Class Definition Meta-data
The Class meta-data contains attributes used to define a class. The OLE DB Provider for Commerce Server creates the tables and links required to store the class information based on the attribute values. A class defines a set of logically related data. Classes typically model physical objects (user, product, server, organization) or conceptual entities (visit, Web hit, event). Classes are combined into logical structures through class relations.
For an overview of the logical grouping of these classes into primary business categories, see Primary Business Categories.
For information about creating a new class, see Creating a New Class.
The following table shows the attributes used for the class definitions. A set of these attributes is stored in the ClsDef table for each class defined.
| Attribute | Data Type | Constraint | Requirement | Description |
| ClassDefID | int | NOT NULL | Leave blank | Stores the unique identifier for the class. |
| BaseClassName | nvarchar (128) | NULL | Optional | Stores the name of the base class. Used for aggregations. |
| CatalogID | int | NULL | Leave blank | Stores the identifier for the schema catalog. |
| CatalogName | nvarchar (128) | NULL | Leave blank | Stores the name of the schema catalog, "DWSchema." |
| ClassDefName | nvarchar (128) | NULL | Required | Stores the name of the class. |
| ClassGUID | varbinary (16) | NULL | Leave blank | Stores the GUID for the class. |
| ClassType | smallint | NULL | Optional | Stores the class type. Valid types are:
0 = cdtNone |
| CreatedTime | datetime | NULL | Leave blank | Stores the time the class was created. |
| DefaultParentURL | nvarchar (128) | NULL | Leave blank | Stores the default parent URL for the class. |
| DefaultTableName | nvarchar (128) | NULL | Leave blank | Stores the default table name associated with the class. If this is left blank or if GenerateTableDef = True, the name of the class is used. |
| Description | nvarchar (128) | NULL | Optional | Stores the description of the class for potential UI display. |
| DisplayName | nvarchar (128) | NULL | Optional | Stores the name used for potential UI display. |
| GenerateIdentity | tinyint | NULL | Leave blank | True (1) indicates the ID for the class will be generated automatically. |
| GenerateKeyDef | tinyint | NULL | 1 | True (1) indicates the class key definition will be generated automatically. |
| GeneratePartitionDef | tinyint | NULL | Leave blank | True (1) indicates the partition definition will be generated automatically. |
| GenerateTableDef | tinyint | NULL | Leave blank | True (1) indicates the table definition will be generated automatically. |
| IdSize | int | NULL | Leave blank | Stores the size of the identifier data in bytes. |
| InstExclusionExpr | nvarchar (128) | NULL | Optional | Used as a filter for aggregations. |
| IsAbstract | tinyint | NULL | 0 | Indicates if the class is abstract. |
| IsActive | tinyint | NULL | 1 | Indicates if the class is active (instances may be added). |
| IsPersistent | tinyint | NULL | 1 | Indicates if the class is persisted in the underlying data store. |
| IsReadOnly | tinyint | NULL | 0 | Indicates if the class is read-only. |
| IsTransactioned | tinyint | NULL | Optional for PROFILING SYSTEM.
Leave blank for Analysis |
Used by the Profiling System. |
| IsUIDeletedEnabled | tinyint | NULL | Reserved. | |
| MajorVersion | int | NULL | Optional | Stores the major version number for the class. |
| MinorVersion | int | NULL | Optional | Stores the minor version number for the class. |
| ModifiedTime | datetime | NULL | Leave blank | Stores the last time the class was modified. |
| PartCriteriaExpr | nvarchar (128) | NULL | Leave blank | Not used. |
| PartitionID | int | NULL | Leave blank | Reserved. |
| PartitionName | nvarchar (128) | NULL | Leave blank | Stores the name of the default partition for the class. |
| PartViewName | nvarchar (128) | NULL | Leave blank | Reserved. |
| SourceDefName | nvarchar (128) | NULL | Required | Stores the name of the data source. |
| SourceID | int | NULL | Leave blank | Stores the identifier for the data source. |
| Status | int | NULL | Leave blank | Reserved. |