A global
definition defines a constant value, including data type, for the
application. This value can be referenced throughout the application,
both by the attributes of other definition types and for use in
synchronization components. A global value cannot be changed on
the Client at run-time but can be overridden during synchronization.
A
global’s value is constant and cannot be modified on the Agentry
Client.
It can be overridden at run time during synchronization.
The
value of a global definition is dependent on the global’s data type.
Following is a list of the global data types:
- Boolean: A
value that may be either true or false.
- Date: A value representing a calendar date.
- Date and Time: A value containing a calendar date and
time of day.
- Decimal Number: A numeric value that contains a fractional
portion and that may be positive or negative.
- Duration: A value containing a duration of time in hours,
minutes, and seconds.
- Identifier: A numeric value that is primarily used to
represent an identifying value. Can contain whole, positive numeric
values.
- Integral Number: A numeric value containing whole numbers
that may be positive or negative.
- Selection: A special data type for a global definition
that represents an attribute setting that is selected from a list.
This data type cannot be selected when defining a global, but rather
is the automatic data type of the global when it is created specifically
for an attribute whose setting is selected from a drop-down list
in the Editor. Valid values for this type of global are those found
in the specific list for the attribute.
- String: A value containing alphanumeric or other printable
characters.
- Time: A value containing a time of day.
The
data type of a global is important as it will determine where in
the application the Global can be used. The data type of the attribute
and the global definition used to set it must be the same. For example,
string properties contain attributes for their size, i.e., the number
of characters they can contain. This size attribute is an integral
number. This then requires the user of a global with a data type
of integral number.
A global definition may be added to the
application project from either the list of globals for the application, or
at the point where it will be referenced by another attribute that
may be set via a global. In the latter case, the data type of the
global is set automatically based on the data type for that attribute.