The ReportWeaver Schema File

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The XML schema file

ReportWeaver uses Java's reflection to analyze the classes for reporting. It uses the schema file for directions which classes must be analyzed.

The schema file is optional, without it ReportWeaver reads the schema from the database, and turns all normal classes into root extents. (A root extent is the equivalent of a table in a relational database. It contains all instances of one class)

However the number of classes and attributes found may be very large. To many users this is confusing, because there are many more classes/attributes than needed. To reduce the set of classes/attributes the schema generation process can be controlled by the XML configuration file. In this case the configuration file can specify views for the classes, which hide or rename members. Because the physical class can be hidden completely this layer is called the curtain definition.

Use the schema file if you want to be more specific in what and how you access your data. You can provide directions for packages, roots, classes and their members.

This is a minimal schema definition file:

<com.qintsoft.joria.datasources.cachegeneric hideAutomaticExtentRoots="false">
  <package name="topPackage.businessclasses" hidePackageName="yes"/>
</com.qintsoft.joria.datasources.cachegeneric>

The first line make it as an xml file that contains a schema definition for Caché generic access (Language independent). The top level element is com.qintsoft.joria.datasources.cachegeneric. It specifies a configuration parameter, which is explained in the reference section. It contains one package elements which declares that only classes from this package (and its subpackages) are visible.

Schema File Basics

Writing the shema file is simple, and the file is usually short. You only need to specify the special cases.

Per default, ReportWeaver displays all public properties, of all classes in the specified namespace.

The things you can modify with the schema file are:

 

Element/Attribute Reference

Top level element com.qintsoft.joria.datasources.cachegeneric

Top level element of a schema defnition. It contains the package elements.

Attributes:

hideAutomaticExtentRoots
Whether all classes shall appear as root-extents. Set to true if you want to enable each extent on a case by case basis.

Element package

Defines the visibility of classes in a package. If one package element appears, all packages that are not specified are not included. If you specify a package all sub-packages are included as well, unless they are excluded with thei own package specification.

Attributes:

name
The name of the package.
hidePackageName
Whether the package name shall be omitted from classes in this package. This makes class names much more readable. Please be aware, that if a class name appears in different packages, ReportWeaver detects a name clash. You can prevent this by with a class element, that specifies a different name for one of the clashing classes.
hide
Hides a sub-packages that would otherwise be included, because its parent package has been included.

Element root

Defines a special root. Special roots use the results of a class-method of Caché.

Attributes:

name
The name of the root.
displayname
Specifies a different name that is shown to the user.
method
The method to be called to get the root object(s) for the report. The return type does not have to be persistent. It can also be a dynamically allocated object.
cacheclass
The cache class where the method is defined that shall be used.
returnscollection
Whether the method returns a collection or a single object.
returntype
The type (cache class) returned by the method. In the case of a collection, please specify the element type.
parameter
A string parameter, that is passed to the method. If this is not specified, the method may not have a parameter.

Element class

Defines how a class shall be accessed. The attributes specify what shall be done with the class as a whole. The sub elements specify the behaviour of the members.

Attributes:

name
The name of the class.
displayname
Specifies a different name that is shown to the user.
hidden
Hides the class. Use this if other classes in the package shall be shown, but this one shall not be displayed. If hidden is specified all other attributes are ignored.
showExtent
Whether to show an extent for this class. use this if you have turned of automatic extents (in the element com.qintsoft.joria.datasources.cachegeneric).
transient
Specify this if the class does not appear in the database. This can be useful to create a class that serves as a container for methods.
showOnlySpecifiedMembers
Whether all members or only the members listed as subelements shall be shown.
baseClasses
Specifies which base classes shall be searched for inherited members. If this is not specified all base classes are searched.

Element field

Specifies extra information about a field. This element must appear as a sub-element of class

Attributes:

name
The name of the field.
displayname
Specifies a different name that is shown to the user.
type
The type of the field. Specify it if the type information in the database is to general.
picture
Treat this field as a picture. The field must be a String or a byte array, that is either a gif, png or jpeg image. If it is a string it will be interpreted as a file name, that is loaded when run. The file name is subjected to the defined file mapping.

Element method

Specifies that the return value of a cache object method shall appear as a member. This element must appear as a sub-element of class

Attributes:

name
The name of the member.
displayname
Specifies a different name that is shown to the user.
returnscollection
Whether the method returns a collection or a single object.
returntype
The type (cache class) returned by the method. In the case of a collection, please specify the element type.
parameter
A string parameter, that is passed to the method. If this is not specified, the method may not have a parameter.
expensive
Specifies a hint, that the results of theis method should be cached if possible.
picture
Treat this member as a picture. The member must be a byte array, that is either a gif, png or jpeg image.
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