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Contents - Index Glossary

The following definitions are provided to enhance the clarity,consistency and understanding of some of the terms used in thisdocument.

Attribute - means InstantObjects Attribute. A business classproperty with persistence provided by the InstantObjects framework. Business Class - is a class that models an object in the businessdomain. The class is derived from TInstantObject to provide persistencethrough the InstantObjects framework. Class - is a blueprint from which objects are created. Column - see Field. Connection - is a component used to gain access to a specificdatabase. Container Attribute - has an attribute type of either Parts orReferences. Evolving a database - the process of restructuring a database toaccommodate a modified model in such a way that existing data ispreserved. Field - the smallest structure in a database. It represents anattribute of a business class and actually stores the attribute valuewithin the database. Broker - is used by InstantObjects to manage objects persistently,and is database specific. InstantObjects - the integrated framework for developingobject-oriented persistent business solutions in Delphi. Model - means an InstantObjects Model that is a collection ofclasses and their metadata representing a business domain and theinformation needed to provide data persistence. Object - is an instance of a class. Persistence - the issue of how to save objects to permanent storage.Persistence provides the ability for objects to exist between executionsof a system or application. RAD - Rapid Application Development. Record - A structure that is composed of a set of values for everyfield within a table and represents the attribute values for a uniqueinstance of the table's business class. Relational Attribute - has an attribute type of either Part,Reference, Parts or References. Table - the chief structure in a database. It is composed of fieldsand records and usually represents the collection of attribute valuesfor instances of a single, specific business class.