Creating Sub-Type Entities

Aptify simplifies the process of creating sub-type entities by automatically adding three required fields when you open a new sub-type record. This applies to first level sub-types and n^th level sub-types (for example, a second level sub-type is a sub-type of a first level sub-type). For example, PersonCompanyFunctions is a second level sub-type; Persons is the top level Entity, PersonCompanies is the first level sub-type, and PersonCompanyFunctions is the second level Sub-Type.

Follow these steps to create a sub-type entity:

1. Open the Entity record for which you want to create a sub-type.
2. Click the Sub-Types tab.
3. Right-click in the gray area and select New from the pop-up menu.
   
   • The system opens a new Sub-Type entities record that includes three automatically generated fields:
     • ID: ID field for records in this sub-type.
     • [ParentEntity]ID: Field that links to the parent entity's ID field.
     • Sequence: Field that records the order in which the sub-type records appear in a sub-type listing.

   

4. Complete the necessary fields to define the sub-type entity. See Creating a New Entity and About the Entities Service Forms for more information on the available fields in an Entities record. Keep in mind the following when working with sub-type records:
   • Name: Per Aptify's naming conventions for sub-type entities, use the following convention:
     • [Top Level Entity Name Singular][Sub-Type Name Plural] with no spaces.
     • For example, use SampleServiceOptions, where Sample Services is the top-level entity and Options is the sub-type identifier.
       
       
   • Display Name: For sub-types, this is the name of the tab that will appear on the parent entity's form.
   • Base Table and Base View: Specify a Base Table name and Base View name following the standard Aptify convention (described in Creating a New Entity.
   1. • Note that for new sub-type entities, this field is a text box. It becomes a link box that links to a corresponding Database Objects record after you save the Entities record.
        
        
   • Multiple Base Tables: Sub-type entities support multiple base tables, just like top-level entities. See Creating Multiple Base Tables for details.
   • Security: Sub-type records do not automatically inherit the security settings of the parent entity. You must configure the sub-type security settings.
     
     
5. Click Save when you have finished defining the sub-type (that is, you have completed the top area of the Entities form, added the necessary fields and defined Security permissions).
   • When you save a sub-type entity, the parent entity is automatically saved as well. The system also automatically regenerates an entity's database objects as needed and regenerates the entity's form to include a tab for the new sub-type entity.