Oracle Designer Model, Release 6i
Element Type Definition


 
Element Type Name COLUMN
Short Name COL
View Name CI_COLUMNS
Description Column definitions of tables/views, field definitions of files and
attribute definitions of Oracle object types
Sub-type of SECONDARY_ACCESS_ELEMENT
Versioning: Belongs to:
ORACLE_OBJECT_TYPE versionable object
RECORD versionable object
SNAPSHOT_DEFINITION versionable object
TABLE_DEFINITION versionable object
VIEW_DEFINITION versionable object
Rules: API Spec
Uniqueness Criteria
Deletion Rules
Descriptor: ORACLE_OBJECT_TYPE_REFERENCE
TABLE_REFERENCE
NAME
Used by: Oracle Designer
 
Underlying table: SDD_COL
Changes: Summary of changes to COLUMN in Release 6i
Reference Properties
Name Opt ? Notes Relationship In Arc
ORACLE_OBJECT_TYPE_REFERENCE N Prompt: Oracle Object Type
Transferable only if null
Must be an attribute in one and only one ORACLE_OBJECT_TYPE 68
TABLE_REFERENCE N Prompt: Table
Transferable only if null
Must be of one and only one RELATION_DEFINITION 68
BASE_COLUMN_REFERENCE Y Prompt: Base Column May be the view column based on one and only one COLUMN
CLUSTER_COLUMN_REFERENCE Y Prompt: Cluster Column May be used in one and only one CLUSTER_COLUMN
COLUMN_DENORMALISED_FROM Y Prompt: From Column May be denormalised from one and only one COLUMN
CONSTRAINT_DENORMALISED_VIA Y Prompt: Via Foreign Key May be denormalised via one and only one JOIN_CONSTRAINT
DOMAIN_REFERENCE Y Prompt: Domain May be defined by one and only one DOMAIN
ORACLE_TYPE_REFERENCE Y Prompt: Oracle Type May be referencing or embedding one and only one ORACLE_TYPE
RELATION_SELECTION_REFERENCE Y Prompt: Base Relation May be the view column based on one and only one RELATION_SELECTION
SCOPE_TABLE_REFERENCE Y Prompt: Scope Table May be scoped by one and only one TABLE_DEFINITION
SEQUENCE_REFERENCE Y Prompt: Sequence May be based on one and only one SEQUENCE
SOURCE_ATTRIBUTE_REFERENCE Y Prompt: Source Attribute May be derived from one and only one ATTRIBUTE
Properties
Name Datatype Opt ? Notes Domain Default Value
AUTO_GENERATED VARCHAR2(2)  Y Indicates whether the value in this column should automatically be generated.
Prompt: AutoGen Type
Uppercase
AUTOGENERATE
AVERAGE_LENGTH NUMBER(5, 0)  Y The average length of data contained in the column (used by the Database/Index Sizing Utility.
Prompt: Average Length
Range: 1 to 65535
COLUMN_FOR VARCHAR2(3)  N Arc 68 discriminator. Indicates whether the COLUMN belongs to a RELATION_DEFINITION (and therefore represents a real column) or belongs to an ORACLE_OBJECT_TYPE (and therefore represents an attribute of a type)
Not displayed
Uppercase
System maintained
Not updatable by user
TABLE_OR_TYPE
COMPLETE_FLAG VARCHAR2(1)  N Indicates whether the definition of the column is complete, and ready to be used by the generators
Prompt: Complete ?
Uppercase
YESNO
DATATYPE VARCHAR2(35)  Y The Oracle datatype for this column.
Prompt: Datatype
Uppercase
DATATYPE VARCHAR2 
DECIMAL_PLACES NUMBER(4, 0)  Y For numeric datatypes, specifies the number of decimal places allowed for this column.
Prompt: Decimal Places
DEFAULT_DISPLAY_TYPE VARCHAR2(20)  Y The display datatype to be used for this column in reports and screens. Provides a default display type for bound items based on this column
Prompt: Display Type
Uppercase
DISPLAY DATATYPE
DEFAULT_IMPLEMENTATION_ITEM VARCHAR2(30)  Y Name of the default template/library object on which generated items for this column will be based. Used to default ITEM.IMPLEMENTATION_ITEM
Prompt: Def Template/Library Object
DEFAULT_VALUE VARCHAR2(60)  Y A default value for this column. This information is used by the Generators when a row is created.
Prompt: Default Value
DEFAULT_VALUE_TYPE VARCHAR2(15)  N Indicates the nature of the default value
Prompt: Default Value Type
Uppercase
DEFAULT_VALUE_TYPE LITERAL 
DENORMALIZED_SUMMARY_FUNCTION VARCHAR2(19)  Y The summary function used to derive/denormalize column value.
Prompt: Using Operator
Uppercase
SUMM_FUN
DERIVATION_EXPRESSION_TYPE VARCHAR2(14)  Y Classification for EXPRESSION, when this is populated
Prompt: Derivation Expression Type
Uppercase
DERIVATION_EXPRESSION_TYPE
DESCRIPTOR_COLUMN NUMBER(2, 0)  Y A number representing the priority for this column as a descriptor column.
Prompt: Descriptor Sequence
DISPLAY_FLAG VARCHAR2(1)  N Indicates whether or not this column is normally displayed.
Prompt: Display ?
Uppercase
YESNO
DISPLAY_HEIGHT NUMBER(6, 0)  Y The height (in characters to be used for this column in reports,screens etc.
Prompt: Display Height
DISPLAY_LENGTH NUMBER(5, 0)  Y The length to be used for this column in reports and screens.
Prompt: Display Length
Range: 0 to 65535
DISPLAY_SEQUENCE NUMBER(6, 0)  Y A sequence number used for ordering this column when it is displayed on the screens and reports.
Prompt: Display Sequence
EXPRESSION_TEXT VARCHAR2(240)  Y Applies to columns of a view or materialized view only, and contains the part of expression specific to column used to construct full view/materialized view create text in case when SELECT_TEXT_FLAG on view/materialized view is not set
Prompt: Select Text
FIELD_INITIAL_VALUE VARCHAR2(120)  Y The SDD_COLUMNS view is also used in the definition of fields within a file - Initial value of data item. Used as VALUE IS clause in COBOL.
Prompt: Initial Value
Uppercase
FIELD_LEVEL VARCHAR2(2)  Y The SDD_COLUMNS view is also used in the definition of fields within a file - Level of field e.g as in COBOL - 88,01,02.
Prompt: Field Level
Uppercase
FIELD_NULL_VALUE VARCHAR2(20)  Y This view is also used in the definition of fields within a file (SDD_TAB_DEFS), in this instance null value to be stored if field is null e.g. SPACES, ZEROS.
Prompt: Null Value
FINAL_VOLUME NUMBER(3, 0)  Y For NULL columns - the percentage of rows with a value in this column when the table is in use.
Prompt: Final Volume
FORMAT_MODIFIER VARCHAR2(60)  Y A mask or display modifier that can be used on this column in a screen or a report.
Prompt: Format Mask
HELP_TEXT VARCHAR2(2000)  Y A single line of help text or brief description about this column.
Prompt: Hint
HIGHLIGHTING VARCHAR2(240)  Y The default display formatting for this column e.g. BOLD, REVERSE.
Prompt: Formatting
Uppercase
INITIAL_VOLUME NUMBER(3, 0)  Y For NULL columns - the percentage of rows with a value in this column when the table is initially loaded.
Prompt: Initial Volume
JUSTIFICATION VARCHAR2(6)  Y Justification to be applied to the column on reports and screens
Prompt: Alignment
Uppercase
JUSTIFICATION
MAXIMUM_LENGTH NUMBER(5, 0)  Y The maximum length of data that this column can contain.
Prompt: Maximum Length
Range: 1 to 65535
NAME VARCHAR2(30)  N The name of this column.
Prompt: Name
Uppercase
NULL_INDICATOR VARCHAR2(8)  N Indicates whether or not this column contains null values.
Prompt: Optional ?
Uppercase
COL_NULL_INDICATOR NULL 
OBJECT_TYPE_INCLUSION VARCHAR2(6)  Y If the column (or attribute) is defined as of an object datatype, then this property further qualifies whether that object is referenced or embedded
Prompt: Object Type Inclusion
Uppercase
REF_OR_EMBED
OCCURS VARCHAR2(30)  Y This view is also used in the definition of fields within a file (SDD_TAB_DEFS). In this instance, occurs defines the number of occurrences of a field (similar to COBOL OCCURS). Internal.
Prompt: Occurs
Uppercase
ORDER_SEQUENCE NUMBER(6, 0)  Y The order sequence that is used when this column is included in an ORDER BY clause.
Prompt: Order By Sequence
PROMPT VARCHAR2(132)  Y The prompt to be used when displaying this column on screens and reports.
Prompt: Prompt
REDEFINES VARCHAR2(30)  Y This view is also used in the definition of fields within a file (SDD_TAB_DEFS). in this instance redefines references the field this field redefines similar to COBOL REDEFINES).
Prompt: Redefines
Uppercase
RELATION_TYPE VARCHAR2(6)  N Denormalisation of the type of the owning table, view, snapshot or record - or OOT if represents and attribute of an Oracle object type
Not displayed
Uppercase
System maintained
Not updatable by user
COLUMN_IN
REMARK VARCHAR2(2000)  Y A brief comment about this column.
Prompt: Comment
SEQUENCE_NUMBER NUMBER(6, 0)  Y A sequence number used to order this column within the table.
Prompt: Sequence in Table
SERVER_DEFAULTED_FLAG VARCHAR2(1)  N Value of 'Y' indicates column's value will be defaulted via application logic residing on server if not supplied by the user client side. This tells the generator it should requery the row after insert/update to display server derived data
Prompt: Server Defaulted ?
Uppercase
YESNO
SERVER_DERIVED_FLAG VARCHAR2(1)  N Value of 'Y' indicates column's value is derived on server via a database trigger, and hence should not be set or provided client side. This tells the generator it should requery the row after insert/update to display server derived value
Prompt: Server Derived ?
Uppercase
YESNO
SIGNED VARCHAR2(1)  N The SDD_COLUMNS view is also used in the definition of fields within a file (SDD_TAB_DEFS), in this instance signed indicates; when datatype is not character; field is signed, Y, otherwise N.
Prompt: Signed ?
Uppercase
YESNO
SOFT_LOV VARCHAR2(1)  N Applicable when column has valid values defined directly against it, as opposed to being in a domain. Value of Y indicates that value of column is to be checked against a table (ie soft-coded). Used by Forms Generator.
Prompt: Dynamic List ?
Uppercase
YESNO
SORTING_ORDER VARCHAR2(1)  Y Indicates the column's normal sorting order - Ascending or Descending.
Prompt: Sort Order
Uppercase
SORTING_ORDER
SOURCE_ENTITY_DERIVED_FROM NUMBER(38, 0)  Y Denormalised column. The reference of the entity when the column is derived directly from an attribute
Not displayed
SOURCE_RELATIONSHIP_END NUMBER(38, 0)  Y Denormalised column. The relationship end which is the source of the foreign key.
Not displayed
System maintained
Not updatable by user
SOURCE_REL_ENTITY NUMBER(38, 0)  Y Denormalised column. The reference of the entity at the other end of the relationship that a column is derived from.
Not displayed
SOURCE_REL_ENTITY_ATTRIBUTE NUMBER(38, 0)  Y Denormalised column. The reference of the attribute of the entity at the other end of the relationship.
Not displayed
STORAGE_FORMAT VARCHAR2(16)  Y The storage format for the field e.g. BIT, DISPLAY.
Prompt: Storage Format
Uppercase
COL_STORAGE_FORMAT
Non-enforced
STORE_REF_WITH_ROWID_FLAG VARCHAR2(1)  N Indicates whether the ROWID is to be stored with a REF column/attribute
Prompt: Store REF with ROWID ?
Uppercase
YESNO
SUGGESTION_LIST_FLAG VARCHAR2(1)  N A value of Y indicates that the column's domain is not enforced but is to be taken as a suggestion list only. Required primarily for the generation of COMBO BOX's in Forms
Prompt: Suggestion List ?
Uppercase
YESNO
UPPERCASE VARCHAR2(1)  N Indicates whether or not values entered in this column should be converted into upper case.
Prompt: Uppercase ?
Uppercase
YESNO
VALIDATION_FAILURE_MESSAGE VARCHAR2(70)  Y The error message to be used when the validation for this column fails.
Prompt: Validation Error Message
WHERE_VALIDATION_TYPE VARCHAR2(14)  Y Indicates whether the 'Where/Validation' CDWHCL text contains an expression or a function
Prompt: Where/Validation Type
Uppercase
DERIVATION_EXPRESSION_TYPE
PARENT_IVID NUMBER(38, 0)  Y Internal use only. Exists on "secondary" element types from a versioning viewpoint. Contains the IVID of the primary element type (not necessarily a PAC) forming the basis of the "versionable object" to which this element type belongs
Not displayed
System maintained
Updatable only if null
Defined on SAC supertype
PAC_REFERENCE NUMBER(38, 0)  Y Internal use only. Exists on "secondary" element types from a structural viewpoint. Contains the IRID of the PAC forming the basis of the "logical object" to which this element type belongs
Not displayed
System maintained
Not updatable by user
Defined on SAC supertype
Multi-line Text
Name Text Type Prompt
DESCRIPTION CDIDSC Description
EXPRESSION CDEXPR Derivation Expression
HELP CDHELP User/Help Text
NOTES CDINOT Notes
WHERE_CLAUSE CDWHCL Where/Validation Condition
Other Properties
COLUMN has the 20 user definable properties (USER_DEFINED_PROPERTY_0, _1, _2, _3 etc) for User Extensibility
The following 'standard' properties are also inherited by all element types:
  • ID
  • IRID
  • IVID
  • ELEMENT_TYPE_NAME
  • DATE_CREATED
  • CREATED_BY
  • DATE_CHANGED
  • CHANGED_BY
  • NUMBER_OF_TIMES_MODIFIED
  • TYPES

Other element types that reference COLUMN:

Note:

  • All properties are displayed and updatable by the user unless indicated otherwise
  • All reference properties are displayed and transferable unless indicated otherwise
  • All domains are enforced unless indicated otherwise
  • All properties and reference properties are defined on this element type unless indicated as inherited from a supertype