Embedding a Profile Definition in the Profiles Resource

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You can use the Profiles resource to associate profiles. You can use associated profiles to collect related data with different profile definitions. For example, if you associate the Address profile definition with the User Object profile definition, you can collect address data for each user. You can also perform this task using the Profile Definition Designer module in Commerce Server Business Desk. For information about embedding the Address profile definition and the User Object profile definition, see Embedded Profile Definitions.

For example, you can add three properties to the User Object profile definition, and use them to reference three instances of the Address profile definition (billing, shipping, and home address). This would enable you to use the Address profile definition to collect user address information on your Web site, while having the name of the address profile for the user stored in the user profile, so that you can present the data in the profiles together on your Web site and in reports.

To embed a profile definition

  1. Expand Commerce Server Manager, expand Global Resources, expand Profiles, expand Profile Catalog, expand Profile Definitions, and then click the profile definition to which you want to add a profile definition.

  2. In the profile designer screen, in the Properties list, expand the property group to which you want to add the new property, and then click Add.

  3. In the Add -- Web Page Dialog dialog box, select Add a new property, and then click OK.

  4. In the profile designer screen, in the Attributes section, do the following:

    Use this To do this
    Name Type the programmatic name for the property. The name can contain a maximum of 127 alphanumeric characters and the underscore (_) symbol. The name cannot contain spaces.
    Display Name Type the display name you want displayed in Business Desk. The display name can contain a maximum of 127 Unicode characters.
    Description Type a description for the property. The description can contain a maximum of 127 Unicode characters.
    Type Select Profile from the Type drop-down list.
    Type Reference Click the ellipsis [...] button to open the Profile Selection dialog box. In the SelectaProfile list, expand the Profile Catalog, and then select the profile definition you want to add to the property.

  5. To add the sDisplayColumn custom attribute, in the Custom Attributes section, click New, and then do the following:

    Use this To do this
    Name Type sDisplayColumn.

    Ee825456.note(en-US,CS.20).gifNote

    • This attribute is case-sensitive.
    Display name Type Column name.
    Description Type a description of the attribute.
    Value Type the value of the attribute. The value of this column attribute determines the relative width of the column for the property in the Find screen.

  6. Click Accept.

  7. To add the sFriendlyName custom attribute, in the Custom Attributes section, click New, and then do the following:

    Use this To do this
    Name Type sFriendlyName.

    Ee825456.note(en-US,CS.20).gifNote

    • This attribute is case-sensitive.
    Display name Type Friendly name.
    Description Type a description of the attribute.
    Value The value of the sFriendlyName attribute is not used.

  8. Click Accept.

  9. To apply the embedded property, click Apply.

    The profile definition is assigned to the property.

  10. To save the profile definition, click Save on the toolbar.

The profile definition is saved with the property change.

See Also

Profile Definitions

Adding Properties to Profile Definitions in the Profiles Resource

Creating Site Terms in the Profiles Resource

Profiling System Objects

Profile Schema

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