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Difference between revisions of "EclipseLink/UserGuide/JPA/Basic JPA Development/Querying/Query Casting"

(New page: {{EclipseLink_UserGuide |info=y |toc=n |eclipselink=y |eclipselinktype=JPA}} =Query Casting= Use query casting to query across attributes in subclasses when using JPA or ORM. This featu...)
 
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Use query casting to query across attributes in subclasses when using JPA or ORM.  This feature is available in JPQL, EclipseLink Expressions and Criteria API.
 
Use query casting to query across attributes in subclasses when using JPA or ORM.  This feature is available in JPQL, EclipseLink Expressions and Criteria API.
  
The following examples show on how to use EclipseLink to define queries on inheritance hierarchies with down casting to specific classes.
+
The following examples show how to use EclipseLink to define queries on inheritance hierarchies with down casting to specific classes.
  
== JPA2.0 Type ==
+
== JPA 2.0 Type ==
  
Extensions to the expression framework to limit the results to those of a specific subclass have already been implemented as part of the JPA 2.0 effort.  Expression.type(Class) is available in the expression framework and equivalent functionality is available in JPQL.
+
Starting with JPA 2.0, it is possible to limit the results or a query to those of a specific subclass.  For example, the expression framework provides <tt>Expression.type(Class)</tt>.  
  
For example, the following can be used to retrieve all the LargeProjects (Subclass of Project) from Employee.
+
For example, the following query retrieves all the <tt>LargeProject</tt>s (subclass of <tt>Project</tt>) from <tt>Employee</tt>:
  
 
  select p from Employee e join e.projects p where type(p) = LargeProject  
 
  select p from Employee e join e.projects p where type(p) = LargeProject  
  
== JPQL Extensions to use Downcast ==
+
== Downcasting in JPQL ==
  
JPQL is extended to cast in the FROM clause. The format of this will use the keyword "TREAT" and be part of the join clause.  The following is an example:
+
In JPQL, downcasting is accomplished in the FROM clause, using TREAT...AS in the JOIN clause.  For example:
  
 
  select e from Employee e join TREAT(e.projects AS LargeProject) lp where lp.budget = value
 
  select e from Employee e join TREAT(e.projects AS LargeProject) lp where lp.budget = value
  
== Criteria API ==
+
== JPA Criteria API ==
  
JPA Criteria API already provides a casting operator. It is '''Expression.as(type)'''.
+
Starting with JPA 2.0, the JPA Criteria API includes the casting operator <tt>Expression.as(type)</tt>. This expression does a simple cast that allows matching of types within the generics.
  
As it is defined by JPA 2.0, '''Expression.as(type)''' does a simple cast that allows matching of types within the generics.
+
EclipseLink extends the Criteria API to allow a cast using <tt>Expression.as(type)</tt>.  The <tt>as</tt> method checks the hierarchy; and if <tt>type</tt> is a subclass of the type for the expression that is being called on, a cast is implemented.  The following example shows a criteria query that does a cast:
 
+
EclipseLink 2.1 extends criteria API to allow a cast using '''Expression.as(type)'''.  The '''as''' method has been extended to check the hierarchy and if '''type''' is a subclass of the type for the expression that as is being called on a cast will be implemented.  Here is a criteria query that will do a cast:
+
  
 
  Root<Employee> empRoot = cq1.from(getEntityManagerFactory().getMetamodel().entity(Employee.class));
 
  Root<Employee> empRoot = cq1.from(getEntityManagerFactory().getMetamodel().entity(Employee.class));
Line 38: Line 36:
 
  cq1.where(qb1.equal(exp, new Integer(1000)) );
 
  cq1.where(qb1.equal(exp, new Integer(1000)) );
  
Calling a cast on a JOIN node will permanently alter that node.  i.e. In the example above, after calling ''join.as(LargeProject.class)'', join will refer to a LargeProject.
+
Calling a cast on a JOIN node permanently alters that node.  For example, in the example above, after calling <tt>join.as(LargeProject.class)</tt>, the join refers to a <tt>LargeProject</tt>.
  
 
== EclipseLink Expression Support for Downcast ==
 
== EclipseLink Expression Support for Downcast ==
  
We will implement Expression.as(Class).  The following is an example of how one could use it:
+
The EclipseLink <tt>Expression.as(Class)</tt> can also be used for downcasting, as shown in the following example:
  
 
         ReadAllQuery raq = new ReadAllQuery(Employee.class);
 
         ReadAllQuery raq = new ReadAllQuery(Employee.class);
Line 49: Line 47:
 
         List resultList = query.getResultList();
 
         List resultList = query.getResultList();
  
''In this query Employee has a xToMany mapping to Project.  LargeProject is a subclass of Project and the "budget" attribute is contained on LargeProject.''
+
In the above query, <tt>Employee</tt> has an xToMany mapping to <tt>Project</tt><tt>LargeProject</tt> is a subclass of <tt>Project</tt>, and the <tt>budget</tt> attribute is contained on <tt>LargeProject</tt>.
  
* An exception will be thrown at query execution time if the class that is cast to is not a subclass of the class of the query key being cast.
+
The behavior of using <tt>Expression.as(Class)</tt> is as follows:
* Casts are only allowed on ObjectExpressions (QueryKeyExpression and ExpressionBuilder).  The parent expression of a cast must be an ObjectExpression
+
 
* Casts use the same outer join settings as the ObjectExpression they modify
+
* An exception is thrown at query execution time if the class that is cast to is not a subclass of the class of the query key being cast.
 +
* Casts are only allowed on <tt>ObjectExpression</tt>s (<tt>QueryKeyExpression</tt> and <tt>ExpressionBuilder</tt>).  The parent expression of a cast must be an <tt>ObjectExpression</tt>.
 +
* Casts use the same outer join settings as the <tt>ObjectExpression</tt> they modify
 
* Casts modify their parent expression.  As a result, when using a cast with a parallel expression, you must use a new instance of the parent expression.
 
* Casts modify their parent expression.  As a result, when using a cast with a parallel expression, you must use a new instance of the parent expression.
* Casting is not supported for TablePerClass Inheritance
+
* Casting is not supported for <tt>TablePerClass</tt> inheritance
* It is prudent to do a check for type in a query that does a cast.
+
* It is prudent to do a check for type in a query that does a cast. For example, the following:
** The following ''select f from Foo f join cast(f.bars, BarSubclass) b where b.subclassAttribute = "value"''
+
    select f from Foo f join cast(f.bars, BarSubclass) b where b.subclassAttribute = "value"
** Should be written as: ''select f from Foo f join cast(f.bars, BarSubclass) b where type(b) = BarSubclass And b.subclassAttribute = "value"'' by users that wish to enforce the type.
+
 
** EclipseLink will automatically append type information for cases where the cast results in a single type, but for classes in the middle of a hierarchy, no type information will not be appended to the SQL
+
should be written as:  
 +
 
 +
    select f from Foo f join cast(f.bars, BarSubclass) b where type(b) = BarSubclass And b.subclassAttribute = "value"
 +
 
 +
if you want to enforce the type.
 +
 
 +
* EclipseLink automatically appends type information for cases where the cast results in a single type; but for classes in the middle of a hierarchy, no type information is appended to the SQL
  
 
== Example SQL ==
 
== Example SQL ==

Revision as of 13:57, 23 February 2011

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Query Casting

Use query casting to query across attributes in subclasses when using JPA or ORM. This feature is available in JPQL, EclipseLink Expressions and Criteria API.

The following examples show how to use EclipseLink to define queries on inheritance hierarchies with down casting to specific classes.

JPA 2.0 Type

Starting with JPA 2.0, it is possible to limit the results or a query to those of a specific subclass. For example, the expression framework provides Expression.type(Class).

For example, the following query retrieves all the LargeProjects (subclass of Project) from Employee:

select p from Employee e join e.projects p where type(p) = LargeProject 

Downcasting in JPQL

In JPQL, downcasting is accomplished in the FROM clause, using TREAT...AS in the JOIN clause. For example:

select e from Employee e join TREAT(e.projects AS LargeProject) lp where lp.budget = value

JPA Criteria API

Starting with JPA 2.0, the JPA Criteria API includes the casting operator Expression.as(type). This expression does a simple cast that allows matching of types within the generics.

EclipseLink extends the Criteria API to allow a cast using Expression.as(type). The as method checks the hierarchy; and if type is a subclass of the type for the expression that is being called on, a cast is implemented. The following example shows a criteria query that does a cast:

Root<Employee> empRoot = cq1.from(getEntityManagerFactory().getMetamodel().entity(Employee.class));
Join<Employee, Project> join = empRoot.join("projects");
Path exp = ((Path)join.as(LargeProject.class)).get("budget");
cq1.where(qb1.equal(exp, new Integer(1000)) );

Calling a cast on a JOIN node permanently alters that node. For example, in the example above, after calling join.as(LargeProject.class), the join refers to a LargeProject.

EclipseLink Expression Support for Downcast

The EclipseLink Expression.as(Class) can also be used for downcasting, as shown in the following example:

       ReadAllQuery raq = new ReadAllQuery(Employee.class);
       Expression criteria = raq.getExpressionBuilder().anyOf("projects").as(LargeProject.class).get("budget").greaterThan(100);
       raq.setSelectionCriteria(criteria);
       List resultList = query.getResultList();

In the above query, Employee has an xToMany mapping to Project. LargeProject is a subclass of Project, and the budget attribute is contained on LargeProject.

The behavior of using Expression.as(Class) is as follows:

  • An exception is thrown at query execution time if the class that is cast to is not a subclass of the class of the query key being cast.
  • Casts are only allowed on ObjectExpressions (QueryKeyExpression and ExpressionBuilder). The parent expression of a cast must be an ObjectExpression.
  • Casts use the same outer join settings as the ObjectExpression they modify
  • Casts modify their parent expression. As a result, when using a cast with a parallel expression, you must use a new instance of the parent expression.
  • Casting is not supported for TablePerClass inheritance
  • It is prudent to do a check for type in a query that does a cast. For example, the following:
   select f from Foo f join cast(f.bars, BarSubclass) b where b.subclassAttribute = "value"

should be written as:

   select f from Foo f join cast(f.bars, BarSubclass) b where type(b) = BarSubclass And b.subclassAttribute = "value"

if you want to enforce the type.

  • EclipseLink automatically appends type information for cases where the cast results in a single type; but for classes in the middle of a hierarchy, no type information is appended to the SQL

Example SQL

The following query (which does not use query casting):

Select e from Employee e join e.projects project

produces the following sql:

SELECT <select list>
FROM CMP3_EMPLOYEE t1 LEFT OUTER JOIN CMP3_DEPT t0 ON (t0.ID = t1.DEPT_ID), CMP3_EMP_PROJ t4, CMP3_PROJECT t3, CMP3_SALARY t2 
WHERE ((t2.EMP_ID = t1.EMP_ID) AND ((t4.EMPLOYEES_EMP_ID = t1.EMP_ID) AND (t3.PROJ_ID = t4.projects_PROJ_ID)))


The following example shows a similar query, but with expanded select criteria:

Expression criteria = project.as(LargeProject.class).get("budget").greaterThan(100);
raq.setSelectionCriteria(criteria);

The above query produces the following SQL:

SELECT <select list> 
FROM CMP3_PROJECT t3 LEFT OUTER JOIN CMP3_LPROJECT t4 ON (t4.PROJ_ID = t3.PROJ_ID),CMP3_EMPLOYEE t1 LEFT OUTER JOIN CMP3_DEPT t0 ON (t0.ID = t1.DEPT_ID), CMP3_EMP_PROJ t5, CMP3_SALARY t2 
WHERE (((t4.BUDGET > ?) AND (t2.EMP_ID = t1.EMP_ID)) AND ((t5.EMPLOYEES_EMP_ID = t1.EMP_ID) AND (t3.PROJ_ID = t5.projects_PROJ_ID)))
bind => [100.0]

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