Teamcenter Data Model

Data Model is core of any Packaging software. To have a good technical command in any package, it is important to have a good understanding of its Data Model. Teamcenter is no difference with it.  In this blog, I will explain basic data model of Teamcenter as well corresponding schema in Database. This will help people new to Teamcenter to have a better understanding of Teamcenter system.

Teamcenter Data model can be categorized in to three distinguish layer. They are

·         POM or Schema Layer

·         Business and Relation Object Layer

·         Business Rules

POM or Persistence Object Model is lowest layer, which basically represent mapping for underlying Data Base of Teamcenter. It is not always one to one mapping, but closest to DB Tables for most of classes. Developer should know detail aspect of POM layer for customization and extension of system.

Business and Relation Object Layer resides above POM layer. This layer represents actual entity to Business and its process. Mainly Business Analyst or Solution Architect interacts at this layer.  Business Object and Relation defines overall Data Model from Business process perspective.

Business Rules are the top level layer of Data Model. This layer basically constitutes Business Object behavior based on the rules configured in BMIDE. Business rules along with Business Object encapsulate overall PLM business process. Teamcenter provided both configurable like naming rule, conditions etc or custom like extension for defining business rules.

Below diagram shows the basic building block of Teamcenter Data Model.

 

POM Schema of Teamcenter Data Model:

Teamcenter Data Model Schema is hirierachy based, it means there is base level object through which all the object in the stystem are derived. The base object in Teamcenter is called POM_object. It is base parent object for all object defined in Teamcenter. POM level object  are represented as tables in Teamcenter data base. All derived class of Teamcenter Data Model is represented as corresponded table in data base. Under POM_object classes there many immediate child classes which are mainly used as storage classes like form storage class. Out of which one important class is POM_application_object class. This is important class from perspective of it actually representing all Business object of Teamcenter.  Workspace object which represent as parents of all objects which user can see in the teamcenter is derived from POM_application_object class.

All Business classes in Teamcenter either directly or indirectly (through hierarchy) is derived from workspace object. For example Item class is derived from workspace object. Same is valid for Folder, Dataset or ItemRevision. Below diagram shows the class hierarchy for basic workspace object.

 

Most of time you create custom type by extending data model of Item or form type. Once deploy from BMIDE, it will create a new table in Data base with columns having custom attribute defined in BMIDE. All inherited classes automatically inherit parent attributes. Hence child attributes are combination of parent attributes plus child attributes.

Business Object:

The building block of Teamcenter is Business Object. It resides above POM Objects or DB Classes. Business Object can be seen as actual representation of real life entity which are encapsulated as Business object. The underlining objects are still persistence schema classes.  Teamcenter UA provides hundred of OOTB business objects. Following are major characteristic of Business Object.

1)      Business Objects are related to each other through relations.

2)      Business Objects have property which can be persistence (attributes from underlining classes) or Dynamic (evaluated run time).

3)      Business Objects behavior can be controlled through rules which are defined in BMIDE. Rule can be either configurable (Ex: Naming Rules) or customization (extension, user_exit etc).

GRM Relation: Teamcenter Relation is second building block. Relation defined the inter dependent of various Business Object with each others. In Teamcenter Relation can be categorized in to two groups.

a)      Reference by : The Business Object underline schema classed direct has reference to other object through attributes. It can be compare to pointer reference to other classes in object orient concept. For example POM_application object has reference to owning group or user.

b)      GRM Relation : Other way relation between is created by creating a relation object which encapsulate both Business object through concept of primary and secondary object. Advantage of using GRM relation rather than direct relation is that of having more flexibility in term of defining business rules. For example you can define DeepCopy Rules or GRM Rules. Also different relation type object can be created to defined different Business rules.

Property:

Properties define business objects. All attributes which are present in underline POM Class for given Business Object are automatically become property of Business Object. Apart from persistence property, there are other properties which are either derived from other relation object or created run time by writing custom codes. Teamcenter property can be classified in following four categories.

a)      Persistence Property: Attributes which are stored in database. This are defined in underline schema classes.

b)      Compound Property: It a property which basically propagates property of other object which is related to target business object through either reference or relation. Example of this can Form property shown at Item or Item Revision.

c)       Runtime Property: These are property define dynamically through custom code. The custom code required to be written, which executes when the property value is fetch from server.

d)      Relation: This is property which defines relation between target object and source.

That’s all from Teamcenter Basic Data Model Perspective. Hope this provide good starting point  for people who want to understand Teamcenter Data Model.