Customizing the Database
Overview: Customizing the Database
This section of System Management Help is designed for users who need to merge the standard Archibus schema with their own data structures or with other packages that are used in their organizations. This may involve:
- modifying the fields and attributes of existing project application data tables (such as the Rooms or Buildings table)
- defining new project application data tables to support your custom extensions
- modifying the attributes the schema tables (which control the behavior of Archibus and the data relationships)
In general, you will:
- Make your schema changes using the Navigator tasks that access the schema tables. See Understanding the Archibus Database .
- Once you make a change, you will need to port the change to the various instances in your development and production environments. See Overview: Database Update Wizard .
- If your customization involves a change that adds or removes fields and tables from the database (that is, changes that alter the structure of the database), you must perform additional steps. See Overview: Changing the Structure of the Database .
Skills
The tools for customizing the Archibus database are powerful. With this power also comes the potential to damage the database structure and upset the normal program functionality. Therefore, system integrators modifying the structure of the database should have:
- a background in SQL modification
- database certification (recommended)
- a thorough understanding of data structures and database design
- knowledge of the Archibus data structures -- how tables are related and where they are used
- knowledge about the Archibus database-independent representation of the schema and how that is translated to the physical database.
Great care should be exercised in deciding that such a change is necessary, as well as in planning and execution of schema changes. The The Project Customization Process topic addresses issues you should consider both determining the need and in planning the project.