Processing mappings

Last modified 08 Feb 2024 16:58 +01:00

See Mapping for background information.

A mapping maps specified items in source object to a change for target item in target object using a mapping evaluator.

Mapping context

The main output is basically the same as in expression evaluation: a delta set triple. However, mapping evaluation (compared with expression evaluation) brings the following features:

  1. binding expression sources and output to object items - including features like domain and range specification,

  2. condition evaluation modifying the output triple set,

  3. time applicability.

Source object

Overview

Object on which the mapping is evaluated. Typically a focus or a projection.

Type

Object-delta-object

Multiplicity

Exactly one (for regular data mappings) or none (for metadata mappings).

Mapping evaluator derives sources for the expression evaluator from the source object, using definition of sources in the mapping definition (MappingType).

Main output

Overview

Output of the mapping evaluation.

Type

Delta set triple

Structure

  • plus set

  • minus set

  • zero set

Multiplicity

There is a single output delta set triple. (Each set can contain zero, single, or multiple values.)

Other outputs

Condition output

Overview

Output of the mapping evaluation condition.

Type

Delta set triple of Boolean values

Structure

  • plus set

  • minus set

  • zero set

Multiplicity

There is a single condition output delta set triple. (Each set can contain zero, single, or multiple values.)

Time constraints evaluation output

Overview

Output of the time constraints evaluation.

Structure

  • time constraints valid (Boolean value)

  • next recompute time (timestamp)

Multiplicity

Single value for both components.

Evaluation parameters

There is a lot of parameters, defined both statically - i.e. as part of MappingType - or dynamically, i.e. when mapping evaluation is requested.

Statically defined evaluation parameters

Definition of source items

Overview

Definition of mapping sources

Type

VariableBindingDefinitionType

Structure

  • path: specification of item within source object (may be implicit),

  • set: specification of mapping domain i.e. values from the source item that are taken into account when evaluating the mapping,

  • auxiliary information: name, description, documentation.

Multiplicity

Zero, one, or more. (May be implicit.)

Definition of target item

Overview

Definition of mapping target item

Type

VariableBindingDefinitionType

Structure

  • path: specification of item within target object (may be implicit),

  • set: specification of mapping range i.e. values that are expected to be managed by this mapping,

  • auxiliary information: name, description, documentation.

Multiplicity

Exactly one. (May be implicit.)

Definition of the expression

Overview

Definition of mapping expression

Type

ExpressionType

Multiplicity

Exactly one. (May be implicit.)

See Expression evaluation description.

Condition

Overview

Definition of mapping condition (see below for detailed description)

Type

ExpressionType

Multiplicity

Zero or one.

Constraints

Overview

Situations where the mapping is applied

Structure

  • channel if present, denotes channel(s) that cause this mapping to be applied

  • exceptChannel if present, denotes channel(s) that cause this mapping not to be applied

Execution properties

Property

Meaning

authoritative

TODO

exclusive

TODO

strength

TODO

Time validity specification

Item

Meaning

timeFrom

TODO

timeTo

TODO
Auxiliary and unused parameters

Just for completeness let’s mention here parameters that have no effect on the computation at this level of abstraction or are not implemented at all.

Parameter Meaning

extension

Currently not used.

trace

Records evaluation information to the log.

name, description, documentation

For documentation purposes.

Dynamically defined evaluation parameters

Context variables

Overview

Context variables to be used during mapping evaluation.

Type

Named item-delta-item or named object

Structure

  • name (potentially null)

  • object

    • item-delta-item (let’s call such variable relativistic)

    • or any object: item, value, plain Java object, etc.

Multiplicity

There can be zero, single, or multiple variables.

Original target item values

Overview

Original values of the mapping target. Currently used for range checking.

Type

Values.

Multiplicity

0..n

Condition masks

Overview

Additional clause for condition evaluation.

Type

Two boolean values

Structure

  • conditionMaskOld: If set to "false" then condition for old state is considered to be false. Used to skip evaluation for old state if we know there’s nothing reasonable to be evaluated.

  • conditionMaskNew: If set to "false" then condition for new state is considered to be false. Used to skip evaluation for new state if we know there’s nothing reasonable to be evaluated.

Multiplicity

1

Mapping evaluation algorithm

There are two basic steps:

  1. Mapping preparation

  2. Prepared mapping evaluation

Mapping preparation

  1. Prepares values for individual sources (for condition and main expression evaluation)

    • Accepts pre-prepared defaultSource.

    • Prepares other sources based on their definitions and on the current state of source object. (This step is skipped for metadata mappings. There is no source object as such.) As part of source preparation, the domain of the source (if defined) is evaluated. Any out-of-domain values are removed from the source.

  2. Prepares target path and definition. This is basically a clean-up and verification of caller-provided values.

Prepared mapping evaluation

  1. Evaluates time constraints validity (computes "valid/not-valid" flag and next recompute time, if applicable).

  2. Evaluates the condition. Note that we have to evaluate condition even for mappings that are not time-valid. This is because we want to skip trigger creation for mappings that do not satisfy the condition (see MID-6040).

  3. If time constraints are valid and the condition is satisfied (i.e. either evaluated to true → true, or true → false or false → true) then:

    • Evaluates the expression, and reflects eventual condition change:

      • for true → false, new output triple looks like this:

        • plus set = empty

        • minus set = original minus + original zero

        • zero set = empty

      • for false → true, new output triple looks like this:

        • plus set = original plus + original zero

        • minus set = empty

        • zero set = empty

    • Adjusts authoritative = false setting: if present, removes output minus set, i.e. no values will be removed by this mapping.

  4. If time constraints are valid (and regardless of condition status):

    • Evaluates the range. All original values that are found to belong to the range but are not present in output zero or plus set, are added to the output minus set, i.e. are marked to be removed. Note that we check the range even for not-applicable mappings i.e. those that have condition of false → false. See also MID-5953.

Note that this algorithm does not take mapping strength (strong, normal, weak) or exclusiveness into account. These parameters are part of mapping definition but are treated by upper layers. See mapping set evaluation.

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