Defining a link type

A link type definition sets the database fields that map to link type properties.

To define a link type:
  1. Select New > Link Type.
    Alternatively, you can:
    • select the tables you want to include in the link type on the Database Page, right-click on the header of one of the selected tables and select New Link Type
    • click on the New Link Type toolbar button
    • right-click on the background of the panel on the Types Page and select New Link Type
    • enter a name for the link type and select the color you wish to use for the chart representation
  2. If your database is structured in such a way that the link type is reflexive, you must turn on Reflexive. The link type is reflexive if you can search for a specific instance and be sure of finding the record by searching either end of the link.
  3. Define the structure of the link type, by specifying which tables to include and what relationships and field equivalencies between the tables you want to use to construct the type.
  4. Define any filters that are required for the link type. You may need to use a filter if only a subset of records in a table are relevant for the type you are defining.
  5. You can now define a key for the type, but if you prefer, iBridge Designer will choose an existing key for you. You may want to define a key if the root table in the type structure has multiple candidate keys. If you allow iBridge Designer to choose a type key, the first confirmed key of the root table will be used. If more than one table can act as the root table, iBridge Designer will arbitrarily choose one of those tables and use the first confirmed key.
  6. The type key is used to identify an item when it has been charted.
  7. When you have finished defining the link type, click Validate to check whether you have forgotten something or whether the type is invalid for any reason.
  8. Click OK to close the Link Type Structure dialog. After validation, the link type is placed onto the Types Page.
  9. The confirmed status of the ends will match that of the relationships from which they are derived.
  10. When you have finished defining the link type you can then define the properties of the type in the Link Type Properties dialog.