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The table structure of REM repeats the dictionary structure with tables and columns. Instead of columns, Attributes (sys_re_attribute) are used in REM. You can connect REM attributes with a table within the Model (sys_re_model). Besides, you can create attribute collections as universal sets of attributes that can be used in several models at the same time. 

You can access to dictionaries related to REM through the Record Extended Model menu category. 

REM concept

What is REM?

To answer this question, we need to provide some theory first.

Thesis 1

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Every table has its own data model stipulated specified by the business-logic. The data model is represented by the column set (their amount, types, links with another system objects, and so on). This data model can be extended with child table with the same attribute set as a the parent one, and an individual attributes inaccessible from the parent table, as an addition. For example, the diagram below shows that all attributes of the User table are inherited by the Employee table:

Attributes extension circuit diagram

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Conclusion

To manage the commonalous entities (like ITSM Tasks), we can create a table with appropriate column set and extend from it for Incidents, Change Requests, Problems, and so on, creating respective tables that inherit attributes (columns) from a parent one and besides have their own attributes. For example, attribute overlap in there may be 70%, and unique attributes will be 30% of the total.

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When there are not In this case, this model works fine (when we do not have many child tables, and the attribute overlap is high), this data model works fine. But when the child table number increases, and the attribute overlap decreases, the management of this data model becomes a challenge. Data model with big and complicated table inheritance structure has some disadvantages:

• It is required to allocate more space for record storage.
• Scripts are executed slower.
• It is getting harder to configure the functionality related to the specified dictionary, such as data import, layout setting and so one, etc.

A Request Catalog can be taken as an example of such a table (: a parent table for the catalog and a record in the table for every each request template with specific attributes).

To deal with this issue, another Record Extended Model concept has been created and implemented – Record Extended Model.

REM Concept

In this concept, extension concept . Extension concept can be applied for to a specified table record, giving some featured additional attributes to it.

Physically, extension model are stored as records of the Models (sys_re_models) table, and they intended to collect specific attributes extending records. Attributes are stored as records of the Attributes (sys_re_attribute) table (extending the Columns (sys_db_column) table).

When a record extension model is applied to a record, it means that an auxiliary record set is created for this record containing information about specific attribute values. So the record has attributes inherited from a table, and in addition, it has attributes sourced from the extension model.

Configuring extension models

Generally, to configure your extension model, you need to:

1. Create an extension model.
2. Create attributes ( and link it them to the model).
3. (optional) Configure an the attribute collection.
4. (optional) Configure RE model client script if needed.

Creating models

To create a model, please complete the steps below:

1. Navigate to Record Extended Model → Models.
2. Click New and fill in the fields.
3. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply changes.

Record extended model form fields

Reference to a table affected by the model.

Please note that you cannot specify a read-only table. To use such a table, please turn off this attribute first.

In the diagram below, you can see the difference between models and collections. Models are created with a specific attribute set that can only be used in this model. Collections contain attributes that can be applied to different models. 

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Creating models

To create a model,

Configuring attributes

To create an attribute, please complete the steps below:

1. Navigate to Record Extended Model → AttributesModels.
2. Click New and fill in the fields.
3. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply changes.

Attribute form fields

Specify a target field to map the attribute value after the record is created. This option allows nimble transferring of the attribute values to fields.

Specify a default value that will be populated to the field when creating a new record. This field may be specified by a JavaScript scenario as well.

This field appears only when the Use Dynamic Default checkbox is selected.

Select the script from the Dynamic Default Values (sys_default_value_dynamic) dictionary, so its execution result will be automatically calculated and entered into this field; this value will be the default value for the column specified.

Configuring attributes

In SimpleOne you can create attribute mapping for models and collections. Data mapping is the process of connecting a data field from one table to a data field in another table. It reduces the potential for errors, helps standardize your data, and makes it easier to understand your data because it establishes direct relationships between your data across multiple tables at once.

To create an attribute, complete the steps below:

1. Navigate to Record Extended Model → Attributes.
2. Click New and fill in the fields.
3. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply changes.

Configuring attribute collections

Attribute collections are implemented for using to user Many-to-Many Relationships so , so they allow reusing you to reuse the same attributes in various accross models instead of adding them in every separately to each model where necessary.

A simplified usage Simplified concept of use is:

1. Create a collection record as described below.
2. Fill it with previously created attributes or create new ones using the Attributes related list.
3. Relate this collection with previously created models using the Used in Models related list.

After that, all the attributes contained in this collection are used by all models this collection related withrelates to.

To create a collection, please complete the steps below:

1. Navigate to Record Extended Model → Collections.
2. Click New and fill in the fields.
3. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply changes.

Collection form field

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Configuring model client scripts

To create a record extended model client script, please complete the steps below:

1. Navigate to Record Extended Model → Model Client Scripts.
2. Click New and fill in the fields.
3. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply changes.

Model client script form fields

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The script type:

• onLoad – it starts when the system displays the form for the first time before users will enter data. Generally, onLoad scripts perform manipulations on the client-side with the current form or set default record values;
• onChange – it starts when the specified field in the form is changed;
• onSubmit – this client-side script can cancel form submitting by returning false;
• onCellEdit - this client-side script starts at the moment when some cell is to edit.
  • oldvalue - the old value for the cell that was edited;
  • newValue - the new value for the cell that was edited;
  • table - the table name of the cell being edited (for example, sys_db_table); 
    
  • sysId - the ID of the record relevant to the cell being edited;
  • callback - if this variable is equated to FALSE, then subsequent scripts will not run; otherwise, they will execute.

Configure model form elements

You can arrange the fields of your RE model attributes in a particular order and position, as you can do with form layouts. Group attributes by common features and give them a title. In the screenshot below, a custom model attributes are divided into two columns:

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To change the order of the displayed attributes, perform the following steps:

1. Navigate to Record Extended Model → Models.
2. Open the model you need.
3. Scroll down to the Related Lists area and open the Model Form Elements tab.

4. Arrange the attributes by changing the value in the Position field. 

   Tip
   Use the inline editing: double-click on the cell in the the Position field column, enter the value and press press Enter to save changes.

   
   

To configure a model layout, perform the following steps: 

Define the title of the group of elements. This title will be displayed above the attributes group on the relevant page of the Self-Service Portal.

How to use record extensions

For a full record extension functionality using, some additional actions are to be fulfilled. Below, a simplified implementation procedure can be found.

1. Create an extension model as described above.
2. Create necessary attributes and bind them to the model.
   • You can create attributes out of the your created model using the appropriate related list.
3. Create a new widget using <rem> or <remform> SimpleTags (based on the widget planned location, a record form or a portal page).
4. Add newly created widget to a record form using the Form Layout functionality (or add it to the appropriate portal page using the portal pages configuring functionality).

Example of usage

For example, you need to extend your Task table with some attributes allowing to handle some daily duties. To perform this, follow the procedure described above:

Create an extension model for this table.

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Create attributes (wonder which fields could be created on this record form within this task). There should be a single attribute for every single for field.

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Create a form widget as described below and save it:

<rem modelId="{data.model_id}" tableName="{data.table_name}" recordId = "{data.record_id}" />

(() => {
  window.s_widget_custom = window.s_widget_custom || {};
  const parameter = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search).get('model_id');
  s_widget.setFieldValue('model_id', parameter);
  s_widget.setFieldValue('table_name', window.s_form.getTableName());
  s_widget.setFieldValue('record_id', window.s_form.getUniqueValue());
})();

Add this widget to the record form view using the Form Layout functionality:

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Navigate to a record form using the URL looking like: https://instance.example.com/record/task?model_id=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

1. Navigate to Record Extended Model → Models.
2. Open the model you need.
3. Scroll down to the Related Lists area and open the Model Form Elements tab.
4. Click New and fill in the fields.
5. Click Save or Save and Exit to add the element.

Specify the type of the splitter. Available options:

• Begin – use this element to define the beginning of block of fields. You can define the name of a group in it. When selected, the Block Title field is displayed.
• Split – use this element to divide the field into columns.
• End – use this element to define the end of block of fields.

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