Premise [download] DIAGRAM: Exploring a Premise object and its class.

File Name: DIAGRAM: Exploring a Premise object and its class.
File Submitter: 123
File Submitted: 05 May 2012
File Category: Premise
Author: 123
Contact: Support Topic
Version: 1.0

The attached diagram shows how to explore a Premise object and its class.


If you are unfamiliar with the difference between an object and a class, here is a metaphor:

A cake is an object. It is composed of ingredients and occupies space.
A recipe for cake is a class. It is instructions for making a cake using specific ingredients.

The Thermostat class is a recipe for making a Thermostat object. Premise's Schema contains dozens of classes. Premise Home is where objects are created based on classes found in Premise's Schema. Users can define new classes in Premise's Modules. Therefore Premise's objects are derived from classes defined in Premise's Schema or Modules.

The diagram shows to explore a Premise Thermostat object. Using Builder, it navigates to the Thermostat's class, in Premise's Schema, and continues to all its inherited classes. Inheritance is the concept where one class is based upon one or more other classes. Using our metaphor, your chocolate cake recipe is based upon your mom's chocolate cake recipe.

For more information about the diagram, please read the Support Topic.

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How to explore a Premise object and its class.

There are times when it is necessary to understand how a given object is constructed. An object is based on a class and a class may inherit from other classes. In other words if a cake is an object then the cake's recipe is its class. We want to find the recipe in order to gain a better understanding of what makes up the cake.

The following example explores the Thermostat object. A Thermostat has a HeatingStatus property that can assume one of three specific states: Heat, Cool, and Off. Where is this defined and how can we find it? What numerical values do Heat, Cool, and Off represent?

• Select an existing Thermostat in Home.
• In the Properties pane, CTRL-DOUBLE-CLICK the Type property which indicates "Thermostat".
• The Explorer pane now shows a Thermostat class.
• The Content pane shows the five classes that comprise the Thermostat class.

• In the Content pane, click the ClimateControl class.
• The Properties pane shows that ClimateControl is an inherited class.
• In the Properties pane, CTRL-DOUBLE-CLICK the LinkObject property which indicates "ClimateControl".
• The Explorer pane now shows a ClimateControl class.
• The Content pane shows that this class has five MultiValues.

• In the Content pane, click HeatingStatus.
• The Properties pane shows that HeatingStatus is a MultiValue.
• In the Properties pane, CTRL-DOUBLE-CLICK the Filter property which indicates "HeatingStatus".
• The Explorer pane now shows a HeatingStatus enumeration.
• The Content pane shows that this enumeration has three Enums: Heat, Cool, Off.

• In the Content pane, click Off.
• The Properties pane shows that Off is an Enum.
• In the Properties pane, the Value of the Off Enum is 4.
• If we were to click on the Heat and Cool Enums we would discover that their Values are 1 and 2, respectively.