Define different base objects for parts of a content area

The base object is the object for which the content area is showing data. All class-based content areas and content areas with a base object definition via a query have a base object when opened by a user. The REFSTR object class property value of the base object is available as information to all subordinate parts of the content area. Many standard views depend on a base class. They are designed to show content for a single object of a specific object class. The same applies to object class property groups and data workbenches. Configured reports, indicator cards, and grouped indicator cards can be defined to show data for a specific object.

In queries, the base object can be referenced with the Alfabet parameter@BASE . If you want to limit the data displayed in a report to the information about the object that is the base object of the content area the report is assigned to, you must define a WHERE condition comparing the REFSTR object class property of the object class the report is about with the Alfabet parameter @BASE.

The following query will return a single result when executed in a content area with a base object:

  • SELECT app.REFSTR, app.NAME, app.VERSION
  • FROM APPLICATION app
  • WHERE app.REFSTR = @BASE

You can also define the base object on the level of content pages and content items. You can design a content area about one object including a content page displaying information about another object. Or you can add a content item in a content page displaying information related to another object than the base object of the content area or content page. In clas-sless content areas, you can add content items or content pages with a base object to add information about a single object. You can, for example, add information about the current user to the home content area of a user profile.

A base object definition on a low level in the hierarchy of content area definition supersedes a definition on a higher level in the hierarchy. If a content area for a contract has a content page with a base object query finding the vendor the contract has been signed with, the content page will show data about that vendor and all other pages in the content area will show data about the contract. You can also define a base object query for a content item in the content page about the vendor and add, for example, data about the contact person communicating with the vendor.

  • You cannot add an object class property group two times to a content page. If you want to add object class property groups with a changed base object, the object class properties of the two objects for which content is available on the page must be in different object class property groups.
  • Evaluation cards cannot be added to content pages with a base object definition. This feature will be added in a future release.
  • Base object queries can only be defined for content items displaying indicator cards if those indicator card items are added to a content page with a base object definition. If the content page has a base object definition, all indicator cards for all object classes are displayed in the selector. If no base object is defined for the content page, only indicator cards for the base object of the content area are listed in the selector and you cannot define the item for a different object class.
  • If the base object query returns no data, the content item or the content items in the content page will show up empty. For example, if you add an object class property group with contact details from the user information of the architect for the application to the class-based content area for applications, the object class property group will be empty if the application has no architect defined.
  • If the base object is changed for a content page, the Manage Content on Page functionality will show content for the new base object if the user opens it for that content page.

Base objects are defined in the Base Object Query attribute of content pages and content items. Definition of the base object query follows the same rules on all levels of the content area: