A newer version of the Ed-Fi Data Standard is now available. See the Ed-Fi Technology Version Index for a link to the latest version.
Section 1. Adding New Entities
- Ian Christopher (Deactivated)
This section covers allowable scenarios for adding entities to the Ed-Fi data model.
1.1. Add New Domain Entity
A domain entity usually represents a real-world noun or concept. Examples in the core Ed-Fi data model include the Student entity, the Student Assessment entity, the Education Organization entity, and so forth. New entities may be added to the Ed-Fi data model.
- MUST contain at least one identity property.
- MUST NOT allow identity property updates for new domain entities that are not in the core Ed-Fi data model.
- MAY contain multiple identity properties.
- MAY include any properties as required/optional/single/collection.
1.2. Add New Association Entity
Association entities usually make a logical connection between domain entities (e.g., between a staff member and an education organization to which they are assigned). In the Ed-Fi data model, Association entities almost always carry additional information about the association itself, such as begin and end dates. Associations often carry information specific to the association such as a staff member's specific role at a particular school.
- MUST have a unique name - consider using a semantic differentiator in the name if an Association joining the same two entities already exists.
- SHOULD have a name that concatenates the entities being joined ending with "Association".
- MAY contain additional attributes beyond the reference to the associated entities.
- MAY include any properties as required/optional/single/collection.
1.3. Add New Descriptor
Descriptors are a customizable list of values mapped for each implementation.
- MUST NOT include a map type.
- MUST NOT contain "Descriptor" in the name, as this creates redundancy in the name and causes downstream problems.
- MUST NOT contain any additional properties.
1.4. Add New Shared Simple Type
Shared simple types are elements that can be reused throughout an extension.
- MUST have a unique name.
- MUST contain the minimum appropriate details to define a decimal, string, or integer.
- MAY be a shared decimal, shared string, or shared integer.
- MUST NOT include any properties other than the simple type definition.
1.5. Add New Common Type
Common types are reusable types that can be referenced by inclusion in an Extension.
- MUST contain an identity property if used as a collection. MAY otherwise contain an identity property.
- MUST include at least one property from the list below.
- MAY include any properties as required/optional/single/collection.