# How to Use the SAS Java Metadata Interface

- Package Description
- Example 1: Server Connection
- Example 2: Get Repositories
- Example 3: Get Metadata Types
- Example 4: Create Objects
- Example 5: Read Objects
- Example 6: Delete Objects
- Example 7: Get all objects of a particular type
- Example 8: Get an existing object
- Sample Program

## Example 4: Create Objects

This is an example of how to create new objects in the SAS Metadata Repository. This example creates a physical table, column, and a note on that column.

       /**
        * This method creates a table, column, and note on the column, using
        * the store methods. It is a good example of how a wizard-style user interface
        * would utilize the MdObjectFactory class.
        * @param Repository CMetadata object with id of form:  A0000001.A5KHUI98
        */
       public void createTable(CMetadata repository)
       {
          if (repository != null)
          {
             try
             {
                System.out.println("\nCreating objects on the server...");

                // We have a repository object.
                // We use the reposFQID method to get its fully qualified ID.
                String reposFQID = repository.getFQID();

                // We need the short Repository ID to create an object.
                // we use the ReposId method to get the short ID.
                String shortReposID = reposFQID.substring(reposFQID.indexOf('.') + 1,
                                        reposFQID.length());

                // Now we create an object store to hold all our objects.
                // This will be used to maintain a list of objects to persist
                // to the server.
                MdObjectStore store = MdObjectFactory.createObjectStore();

                // Create a PhysicalTable object named "TableTest".
                PhysicalTable table = (PhysicalTable) MdObjectFactory.createComplexMetadataObject
                   (store,
                         null,
                         "TableTest",
                         MetadataObjects.PHYSICALTABLE,
                         shortReposID);

                // Create a Column named "ColumnTest".
                Column column = (Column) MdObjectFactory.createComplexMetadataObject
                   (store,
                         null,
                         "ColumnTest",
                         MetadataObjects.COLUMN,
                         shortReposID);

                // Set the attributes of the column.
                column.setColumnName("MyTestColumnName");
                column.setSASColumnName("MyTestSASColumnName");
                column.setDesc("This is a description of a column");

                // Use the get"AssociationName"() method to associate the column with
                // the table. This method creates an AssociationList object for the table
                // object. The inverse association will be created automatically.
                // The add(MetadataObject) method adds myColumn to the AssociationList.
                table.getColumns().add(column);

                // Create a note for the column named "NoteTest".
                TextStore note = (TextStore) MdObjectFactory.createComplexMetadataObject
                   (store,
                         null,
                         "NoteTest",
                         MetadataObjects.TEXTSTORE,
                         shortReposID);

                // Set the stored text attribute for the note
                note.setStoredText("Information about the note");

                // Associate the note with the column.
                column.getNotes().add(note);

                // Now, perist all of these changes to the server
                table.updateMetadataAll();

                // When finished, clean up the objects in the store if it is no longer
                // being used
                store.dispose();
             }
             catch (MdException e)
             {
                e.printStackTrace();
             }
          }
       }