C4C - UI Designer - What is a Virtual Association?

[former_member548984]

I saw a VA icon in the UI desginer and it opens up a pop up which is Virtual Association Modeller.

Can someone explain me what a Virtual Association is and when it is useful?
I can't seem to find anything on the docs as well as web.

Regards,
Akash 🙂

[kushal_gupta2 · Accepted solution]

Virtual Associations are used to extend the Core BO Association tree with new UI specific associations. Core BO Associations can be extended in two different ways:

1. By Creating Virtual Associations - Virtual Associations are entirely new associations created by selecting source and target BO fields.
2. By Creating Reference Associations - Reference Associations are created on existing associations by providing target specialization fields overs them. It can be said that they are wrappers over existing associations with only added feature of Target Specialization. Through Target Specialization, one can provide filter parameters over existing associations.

Virtual Associations icon comes on BOBrowser toolbar(screenshot below). It is enabled only when a component is created and its UseUIController flag is true.

Creating a Virtual Association.

• Set the UseUIController flag to True. Virtual Associations cannot be added if this flag is false.
• Open/goto BOBrowser.
• Select Namespace and BOName in BOBrowser.
• Click on virtual association icon. It opens an editor through which Virtual and Reference Associations can be configured.
• To create Virtual Associations, Virtual Association Radio button has to be selected. When the modeller opens, this radio button is selected by default.
• Fill the Target BOBrowser with namespace and BO details.
• Select a key from source and a key from target, provide name for association. Source key can be an element within selected BO or any element withing existing associations.
• Select parameter from Target BOBrowser using which Target Specialization has to be created. Target Specialization is used to provide filter parameters for created Virtual Associations. Its possible to select either a Constant or a Placeholder value as Target Specialization parameter.
• After providing all these details, click on Create button. This creates Virtual Association.
• The newly created VirtualAssociation is displayed in BOBrowser tree with its name coming within square braces. See the screenshot below:
• The newly created VirtualAssociation can be now used for modelling just like a normal association.

Creating a Reference Association:

• Open Virtual Association Modeller and select Reference Association radio button.
• Select an Association on which Reference Association has to be created and click on Bind button. Referred Association name is shown in UI then.
• Select Target Specialization parameters from the BOBrowser and press on Move button.
• Give name for Reference Association.
• Click on Create. The created reference association is shown is BOBrowser tree and can be used like any other Core BOAssociation.

To Delete a Virtual Association/Reference Association.

• Select the Virtual Association/Reference Association that needs to be deleted.
• Right click and select Delete from the Context menu.

Display a Virtual Association/Reference Association.

• Select the association that you want to check.
• Right click and select Display from the context menu.
• This opens the modelled association in Display only mode and allows users to check on which nodes the association is created on.

Edit a Virtual Association/Reference Association.* Select the association that you want to check.

• Right click and select Edit from the context menu.
• This opens the modelled association in Edit mode. Do the modifications and press the Edit button.

Virtual Association in SADL Query

• VirtualAssociations modelled in BOBrowser are reflected in SADL Query as well.

[former_member548984 · Accepted solution]

Thank you so much for your reply.

I have a small doubt though.
I have extended a Standard BO and added a custom Action in it.
Now, I have one custom BO from which I have created a Virtual Association with the extended Standard BO.
As per your post I am also able to see the created Association in Square brackets and upon extending it I can see my custom action in it.
But when I bind this Action with a BoAction, I get error on Activation of my screen.
Is there anything I am missing?

Regards,
Akash

[kushal_gupta2 · Accepted solution]

Hi Akash,

Activation issue can be a separate issue. Please post a screenshot or create a ticket for that.

The exception should be showing some hint where the issue is.

Kindly accept the solution if it fulfills your query.

Regards,

Kushal

[dhruv_mehta · Accepted solution]

Dear Kushal,

Can you please reupload the pictures I am unable to see that.

Can you also provide the document for this?

Regards, Dhruvin

[dhruv_mehta]

Can you post a screenshot where you saw it?

[former_member548984]

Please find the screenshot.