About the Repository Meta-Model

The repository's meta-model is a database schema of views and columns. The Repository API cannot be used to alter this meta-model, except in strictly defined ways provided via:

• The User Extensibility feature, which can be used via the Repository Administration Utility as well as via the Repository API.
  
  
• The Registration API.

These make it possible to extend the repository's meta-model by:

• Adding new element types and association types.
  
  
• Adding new properties to existing element types and association types.

The API provides detailed definitions of the meta-model views through which user scan access the supplied meta-model and extensions made using either method. Information about the meta-model schema is published as part of the repository API for the following reasons:

• They provide information required for extending the repository structure.
  
  
• They can be directly queried (but not updated) using SQL calls.
  
  
• They provide information about the properties and element types supported by the repository API. This includes user-defined element types and properties as well as those supplied with the repository.
  
  
• They enable the use of the Oracle Designer tools (for example the Design Editor) to build new interfaces and reports.