Create Operations

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Purpose

Create operations initialize objects with a unique identifier (metaId).

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Basic Structure

{
  "create": [
    {
      "object": {
        "target": "ObjectName",
        "variant": "DEF",
        "refIdType": "metaId",
        "refIdValues": [1]
      },
      "model": {
        "contentType": "adhoc",
        "content": {
          "elements": [...]
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

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Object Section

{
  "object": {
    "target": "Customer",      // Object name
    "variant": "DEF",          // Variant name
    "refIdType": "metaId",     // Always "metaId"
    "refIdValues": [1, 2]      // Column orders forming unique ID
  }
}

refIdValues:

• Array of column orders
• Forms composite key if multiple columns
• Example: [1] = column 1 is unique ID
• Example: [2, 3] = columns 2+3 form unique ID

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Model Elements

1. ColumnsList

Map source columns directly:

{
  "contentType": "columnsList",
  "content": {
    "columnsChoice": "Selection",
    "columns": [1, 2, 3, 4]
  }
}

Maps columns 1-4 to fields with same names.

2. Formula

Calculate derived field:

{
  "encapsulationKeyType": "element",
  "encapsulationKey": "total",
  "contentType": "formula",
  "content": {
    "value": "#column.4# * #column.5#",
    "type": "double",
    "isPostProcessed": false
  }
}

3. Constant

Static value:

{
  "encapsulationKeyType": "element",
  "encapsulationKey": "status",
  "contentType": "constant",
  "content": {
    "value": "active",
    "type": "string"
  }
}

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Complete Example

{
  "create": [
    {
      "object": {
        "target": "Sale",
        "variant": "DEF",
        "refIdType": "metaId",
        "refIdValues": [1]
      },
      "model": {
        "contentType": "adhoc",
        "content": {
          "elements": [
            {
              "contentType": "columnsList",
              "content": {
                "columnsChoice": "Selection",
                "columns": [1, 2, 3]
              }
            },
            {
              "encapsulationKeyType": "element",
              "encapsulationKey": "totalPrice",
              "contentType": "formula",
              "content": {
                "value": "#column.4# * #column.5#",
                "type": "double",
                "isPostProcessed": false
              }
            },
            {
              "encapsulationKeyType": "element",
              "encapsulationKey": "status",
              "contentType": "constant",
              "content": {
                "value": "pending",
                "type": "string"
              }
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

This creates Sale objects with:

• Unique ID from column 1
• Fields from columns 1, 2, 3
• Calculated totalPrice (quantity × price)
• Constant status = "pending"

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Model structure recap

The model section always follows the same pattern:

"model": {
  "encapsulationKeyType": "<element|object|array>",
  "encapsulationKey": "<targetKey>",
  "contentType": "<constant|formula|columnsList|adhoc>",
  "content": { ... }
}

Common combinations

Goal	encapsulationKeyType	contentType	Example
Single fixed field	"element"	"constant"	"status": "active"
Single calculated field	"element"	"formula"	"fullName": firstName + ' ' + lastName.toUpperCase()
Flat sub-object	"object"	"columnsList"	Map a selection of columns into "address"
Array of sub-objects	"array"	"adhoc"	Build an items list from order line columns

• columnsList is used to map source columns as-is
• adhoc is used when mixing constants, formulas, nested objects, or arrays

Best Practices

Choose Stable MetaId

Use columns that never change:

✓ Good: id, customer_id
✗ Bad: name, email

Composite Keys

For natural keys:

"refIdValues": [2, 3]  // store + channel

Keep Create Simple

Put complex logic in update operations:

Create: Base fields only
Update: Arrays, aggregations, calculations

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