Problem

A field with the same properties is frequently included in multiple MetaEd files (sometimes with different field names) and the field properties must be defined each time.

Solution

Define a shared type. Instead of defining field properties each time the field is included, reference the shared type, renaming it as appropriate for each reference.

Discussion

A shared type is a field with a predefined set of properties that can be referenced in multiple MetaEd files.

MetaEd allows for three types of fields to be predefined as shared types:

Shared decimals
Shared integers
Shared strings

Consider these two MetaEd files, both referencing a decimal field with 18 total digits, 4 decimal places, and a minimum value of 0.

Domain Entities without Shared Simple Types

Domain Entity ReportCard
	documentation "This is an example of a domain entity that would benefit from referencing a shared type."
	decimal GPAGivenGradingPeriod
		documentation "A measure of average performance in all courses taken by an individual for the current grading period."
		is optional
		total digits 18
    	decimal places 4
    	min value 0
	decimal GPACumulative
		documentation "A measure of cumulative average performance in all courses taken by an individual from the beginning of the school year through the current grading period."
		is optional
		total digits 18
    	decimal places 4
    	min value 0
	...
 
 
 
Domain Entity StudentAcademicRecord
	documentation "This is another example of a domain entity that would benefit from referencing a shared type."
	decimal CumulativeGradePointsEarned
		documentation "The cumulative number of grade points an individual earns by successfully completing courses or examinations during his or her enrollment."
		total digits 18
    	decimal places 4
    	min value 0
	decimal CumulativeGradePointAverage
		documentation "A measure of average performance in all courses taken by an individual during his or her school career as determined for record-keeping purposes."
		total digits 18
    	decimal places 4
    	min value 0
	...

Instead, create a shared type to define the properties of this particular shared decimal.

Shared Decimal - GPA

Shared Decimal GPA
    documentation "Grade Point Average computed for a grading period or cumulatively."
    total digits 18
    decimal places 4
    min value 0

Then, reference the shared decimal in the MetaEd files, renaming each instance with the keyword "named" followed by the desired name of the reference. The documentation may also be specific to each reference.

Domain Entities with Shared Simple Types

Domain Entity ReportCard
	documentation "This is an example of a domain entity that would benefit from referencing a shared type."
	shared decimal GPA named GPAGivenGradingPeriod
		documentation "A measure of average performance in all courses taken by an individual for the current grading period."
		is optional
	shared decimal GPA named GPACumulative
		documentation "A measure of cumulative average performance in all courses taken by an individual from the beginning of the school year through the current grading period."
		is optional
	...
 
 
 
Domain Entity StudentAcademicRecord
	documentation "This is another example of a domain entity that would benefit from referencing a shared type."
	shared decimal GPA named CumulativeGradePointsEarned
		documentation "The cumulative number of grade points an individual earns by successfully completing courses or examinations during his or her enrollment."
		is optional
	shared decimal GPA named CumulativeGradePointAverage
		documentation "A measure of average performance in all courses taken by an individual during his or her school career as determined for record-keeping purposes."
		is optional
	...

Though shared types are sometimes renamed when referenced in a MetaEd file, renaming is not required as long as there is only one reference to the shared type within each file.