Skip to main content

Notice: this Wiki will be going read only early in 2024 and edits will no longer be possible. Please see: https://gitlab.eclipse.org/eclipsefdn/helpdesk/-/wikis/Wiki-shutdown-plan for the plan.

Jump to: navigation, search

Difference between revisions of "EclipseLink/UserGuide/JPA/Basic JPA Development/Entities/MappedSuperclass"

(@MappedSuperclass)
Line 15: Line 15:
  
 
=@MappedSuperclass=
 
=@MappedSuperclass=
You can use the <tt>@MappedSuperclass</tt> annotation or <code><nowiki><mapped-superclass></nowiki></code> XML element to define mappings for an abstract or non-persistent superclass, that are inherited by its subclass entities.  A mapped superclass is a special type of class that is not persistent itself, but has subclasses that are persistent.  A mapped superclass is useful for defined a common persistence superclass that defines common behavior across a set of classes, such as an id or version attribute.
+
You can use the <tt>@MappedSuperclass</tt> annotation or <code><nowiki><mapped-superclass></nowiki></code> XML element to define mappings for an abstract or non-persistent superclass, that are inherited by its subclass entities.  A mapped superclass is a special type of class that is not persistent itself, but has subclasses that are persistent.  A mapped superclass is useful for defined a common persistence superclass that defines common behavior across a set of classes, such as an id or version attribute.  A mapped superclass should normally be abstract but is not required to be, but cannot have any persistent instances.
 +
 
 +
Mapped superclasses cannot define a table, but can define mapping for its attributes and other common persistence behavior.  Entities cannot have relatinoships to mapped superclasses, and mapped superclasses cannot be queried.
  
 
The <tt>@MappedSuperclass</tt> annotation does not have any attributes.
 
The <tt>@MappedSuperclass</tt> annotation does not have any attributes.
Line 23: Line 25:
  
 
===@AttributeOverride===
 
===@AttributeOverride===
You can use the <tt>@AttributeOverride</tt> and <tt>@AttributeOverrides</tt> annotations, or <code><nowiki><attribute-override></nowiki></code> XML element to configure the name or type of the inheritance discriminator column.  The discriminator column is required for <code>SINGLE_TABLE</code> and <code>JOINED</code> inheritance and stores the associated entity type for the rowThe default name for the discriminator column is <code>DTYPE</code>.  JPA only allows String or Integer values for discriminators.  Through the EclipseLink API, it is possible to use other discriminator types, and it is possible to not have a discriminator, or use custom discriminator, see [[#Advanced Inheritance Configuration|Advanced Inheritance Configuration]].
+
You can use the <tt>@AttributeOverride</tt> and <tt>@AttributeOverrides</tt> annotations, or <code><nowiki><attribute-override></nowiki></code> XML element to override the column for a basic attribute in a mapped superclassThis allows for the column name to be different in each subclass.
  
 
{{EclipseLink_AttributeTable
 
{{EclipseLink_AttributeTable
Line 29: Line 31:
 
|content=<tr>
 
|content=<tr>
 
  <td>'''<tt>name</tt>'''</td>
 
  <td>'''<tt>name</tt>'''</td>
  <td>The name of column to be used to store the class discriminator value.
+
  <td>The name of the attribute.
  <td><code>DTYPE</code></td>
+
  <td></td>
  <td>No</td>
+
  <td>Yes</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
  <td>'''<tt>discriminatorType</tt>'''</td>
+
  <td>'''<tt>column</tt>'''</td>
  <td>The type of the discriminator value, defined in <code>DiscriminatorType</code>, one of <code>STRING</code>, <code>INTEGER</code>, and <code>CHAR</code>.
+
  <td>The column in the subclass table.
  <td><code>STRING</code></td>
+
  <td><code>column defined in mapped superclass</code></td>
<td>No</td>
+
</tr>
+
<tr>
+
<td>'''<tt>columnDefinition</tt>'''</td>
+
<td>Optional column description for use with DDL generation.</td>
+
<td>generated base on <tt>discriminatorType</tt></td>
+
<td>No</td>
+
</tr>
+
<tr>
+
<td>'''<tt>length</tt>'''</td>
+
<td>The size of the column for DDL generation.  Only relevant for <code>STRING</code> types.</td>
+
<td>31</td>
+
 
  <td>No</td>
 
  <td>No</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
Line 55: Line 45:
  
 
===@AssociationOverride===
 
===@AssociationOverride===
You can use the <tt>@AssociationOverride</tt> and <tt>@AssociationOverrides</tt> annotations, or <code><nowiki><association-override></nowiki></code> XML element to configure the name or type of the inheritance discriminator column.  The discriminator column is required for <code>SINGLE_TABLE</code> and <code>JOINED</code> inheritance and stores the associated entity type for the rowThe default name for the discriminator column is <code>DTYPE</code>.  JPA only allows String or Integer values for discriminators.  Through the EclipseLink API, it is possible to use other discriminator types, and it is possible to not have a discriminator, or use custom discriminator, see [[#Advanced Inheritance Configuration|Advanced Inheritance Configuration]].
+
You can use the <tt>@AssociationOverride</tt> and <tt>@AssociationOverrides</tt> annotations, or <code><nowiki><association-override></nowiki></code> XML element to override the join column or join table for a relationship attribute in a mapped superclassThis allows for the join column name or join table to be different in each subclass.
  
 
{{EclipseLink_AttributeTable
 
{{EclipseLink_AttributeTable
|caption=@AssociationOverride Attributes
+
|caption=@AssociationOverrideAttributes
 
|content=<tr>
 
|content=<tr>
 
  <td>'''<tt>name</tt>'''</td>
 
  <td>'''<tt>name</tt>'''</td>
  <td>The name of column to be used to store the class discriminator value.
+
  <td>The name of the attribute.
  <td><code>DTYPE</code></td>
+
  <td></td>
<td>No</td>
+
  <td>Yes</td>
</tr>
+
<tr>
+
<td>'''<tt>discriminatorType</tt>'''</td>
+
<td>The type of the discriminator value, defined in <code>DiscriminatorType</code>, one of <code>STRING</code>, <code>INTEGER</code>, and <code>CHAR</code>.
+
<td><code>STRING</code></td>
+
  <td>No</td>
+
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
  <td>'''<tt>columnDefinition</tt>'''</td>
+
  <td>'''<tt>joinColumn</tt>'''</td>
  <td>Optional column description for use with DDL generation.</td>
+
  <td>The join column in the subclass table.
  <td>generated base on <tt>discriminatorType</tt></td>
+
  <td><code>join column defined in mapped superclass</code></td>
 
  <td>No</td>
 
  <td>No</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
  <td>'''<tt>length</tt>'''</td>
+
  <td>'''<tt>joinTable</tt>'''</td>
  <td>The size of the column for DDL generationOnly relevant for <code>STRING</code> types.</td>
+
  <td>The join table for the subclass.
<td>31</td>
+
  <td><code>join table defined in mapped superclass</code></td>
 
  <td>No</td>
 
  <td>No</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>

Revision as of 14:42, 30 June 2011

EclipseLink JPA


@MappedSuperclass

You can use the @MappedSuperclass annotation or <mapped-superclass> XML element to define mappings for an abstract or non-persistent superclass, that are inherited by its subclass entities. A mapped superclass is a special type of class that is not persistent itself, but has subclasses that are persistent. A mapped superclass is useful for defined a common persistence superclass that defines common behavior across a set of classes, such as an id or version attribute. A mapped superclass should normally be abstract but is not required to be, but cannot have any persistent instances.

Mapped superclasses cannot define a table, but can define mapping for its attributes and other common persistence behavior. Entities cannot have relatinoships to mapped superclasses, and mapped superclasses cannot be queried.

The @MappedSuperclass annotation does not have any attributes.

Elug javaspec icon.gif

For more information, see Section 2.1.9 "Inheritance" in the JPA Specification.

Elug javaspec icon.gif

For more information, see Section 11.1.34 "MappedSuperclass Annotation" in the JPA Specification.

@AttributeOverride

You can use the @AttributeOverride and @AttributeOverrides annotations, or <attribute-override> XML element to override the column for a basic attribute in a mapped superclass. This allows for the column name to be different in each subclass.

@AttributeOverride Attributes
Attribute Description Default Required?
name The name of the attribute. Yes
column The column in the subclass table. column defined in mapped superclass No
Elug javaspec icon.gif

For more information, see Section 11.1.4 "AttributeOverride Annotation" in the JPA Specification.

@AssociationOverride

You can use the @AssociationOverride and @AssociationOverrides annotations, or <association-override> XML element to override the join column or join table for a relationship attribute in a mapped superclass. This allows for the join column name or join table to be different in each subclass.

@AssociationOverrideAttributes
Attribute Description Default Required?
name The name of the attribute. Yes
joinColumn The join column in the subclass table. join column defined in mapped superclass No
joinTable The join table for the subclass. join table defined in mapped superclass No
Elug javaspec icon.gif

For more information, see Section 11.1.2 "AssociationOverride Annotation" in the JPA Specification.

The following examples shows usages of the three different inheritance strategies for mapping an Account hierarchy.

Example: Using SINGLE_TABLE with @Inheritance annotation
CREATE TABLE ACCOUNT (ID NUMBER, ACCOUNT_TYPE VARCHAR(31), BALANCE NUMBER, INTERESTRATE NUMBER, RETURNCHECKS BOOLEAN)
@Entity
@Table(name="ACCOUNT")
@Inheritance(strategy=InheritanceType.SINGLE_TABLE)
@DiscriminatorColumn(name="ACCOUNT_TYPE")
public abstract class Account implements Serializable {
    @Id
    private Long id;
    @Basic
    private BigDecimal balance;
    ...
}
@Entity
@DiscriminatorValue("SAVINGS")
public class SavingAccount extends Account {
    @Basic
    private BigDecimal interestRate;
}
@Entity
@DiscriminatorValue("CHECKING")
public class CheckingAccount extends Account {
    @Basic
    private boolean returnChecks;
}
Example: Using SINGLE_TABLE with <inheritance> XML
<entity class="Account">
    <table name="ACCOUNT"/>
    <inheritance strategy="SINGLE_TABLE"/>
    <discriminator-column name="ACCOUNT_TYPE"/>
    <attributes>
        <id name="id"/>
        <basic name="balance"/>
    </attributes>
</entity>
<entity class="SavingAccount">
    <discriminator-value>SAVINGS</discriminator-value>
    <attributes>
        <basic name="interestRate"/>
    </attributes>
</entity>
<entity class="CheckingAccount">
    <discriminator-value>CHECKING</discriminator-value>
    <attributes>
        <basic name="returnChecks"/>
    </attributes>
</entity>


Eclipselink-logo.gif
Version: 2.2.0 DRAFT
Other versions...

Copyright © Eclipse Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved.