HOPEX Power Studio > Report Studio > GraphSet Definition > GraphSet Definition creation > Creating a GraphSet Definition
Creating a GraphSet Definition
A GraphSet Definition is MetaClass specific.
The GraphSet Definition is based either on:
• an object or an object collection (an occurrence or a set of occurrences of the source MetaClass)
The GraphSet Definition creation consists in connecting a source MetaClass (concrete or abstract) to the GraphSet Definition.
• a query (a set of occurrences)
The GraphSet Definition creation consists in defining a query that collects the entry points.
If needed, you can create a query parameter for this purpose.
Creating an object collection-based GraphSet Definition 
When you create a GraphSet Definition based on an object or an object collection, you need to define a Source MetaClass.
In that case the following items are automatically created:
• a Graphset Entry Point Collection (collection type parameter) of the same type as the source MetaClass.
• a GraphSubSet with the same name as the GraphSet Definition
The GraphSubSet definition is automatically initialized with a node with the same MetaClass as the source MetaClass. This node is defined as entry point and its name is the MetaClass name.
To create a GraphSet Definition based on an object:
1. Access the GraphSet Definitions folder
2. Right-click the GraphSet Definitions folder and select New > GraphSet Definition.
The Creation of GraphSet Definition window appears
3. In the Name field, enter your GraphSet Definition name.
*By default the GraphSet Definition name is: GraphSet Definition-x (x is a number).
4. In the Source MetaClass field, click the arrow and select Connect MetaClass.
5. (optional) In the search field enter characters to filter the search.
6. Click Find .
The list of MetaClasses is displayed.
7. Select the MetaClass you want to define as the source MetaClass of your GraphSet Definition.
Example: Application
8. Click Connect.
The selected MetaClass is defined as your GraphSet Definition source MetaClass.
9. Click OK.
You GraphSet Definition is created and added in the GraphSet Definitions folder.
10. In the GraphSet Definitions folder, expand your GraphSet Definition.
A GraphSubSet is automatically created with the same name as your GraphSet Definition.
11. In your GraphSet Definition properties, display its Characteristics page.
In the Entry Point Collections list an Entry Point collection of the same type as the source MetaClass is automatically created with value "N" as multiplicity.
Example: with "Application" as source MetaClass, the Collection type is also "Application" MetaClass.
12. If you do not want a collection of objects but a single object only as entry point, in the Collection Multiplicity field, select "1".
13. In the _GUIName field, enter a name.
This parameter is displayed in the GraphSet Definition Preview page.
You may need to add other entry point collections.
14. In your GraphSet Definition properties, display its Definition page.
The GraphSubSet automatically created is selected. This GraphSubSet already includes a Node, defined as entry point.
Example: with "Application" as source MetaClass, the node "Application" is created.
15. Define the GraphSubSet (its nodes and arcs and their fields).
Creating a query-based GraphSet Definition 
If you did not define a Source MetaClass in your GraphSet Definition, you must connect the Query that will be used to extract the GraphSet entry points.
In the GraphSet Definition you can also define parameters that are used in any query used in the GraphSet Definition.
To create a query based GraphSet Definition:
1. Access the GraphSet Definition folder
2. Right-click the GraphSet Definitions folder and select New > GraphSet Definition.
The Creation of GraphSet Definition window appears
3. In the Name field, enter your GraphSet Definition name.
Example: "Favorite Techno (query)"
*By default the GraphSet Definition name is: GraphSet Definition-x (x is a number).
4. Click OK.
You report GraphSet Definition is created and added in the Report DataSet Definition folder.
Note that in that case, no GraphSubSet is automatically created.
5. In your GraphSet Definition properties, display its Characteristics page.
Define your GraphSet Definition:
• If needed, create a parameter that you can use in the query.
• Connect a query to define the entry point collection.
6. Create and define a GraphSubSet (its nodes and arcs and their fields).
Defining GraphSet Definition Entry Points
In the GraphSet Definition properties, the Characteristics page enables to:
• define how to collect the GraphSet entry points, via:
• collections
• queries
• create parameters that you can use in any query used in the GraphSet Definition (for example in GraphSet Definition entry point queries or in GraphSet Arc Definition queries).
Adding an entry point collection to the GraphSet Definition 
By default, an Entry Point Collection is made up by a collection of objects (Collection Multiplicity value is "N"). If needed, you can define the Entry Point Collection as a single object (Collection Multiplicity value is "1").
GraphSet Definitions with source MetaClass defined include by default an entry point collection based on the source MetaClass.
You may need to add entry point collection(s) to your GraphSet Definition (whether object-based or query-based).
At GraphSet creation the user is asked to enter the Entry Point Collection values, which are taken into account to build the GraphSet.
To feed the GraphSet Definition with an entry point collection:
1. Access the GraphSet Definition properties.
2. Display its Characteristics page.
3. In the Entry Point Collections section, click New .
*You can add as many entry point collections as needed.
The Meta Collection Parameter creation window is displayed.
4. (Optional) In the Local Name field, enter a name for the collection parameter.
5. (if needed) Use the drop-down lists to modify the default Meta Collection Parameter characteristics:
• MetaAttribute Type
Examples: "X" (String, default value), "D" (DateTime).
• MetaAttribute Length
Not defined by default.
• MetaAttribute Format
Examples: "S" (Standard, default value), "D" (Duration).
*For detailed information regarding MetaAttribute characteristics, see MetaAttribute Characteristics.
6. Click OK.
The entry point collection is added in the Entry Point Collections list.
7. Click its Collection Type field and select Connect MetaClass.
Example: Software Technology MetaClass.
8. Use the Connecting window to select the MetaClass, and click Connect.
9. (If you want to define the entry point as a unique object) In its Collection Multiplicity drop-down list, select "1".
10. In the _GUIName field, enter a name.
Example: List of Technologies to extract.
This parameter is displayed in the GraphSet Definition Preview page.
Example:
You can add the "List of Technologies to extract" Collection Parameter with the "Software technology" Collection Type, so that at GraphSet creation the user is asked to select the Technologies to feed the GraphSet with this collection.
Adding an entry point query to the GraphSet Definition 
Your query is already created. If needed, you can create query parameters.
To connect a query to a GraphSet Definition:
1. Access the GraphSet Definition properties.
2. Display its Characteristics page.
3. In the Entry Point Queries list click:
• Connect to connect an existing query.
Example: connect the "ITPM - My applications" query to filter the Application collection to the applications owned by the end-user only.
• New to create a query.
Example: Select [Software Technology] where [Folder of Favorites).Absolute Identifier="<My favorite's IdAbs>" to filter the Technologies to your favorite ones.
*You can add as many queries as needed.
Defining query parameters 
In your GraphSet Definition, you can create and define Query Parameters that you can use in any query used in the GraphSet Definition.
Examples:
- in GraphSet Definition entry point queries, see Creating a query-based GraphSet Definition.
- in GraphSet Arc Definition queries, see Defining the arcs of a node.
At GraphSet creation the user is asked to enter the parameter values, which are taken into account in the query (for example to retrieve the entry points to build the GraphSet).
If no query parameters is specified the GraphSet operates on the entire repository occurrences.
 
To add query parameter in the GraphSet Definition:
1. Access the GraphSet Definition properties.
2. Display the Characteristics page.
3. In the Query Parameter list, click New .
*You can add as many parameters as needed.
4. In the Meta Property Parameter creation window:
• enter a Local Name (name displayed in the GraphSet)
Example: Begin date
• (according to your needs) modify the default values for MetaAttribute type ("String"), MetaAttribute Length and MetaAttribute Format ("Standard")
Example: MetaAttribute type "DateTime", MetaAttribute Format "Duration"
*For detailed information regarding MetaAttribute characteristics, see MetaAttribute Characteristics.
* 
5. Click OK.
The query parameter is added in the Query Parameters list.
6. In the Parameter Name field, enter a name for the parameter. This name is the one used in the query.
Example:
When you add "Begin Date" and "End Date" Query Parameters, at GraphSet creation the user is asked to enter both dates, which filter the GraphSet result according to the these dates.