Using the SAS Metadata Model

Creating a Logical Metadata Definition

The term "metadata object" refers to an instance of a metadata type in a SAS Metadata Repository. As stated in Understanding Metadata Types, a logical metadata definition includes the collection of metadata types and associations that describe an application entity. To create a logical metadata definition, you must create metadata objects of all of the metadata types that represent an application entity and associate them.

SAS Intelligence Platform products and Solutions provide graphical user interfaces for creating instances of the logical metadata definitions that describe SAS platform objects. The following information is provided for those wanting to create custom logical metadata definitions.

A SAS Metadata Model metadata type is instantiated by creating a metadata object that stores object-specific values for the metadata type's attributes and associations in a SAS Metadata Repository. The SAS Open Metadata Interface IOMI methods support creating and updating objects by submitting XML metadata property strings that provide object-specific values. For information about how to format an XML metadata property string that defines an object, see the AddMetadata method and "Constructing a Metadata Property String" in SAS Open Metadata Interface: Reference and Usage. The SAS Java Metadata Interface provides generated Java interfaces and implementation classes for each SAS Metadata Model metadata type. After creating an object, you can use getter and setter methods from each interface to define an object's attributes and associations.

To create a logical metadata definition, create the primary or top-level object in the definition first. Select a PrimaryType subtype from the SAS Metadata Model so that PrimaryType properties are available to manage the object. Next, create objects that describe the supporting metadata types and associate them with the primary object. The supporting metadata types can be SecondaryType subtypes in the SAS Metadata Model, or public components. For information about methods that enable you to add objects to a SAS Metadata Repository, see SAS Open Metadata Interface: Reference and Usage.

Required Attributes and Associations

The Name attribute is required to instantiate a metadata type. Only four SAS namespace metadata types have additional required attributes:

ColumnRange: Required attributes are: End, Prefix, and Start
InternalLogin: Required attribute is: PasswordHash
PSColumnLayoutComponent: Required attributes are: ColumnWidth and NumberOfPortlets
PSPortalPage: Required attributes are: NumberOfColumns and Type

Many metadata types have required associations. A required association has a cardinality of 1..1. To identify required associations, review metadata type reference documentation at Alphabetical Listing of SAS Namespace Types.

SAS Namespace Submodels and Hierarchy and Association Diagrams

This documentation defines functional submodels to help you understand the metadata types available. It also provides hierarchy and association diagrams to help you understand the relationships between metadata types. Use these to help you determine the metadata types and associations that you need to instantiate to create a logical metadata definition for your application entity. See Overview of SAS Namespace Submodels and SAS Namespace Hierarchy and Association Diagrams.

Top of Page