Float | MSSQL Common Type |
Image | MSSQL Common Type |
Int | MSSQL Common Type |
Money | MSSQL Common Type |
NChar | MSSQL Common Type |
NText | MSSQL Common Type |
NVarChar | MSSQL Common Type |
Real | MSSQL Common Type |
UniqueIdentifier | MSSQL Common Type |
SmallDateTime | MSSQL Common Type |
SmallInt | MSSQL Common Type |
SmallMoney | MSSQL Common Type |
Text | MSSQL Common Type |
Timestamp | MSSQL Common Type |
TinyInt | MSSQL Common Type |
VarBinary | MSSQL Common Type |
VarChar | MSSQL Common Type |
Variant | MSSQL Common Type |
Numeric | MSSQL Common Type |
Sysname | MSSQL Common Type |
Integer | Metadata Type |
Boolean | Metadata Type |
Date | Metadata Type |
Metadata Type | |
URL | Metadata Type |
ShortString | Metadata Type |
LongString | Metadata Type |
LongHtmlString | Metadata Type |
DictionarySingleValue | Metadata Type |
DictionaryMultiValue | Metadata Type |
EnumSingleValue | Metadata Type |
EnumMultiValue | Metadata Type |
StringDictionary | Metadata Type |
File | Metadata Type |
ImageFile | Metadata Type |
MetaObject | Metadata Type |
Not all properties have a visual designer associated with them, but you can use all of them to extend the meta-class.
The MDP is designed to give the resulting database structure the fastest performance. When a meta-class is created, the container data table and history tables are created with a corresponding set of stored procedures and full text indexes (if full text functionality is enabled). The appropriate indexes are also put.
Meta-fields and Meta-classes
Meta-fields
Meta-fields describe different properties associated with an element inside Optimizely Commerce Connect. You can create a meta-field of any type supported by Metadata Plus.
Meta-classes
Commerce Connect uses meta-classes to describe different types of elements, such as Categories and Products, that are used in the creation and extension of the commerce solutions developed. Meta-class is a collection of meta-fields. The following types of meta-classes are defined:
- Mediachase.MetaDataPlus.System. Used for the built-in OrderGroup elements of Commerce Connect.
- Mediachase.MetaDataPlus.User. Created when a user defines a new meta-class for a OrderGroup. It is always an extension of one the existing System meta-classes.
Use meta-classes and meta-fields
Understanding the concepts of a meta-class and meta-field, which form the basis for Categories and Products, is important to understand how they work within Commerce Connect fully. For a better understanding of meta-fields and meta-classes, consider an example of creating a product Book. Book has the following properties:
- Name
- ISBN
- Author
- Price
To duplicate this product inside your solution, create a BookClass meta-class with the Entry meta-class as its parent. In this example, BookClass is of type Mediachase.MetaDataPlus.User, and the built-in Product meta-class is of type Mediachase.MetaDataPlus.System.Â
Next, assign the properties of Book to your BookClass by creating a meta-attribute for each Property, then assigning them to your BookClass. For example, the Name property could be a meta-attribute of type ShortString, and Price can be a meta-attribute of type int. After you create these meta-attributes, assign them to your BookClass.
Updated about 1 month ago