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What is a Model?

One of the fundamental features of Enterprise Objects Framework is that it maps the data in relational databases to objects. The correspondence between an enterprise object class and stored data is established and maintained by using a model . A model defines, in entity-relationship terms, the mapping between enterprise object classes and a database.

The following table describes the database-to-object mapping provided in a model:

Database Element	Model Object	Object Mapping
Data Dictionary	EOModel	--
Table	EOEntity	Enterprise object class
Column	EOAttribute	Enterprise object class instance variable
		(class property)
Row	--	Enterprise object instance

In addition to storing a mapping between the database schema and enterprise objects, a model file stores information needed to connect to the database server. This connection information includes the name of an adaptor to load so that Enterprise Objects Framework can communicate with the database.