Simple SmartObjects

Simple SmartObjects allows you to create SmartObject properties and their associations. By default K2 will create the five standard methods available on all SmartObjects.

The SmartObject property screen displays all the properties and their configuration settings such as, Type and Key.  The “ID” auto number property is added by default to all new SmartObjects. This property can be edited and changed for example to EmpID or deleted. A SmartObject requires at least one Key property.

To add a new property, click on Add. The Add SmartObject Properties screen opens. The details of the property can be captured here.

Action Description
Add Opens an entry line where the property can be added
Edit Edits the property information
Remove Removes the property
Remove All Removes all the properties
Move Up Changes the position of the property selected with the property above it
Move Down Changes the position of the property selected with the property below it
Name The Name of the SmartObject property
Description The description of the SmartObject property
Type Indicates the type of the property, see Property Types below
Key The Key property identifies the field / property as unique which ensures that the contents of the property will always be unique and no two fields will contain the same data. A SmartObject requires at least one Key property
Required Creates the property as a required field when creating a View or a Form from the SmartObject. This is purely for View and Form validation
Unique Creates the record as unique in the database
Type What it is
Autonumber When a new listing in the SmartObject is created the listing will contain an index which is automatically generated
AutoGUID The AutoGUID is similar to the  Autonumber, it takes on the role of an identity type field where a GUID will be auto generated when a record is created
Date The properties can be set to display the data in a date format. See the Date/Time Use Cases section.
Date Time The properties can be set to display the data in a date and time format. See the Date/Time Use Cases section.
Decimal Decimal numbers can be entered in the SmartObject property at runtime
File Stores a file of any format
GUID Global Unique Identifier
Hyperlink Stores the property data as a hyperlink
Image Stores an image of supported types
Memo Large String
Multivalue Multivalue data types are used to store multiple values in one SmartObject property. When using Service Objects that have multi value properties, such as the AD service object,  the multiple values are translated from the XML schema provided that the correct schema format is adhered to. If the format differs the data type will not work and the data will not we returned as expected. An example of the expected schema for K2 smartforms would be:
<collection>
                <object>
                               <fields>
                                               <field>
                                                               <value>2</value>
                                               </field>
                                               <field>
                                                               <value>4</value>
                                               </field>
                                               <field>
                                                               <value>6</value>
                                               </field>
                               </fields>
                </object>
</collection>
The multivalue data type is supported with a checkboxlist control in Views.  This will update and read the values from the multivalue property.The values shown in the checboxlist can be either static values or SmartObject list results.
Number Only numerical values can be input at runtime
Text Stores ANSI standard text characters
Time The properties can be set to display the data in a time format. See the Date/Time Use Cases section.
Yes/No Boolean type property

Use cases of Date, Datetime, Time, Timezone data types:

  • Datetime - Should be used to specify a utc time that will show in different locations relative to the user's timezone.
  • Datetime with timezone - Should be used to specify a utc time that will not vary depending on the user's timezone.
  • Date - Should be used for a timezone invariant date (no time).
  • Time - Should be used for a timezone invariant time (no date).

Property Types or better known as data types are automatically validated upon executing the CREATE or SAVE method on a SmartObject.
For example, if a user tries to CREATE a new record for a SmartObject property called Mobile with a data Type of type [Number], but with a value that is of type [Text], a server side message will be surfaced, stating that validation has failed.

The Methods tab is only available when creating an Advanced SmartObject

The Methods tab is not visible when creating a Simple SmartObject as default methods are automatically created for this type of SmartObject.
The methods created by default are:

  • Create - Creates records
  • Save - Saves records
  • Load - Uploads records
  • Delete - Deletes records
  • Get List - Lists records

These methods are available in the K2 Object Browser under Environment > SmartObject Server for use in K2 Workflows. Should there be a need to choose multiple SmartObject services, or to add/delete SmartObject methods, it is advised to create an Advanced SmartObject or edit the Simple SmartObject and change the type to Advanced SmartObject.