EntityType Element (CSDL)
The EntityType element defines a single entity within a data model. The bi:EntityType element extends the definition of EntityType used in the Entity Data Framework.
An EntityType element is specified for each of the entities that are included in the data model. The subelements of the EntityType describe the columns and measures in the table. Relationships among tables are included in the EntityContainer.
An EntityType element can have the following child elements, in the order listed:
Key Element
Property Element
NavigationProperty Element
Applicable Attributes
The table below describes the attributes found on the EntityType element, in addition to all attributes applicable to the EntityType element.
Attribute Name |
Is Required |
Value |
---|---|---|
Caption |
No |
A friendly display name for the entity. If no caption has been set in the model, no caption is displayed. |
Collection |
Yes |
The name of the data model. |
CollectionCaption |
No |
The plural name for the entity. |
Contents |
No |
A value that indicates the type of data in the entity, with the following possible values. These values are based on the Analysis Services content types for dimensions and are optional:
|
DefaultDetails |
No |
A list of property references, which together represent the set of columns in the table. |
DefaultImage |
No |
A reference to a column that contains the image used to illustrate the entity. |
DisplayKey |
A list of reference to columns or to role ends, constituting a strong identifier that can uniquely identify an entity instance to the user. |
|
Documentation |
No |
The description of the entity. |
IsTimeDimension |
Yes |
Indicates whether the entity is used as the time dimension. |
Key |
Yes |
Indicates the column that is used as the key for the entity. |
Name |
Yes |
The merged name of the cube dimension. |
OriginEntityType |
No |
The merged name of the primary table. If this value is the same as the value for the EntityType name, the Entity is the original one. |
Qualifier |
No |
A property that is set on the view and can be used by the client to distinguish properties from different views. |
ReferenceName |
Yes |
The unmerged and fully qualified name of the entity. |
Hidden |
No |
If True, indicates that the entity should be hidden from the client. |
Example
The following excerpt shows part of the CSDL representation of the Date table used in a model.
<EntityType Name="Date">
<Key>
<PropertyRef Name="Date" />
</Key>
<Property Name="RowNumber" Type="Int64" Nullable="false">
<bi:Property Hidden="true" Contents="RowNumber" Stability="RowNumber" />
</Property>
<Property Name="Date" Type="DateTime" Nullable="false">
<bi:Property />
</Property>
<Property Name="DayNumberOfWeek" Type="Int64">
<bi:Property />
</Property>
<Property Name="EnglishDayNameOfWeek" Type="String" MaxLength="Max" FixedLength="false">
<bi:Property />
</Property>
<bi:EntityType Contents="Time" />
</EntityType>
</Association>