Data Values and Data Definitions

The data value is an multi purpose entity that represent a single data attribute value in the Apis Click&Trace database. The data value concept is generic, and used for a lot of purposes. Some example of purposes are

• Representation of captured material attributes. The color of a bike, the resistance of a resistor or the maximum temperature of a meat batch are typical example of material attributes that can be modeled by the use of data values. In respect to material, the data values most often represent information about the material that is captured during the processing of the material.
• Representation of attributes of process unit runs. The maximum temperature of the during the run or the average pressure during the run are typical examples of the use of data values in respect to process unit runs.
• Representation of article attributes. Articles have often attributes such as color, length, efficiency class and so on, and data values are used to store these attribute values.

The data value represent the data itself whereas the data definition contains meta data information. A data value must always belong to a data definition. The data definition serves as the “class” in respect object oriented design, whereas the Data Value is the instantiation of the class.