System, method and computer program product for defining applications using metadata records created from an object specifying a predefined metadata format

• US 9,047,070 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Roy-Faderman, Avrom
• Primary Examiner(s): Arjomandi, Noosha
• Application Number:
  US13/569,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20130117291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 707/714, 707/756, 707/766, 707/775, 707/793
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/24 Object-oriented

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for defining applications using metadata records created from an object specifying a predefined metadata format. These mechanisms and methods for defining applications using metadata records created from an object specifying a predefined metadata format can enable embodiments to provide third party developers a manner of defining a custom format for metadata that is separate from any existing standard metadata formats that are part of a platform maintaining the metadata.

Claims

1. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code causing a computer to implement a method, the method comprising:

receiving from a first party at a database system a definition of a custom object specifying a custom format for metadata, wherein a creation of the metadata is required to comply with the custom format specified within the custom object when the metadata is associated with the custom object;

storing the custom object having the definition, utilizing the database system;

creating by the first party or a second party utilizing the database system a record according to the stored custom object, where the metadata in the record is defined according to the custom format of the custom object; and

defining at least one aspect of an application utilizing the database system, using the metadata of the record;

wherein the custom object has a one-to-many relationship with a field object representing a format for a field, the one-to-many relationship defined by one of;

storing a foreign key to the field object in the custom object, and

creating a junction object having a reference to both the custom object and the field object.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the definition of the custom format specifies predetermined fields to be included within the metadata.

3. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the record stores metadata for each of the fields.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first party is a platform developer that is a first user of the database system.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein in response to receipt of the definition of the custom object from the first party, additional information is automatically included in the definition of the custom object.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the additional information specifies a name field and a developer identifier field.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the custom object is stored in the database system.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the record is created in response to a request to create the record received from the second party, and the second party is an application developer that is a second user of the database system.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the request specifies the metadata.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the at least one aspect of the application is defined by the application developer.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the custom object is stored in a package with an application object used for implementing the custom object in the at least one aspect of the application.

12. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the custom object relates to a component of a user interface.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the at least one aspect of the application implements the component of the user interface.

14. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect of the application is defined by referencing the first record.

15. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein in response to execution of the application by an end user of the database system, the record is retrieved to provide the at least one aspect of an application in accordance with the metadata of the record.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving from a first party at a database system a definition of a custom object specifying a custom format for metadata, wherein a creation of the metadata is required to comply with the custom format specified within the custom object when the metadata is associated with the custom object;

storing the custom object having the definition, utilizing the database system;

creating by the first party or a second party utilizing the database system a record according to the stored custom object, where the metadata in the record is defined according to the custom format of the custom object; and

defining at least one aspect of an application utilizing the database system, using the metadata of the record;

wherein the custom object has a one-to-many relationship with a field object representing a format for a field, the one-to-many relationship defined by one of;

storing a foreign key to the field object in the custom object, and

creating a junction object having a reference to both the custom object and the field object.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor for;

receiving from a first party at a database system a definition of a custom object specifying a custom format for metadata, wherein a creation of the metadata is required to comply with the custom format specified within the custom object when the metadata is associated with the custom object;

storing the custom object having the definition, utilizing the database system;

creating by the first party or a second party utilizing the database system a record according to the stored custom object, where the metadata in the first record is defined according to the custom format of the custom object; and

defining at least one aspect of an application utilizing the database system, using the metadata of the record;

wherein the custom object has a one-to-many relationship with a field object representing a format for a field, the one-to-many relationship defined by one of;

storing a foreign key to the field object in the custom object, and

creating a junction object having a reference to both the custom object and the field object.

18. A method for transmitting code, comprising:

transmitting code for;

receiving from a first party at a database system a definition of a custom object specifying a custom format for metadata, wherein a creation of the metadata is required to comply with the custom format specified within the custom object when the metadata is associated with the custom object;

storing the custom object having the definition, utilizing the database system;

creating by the first party or a second party utilizing the database system a record according to the stored custom object, where the metadata in the record is defined according to the custom format of the custom object; and

defining at least one aspect of an application utilizing the database system, using the metadata of the record;

wherein the custom object has a one-to-many relationship with a field object representing a format for a field, the one-to-many relationship defined by one of;

storing a foreign key to the field object in the custom object, and

creating a junction object having a reference to both the custom object and the field object.