Creating new objects
To create a new object:
Procedure
- In pcmadmin (singleuser mode), click Edit > Objects and Tools to display the Object Name list (this is the default display when you execute pcmadmin).
- Click New to display the New Object Definition window.
- Complete the fields in the window as described in the following table.
Field Description Object Name Required
Enter a unique name for the object.
There is a 30 (alphanumeric) characters maximum limitation. The first character must be a letter. The period (.) is an invalid character in this field.
Restriction: Index is a reserved word and should not be used as the Object Name.Object Template Required
Select an existing Object Type that you want to use as a template to create the new object. To select an available Object Type, click the pop-up list to the right of the entry field. The new object inherits the template object’s characteristics including the characteristics of its Class Type, the Tool Assignment, User-permission, and Property Sheet. The Tool Assignment, User-permissions, and Property Sheet can be customized; the Class Type characteristics cannot be customized. You must be aware of the Class Type characteristics when choosing the object template.
Icon Name Optional (recommended)
Enter the name of the icon to represent the object in Contenta Explorer. If no data is entered in this field, only the Object Name appears in Contenta Explorer. Enter only the base name of the icon file. Do not specify the file extension such as .ico or .bmp.
Field Description Name Field Label This is the label for the Name field in the Property Sheet. The default is Name. All objects have a Name field. You can assign a different label for display in Contenta Explorer. If you do not want to use the default label for the Name field, enter a new label for the field. Note that the custom label is only displayed in the Property Sheets for this custom object. For example, if you create a custom object based on the Document object that is to contain all the sections of your books, you could change the Name field label to Book Title. The Document object’s Name field label remains Name but the custom object’s Name field will read Book Title. Access Level Field Label This is the label for the Access Level field in the Property Sheet. The default is Access Level. All Objects have an Access Level field. You can assign a different label for display in Contenta Explorer. If you do not want the field to be labeled Access Level, enter a new label for the field. Note that the custom label is only displayed in the Property Sheets for this custom object. For example, if you want the Access Level field label to read Security Level instead; enter Security Level in this field. The original object’s Access Level field label remains unchanged, but the custom object’s Access Level field will read Security Level. - Click Create.
The Fields for Property Sheet <Objectname> window appears.
- Customizing the new Object Type: Add or modify the fields for the Object as needed or click Close to accept the fields inherited from the template object on which this object was created.
- Click Close.
The Tools for <Objectname> window appears.
- Customizing the new Object Type: Create, delete, or modify the tools for the new object as needed or click Close to accept the default tools inherited from the template object with which this object was created.
- Click Close.
The Select Which Objects Can Create window appears.Note: This window does not appear if you are creating custom Desktops (default or ProjMan).
- Customizing the new Object Type: Select the objects under which the new object can be created from the Available Objects list. This establishes the containment rules for the object. The objects in the Selected Objects list are those that can be a parent object to the object being created. This step must be completed; note that the containment rules are not inherited from the template object with which this object was created. Move objects that you want to be able to contain the new object into the Selected Objects list:
- To add an object to the Selected Objects list:
Click an object name in the Available Objects list and then click Add, or double-click the object name in the Available Objects list.
- To remove an object from the Selected Objects list:
Click on an entry in the Selected Objects list, and then click Remove or double-click on the entry in the Selected Objects list.
- To add an object to the Selected Objects list:
- Click Save.
The Define Tool Boxes for Object window appears.
- Customizing the new Object type: Assign the Tools for the Object for each Role or Tool Box.
Select the tool box from the drop-down list next to the Select Role field. The Selected Tools list displays the tools in the tool box you selected.
To add a tool, choose the tool in the Available Tools list and then click Add>>. The tool moves to the Selected Tools list.
To remove a tool, choose the tool in the Selected Tools list, and then click <<Remove. The tool moves to the Available Tools list.
Alternatively, click Close to accept the default tool box definitions inherited from the template Object with which this Object was created.Note: See the Tools tools topic in this documentation for information about tool boxes, and the Object Containment Rules topic for information about object creation tools.
- Click Close in the Define Tool Boxes for Object window. The pcmadmin tool automatically establishes a Creation Tool for all new objects. The Creation Tool for the object is dynamically added to the tools list for all objects you add to the Can be Created by list.
Note: There is no Creation tool for custom objects based on sysadmin, ProjMan or Desktop. The ability to create these objects is controlled internally by the system. Note that the option to create these objects is under File > New Desktop and not File > New Object.