In this chapter, find the following topics discussed:
- Putting it all together with a data model example
- Reading data from an OFBiz data source
- Working with large result sets
- Removing data from an OFBiz data source
- Writing data to an OFBiz data source
- Using the
EntityUtilutility programmatically - The OFBiz automatic sequence generator
- An entity operator reference
In this chapter, we depart from the usual book format to offer useful Entity Engine hints and tips by way of examples. Each example is designed to help you master some aspect of the OFBiz Entity Engine. Intended for Java developers (and Groovy/BeanShell enthusiasts), you will find many details here offered to optimize your use of the OFBiz Entity Engine and add data-driven features to your own OFBiz Applications.
Note
Before we get started, a few ground rules:
The Entity Engine deals with "data sources" and "entities". In many cases, we shall be referring to the concrete instantiation of a "data source" as a database and "entities" as database tables respectively. This is intentional as in the real world you are not likely to encounter a "data source", but rather a database.
Similarly, OFBiz entities only have meaning within the context of OFBiz. For all practical purposes, an OFBiz entity is the model of a relational database table. In a relational database, tables have column names that are referred to here as "fields". Data is stored in database table records. Records and the term "rows" are used interchangeably here.