Info Object Classes

Definition

The info object class (IO class) provides information about the characteristics of an IO. The IO class of a logical info object is called a LOIO Class, and the IO class of a physical info object is called a PHIO Class.

A LOIO class can be, for example, a class for MIME objects. A PHIO class can be, for example, a class for pictures, or texts.

Use

There are two types of IO classes: virtual and real. In the entity tree in the left-hand frame of the DMWB window, the symbol appears to the left of the names of all virtual IO classes. Real IO classes have the symbol and are subordinate to the virtual IO classes in the entity tree.

Virtual and Real Info Object Classes of a Logical Info Object

With the DMWB, you can either create new content models, or take existing models and modify them to suit your requirements.

There are a number of ways of creating a new content model:

• You can create your content model based on real IO classes without using any virtual IO classes.

• You can copy info object classes and then change the copies as required.

• You can create virtual classes and use these as a template for your own content model.

• You can derive your content model from existing virtual IO classes.

If you want to activate real IO classes, the KPro runtime system can manage info objects of the classes concerned.

IO classes, on the other hand, exist only in the development layer. They can be used as models from which real IO classes are derived. Real IO classes inherit the instance attributes of the virtual classes from which they are derived (replicated).

Deriving Real Classes from Virtual Classes

If you want to replicate new LOIO and PHIO classes from existing IO classes of other document areas, you first have to derive a new virtual class from an existing virtual class. Once you have done this, add to or change the attributes as required. You can then replicate real classes from the virtual class in your document area.

We do not recommend that you derive real classes directly from an existing virtual class in another document area. This is because you would have to make any required changes in the virtual class of the other document area, and not in the real class itself.

When you create info object classes we recommend you add the ending _V to the virtual classes, so that they can be easily identified as virtual classes.

Names of virtual IO classes can have a maximum of 30 characters. Names of real IO classes can have a maximum of 10 characters.