View source for Lab C.2: Explore the Application

In this exercise, you'll explore an application, identify some of its major components, and see how they are related.

==Discover the Objects Used in the Application==
# Click '''Settings > Administration > Global Resources > Packages > Support Case Manager'''<br/>A new pane appears with package information.
# Scroll to the bottom of the pane, to the list of dependencies.
#* The entities this package depends on is displayed, under "Items".
#*Notice the items Prospects, Cases, Contacts, and Accounts, which are all designated as type "Object".  
# Click '''Designer > Objects'''.<br/>The objects used in the Support Case application are shown, along with those used by other applications running in your instance of the platform.
#:{{Tip|It's easy for applications to share information, because the objects they contain are living in the same cloud. For example, a customer record created in an order-entry application would be available for use in a shipping application.}}

==Examine the ''Cases'' Object==
An "object" in the platform is both a table in a database, and a record within it. When accessing a record, the singular form of the name is used, when referencing the table as a whole, the plural form is used. So the "Orders object" is a collection of records and the metadata that defines behaviors like data polices and forms. An "Order object" on the other hand, is an individual record augmented by those behaviors.

# Click '''Designer > Objects > Cases'''.<br/>The Object Information pane appears.
# Locate the tabs across the top of the pane. They let you define:
#* [[Object Properties]], where the singular and plural forms of the object name are specified. 
#* [[Forms]] where you control how data is displayed and interactively edited
#* Object [[Fields]]
#* GUI [[Actions]] to take when data is being specified (for example, to populate dependent fields)
#* [[Indexes]] though which records can be accessed
#* [[Validations]] for field data
#* [[Data Policies]] to activate when data is stored
#* [[Print Templates]] to determine how the data appears when printed, and 
#* [[Assignment]] policies to carry out to initialize fields and specify default values