Business objects (BOs) implement the software's business logic. They are responsible for handling data objects (constructing, loading, saving, deleting) and any other business logic related to the business module. For every data object, there is a business object that handles it. Business objects offer services to the Controller layer (UI, API, Process) but they do not implement any process flows.
In CRM.COM Software, business object classes are implemented using EJBs (Enterprise Java Beans) J2EE server-side components, and more specifically, Stateless Session Beans. More information about EJBs can be found here.
What does this section cover?
Creating the Business Object Classes
All business objects should be placed under com.crm.businessobject.* named packages, and extend either com.crm.businessobject.CRMBO or one of its subclasses and follow this naming convention: CRMBO<classname>Bean.java.
Creating CRMBOBankBranchBean.java
Defining Bussiness Object Methods
To implement the basic business logic, the following methods must be created:
The following method creates a new instance of the data object adding any business logic required.
/**
* Constructs a bank branch.
*
* @param mainDTO - the main data object
* @return a bank branch
* @throws Exception
*/
@Override
protected CRMDO constructDO(CRMDO mainDTO) throws Exception {
CRMDOBankBranch bankBranch = new CRMDOBankBranch();
if (mainDTO instanceof CRMDOBank)
{
bankBranch.setBank((CRMDOBank)mainDTO);
}
return bankBranch;
}
The following method saves the data objects to the database. Any business logic required can be added (i.e. saving related data objects).
/**
* Saves a bank branch.
*
* @param dto - the bank branch to save
* @return the saved bank branch
* @throws Exception
*/
@Override
protected CRMDO saveDO(CRMDO dto) throws Exception {
CRMDOBankBranch bankBranch = (CRMDOBankBranch)dto;
saveDataObject(bankBranch);
return bankBranch;
}
This method deletes the data objects. In this method, we add any business logic required to be executed when deleting an entity (i.e. deleting related data objects). Note that records are not physically deleted but marked as deleted.
/**
* Deletes a bank branch.
*
* @param dto - the bank branch to delete
* @return the deleted bank branch
* @throws Exception
*/
@Override
protected CRMDO deleteDO(CRMDO dto) throws Exception {
return dto;
}
This method validates the data objects before saving to the database. Any validations that should be done before saving the data object to the database should be performed in this method.
/**
* Validates a bank branch on save.
*
* @param dto - the bank branch to validate
* @throws Exception
*/
@Override
protected void validateDOonSave(CRMDO dto) throws Exception {
CRMDOBankBranch bankBranch = (CRMDOBankBranch)dto;
validateUniqueness(bankBranch);
}
This method can be used in cases where the data object must be unique. validateUniqueRecordAgainstDb and validateUniqueValueComboAgainstDb of CRMValidatorBean.java can be used to validate that there is no other data object having the same field value or having the same combination of fields values respectively.
/**
* Validates the uniqueness of a bank branch.
*
* @param bankBranch - the bank branch to validate
* @throws Exception
*/
protected void validateUniqueness(CRMDOBankBranch bankBranch) throws Exception {
//Validate that there is no other bank branch with the same name
validatorBean.validateUniqueRecordAgainstDb(
bankBranch,
new String[]{"name"},
new String[]{"Name"},
"Branch",
true,
null);
//Validate that there is no other bank branch with the same alternative code
validatorBean.validateUniqueRecordAgainstDb(
bankBranch,
new String[]{"altCode"},
new String[]{"Alternative Code"},
"Branch",
true,
null);
This method validates the data objects before saving to the database as deleted. Any validations that should be done before deleting the data object should be performed in this method.
/**
* Validates a bank branch on delete.
*
* @param dto - the bank branch to validate
* @throws Exception
*/
@Override
protected void validateDOonDelete(CRMDO dto) throws Exception {
CRMDOBankBranch bankBranch = (CRMDOBankBranch)dto;
//Validate that the bank branch is not defined in any non-terminated accounts receivable payment preference
validateIfUsedByAccountsOnDelete(bankBranch);
}
This method returns the class of the data object that is handled by the specific business object. It is used mainly to construct the HQL (Hibernate Query Language) dynamically.
/**
* Returns the data object class of a bank branch.
*
* @return the data object class of the bank branch
*/
@Override
protected Class<CRMDOBankBranch> getDataObjectClass() {
return CRMDOBankBranch.class;
}
This method returns a list of the associated data objects that should be loaded by default when loading a data object. It is called by abstract functionality to load the data objects associated data objects.
/**
* Returns the default associated data objects of a bank branch.
*
* @return the default associated data objects of the bank branch
*/
@Override
public ArrayList<String> getDefaultAssociations() {
ArrayList<String> defaultAssociations = new ArrayList<String>();
defaultAssociations.add("createdByUser");
defaultAssociations.add("updatedByUser");
defaultAssociations.add("createdByUnit");
defaultAssociations.add("updatedByUnit");
defaultAssociations.add("bank");
return defaultAssociations;
}
This method returns a sequence number that is set on the data object in case it has a number property. It is called by abstract functionality to set the data object's number when saving the data object.
/**
* Returns the next sequence number of a bank branch.
*
* @param dto - the bank branch to return the next sequence number for
* @return the next sequence number of the bank branch
* @throws Exception
*/
@Override
protected String getSequenceNumber(CRMDO dto) throws Exception {
//No sequence number must be returned
return null;
}
Use getNextSequenceNumber method which is implemented in super class CRMBO.java, to get the next sequence number of the data object.
/**
* Returns the next sequence number of an account definition.
*
* @param dto - the account definition to return the next sequence number for
* @return the next sequence number of the account definition
* @throws Exception
*/
@Override
protected String getSequenceNumber(CRMDO dto) throws Exception {
return getNextSequenceNumber(SequenceNumber.ACCDEFINITIONS);
}
This method returns a list of the data object's mandatory fields (fields that should be always set). This method is called by abstract functionality to validate that all mandatory fields are set.
/**
* Returns the mandatory fields of a bank branch.
*
* @param dto - the bank branch to return the mandatory fields for
* @return the mandatory fields of the bank branch
* @throws Exception
*/
@Override
protected LinkedHashMap<String, String> getMandatoryFields(CRMDO dto) throws Exception {
LinkedHashMap<String, String> mandatoryFields = new LinkedHashMap<String, String>();
mandatoryFields.put("key_name", "name");
mandatoryFields.put("key_alternative_code", "altCode");
return mandatoryFields;
}
To start implementing the controller layer, go to Developing the Controller layer
