Fetch

A fetch defines how the Agentry Server synchronizes data for a target object collection. This object collection must be a top-level collection within the module. A fetch is made up of steps that retrieve the data for the collection from the back end system. These steps are grouped into three categories within the Fetch definition: Client Exchange Steps, Server Exchange Steps, and Removal Steps. A fetch may also include properties to store data captured from the user and validation rules for those property values.

A fetch may be a main or non-main fetch. A main fetch is processed during every transmit between the Agentry Client and Server. A given module may contain multiple main fetches. The order in which multiple main fetches, either within the same module or within multiple main fetches, are processed is undefined and should therefore not be a factor in the synchronization logic.

A non-main fetch will only be executed when an action step of type transmit explicitly defines such a fetch to be processed. Non-main fetches are normally defined to provide the search functionality to end users.

The basic structure of a fetch definition is intended to support the exchange data model of synchronization. This model is intended to allow for the synchronization of data in a more efficient manner, where only data changes on the back end system as compared to the current data on a given client are retrieved. Any data that has not been changed as compared to the client’s data is not retrieved.

A fetch definition can be defined to retrieve new object instances to be added to a client application, replace existing objects on that client, a remove any objects the client should no longer store locally. The read steps of the object type targeted by the fetch are run after the fetch has been processed and may also retrieve objects for the client to either add them or replace existing instances.

Fetch Child Definitions

Property: A fetch property defines data to be captured on the Agentry Client for use during fetch processing by the Agentry Server.
Validation Rule: A fetch validation rule defines what rule definition will be used to validate the fetch’s data and how failed validation is handled on the Agentry Client.
Client Exchange Step: A fetch client exchange step defines how information about the target collection is processed by the Agentry Server.
Server Exchange Step: A fetch server exchange step defines how information about the back end system’s data is processed.
Removal Step: A fetch removal step is defined to determine which objects should be removed from the collection targeted by the parent fetch.

Fetch Attributes

Collection: This attribute references the object collection property within the same module and that is a direct child of the module main object for which the fetch will synchronize data. Steps executed by the fetch’s child step usage definition will be processed by the Agentry Server in the context of this collection.
Name: This attribute contains the name that identifies the fetch. This value must be unique among all fetch definitions within the same module.
Display Name: This attribute contains the value that identifies the fetch on the client. This is displayed during synchronization in the Client’s Transmit Screen when the fetch is processed by the Server.
Clear Collection: This attribute specifies whether or not the object instances stored in the targeted collection should be removed from the Client prior to processing the fetch during synchronization. This attribute is normally only left set on when the fetch is either not using the exchange data model for synchronization, or when it is a non-main fetch performing search functionality and the previous search results should be removed from the client before performing a new search.
Main Fetch: This attribute specifies whether the fetch is a main fetch. When checked, the fetch will be processed during every transmit between the Client and Server. When unchecked, the fetch will only be run when an action step of type Transmit explicitly lists the fetch to be processed and that action step is the one that initiates the transmit.