Data Transformation Engine Type Designer Reference Guide

Chapter 10 - Type Inheritance Propagating Properties
When Not to Use Categories
Suppose you create a type and plan on creating subtypes under it. If you are only
going to create items under that type, or only groups under that type, you
probably do not want to make that type a category. Suppose you have a type
named Field, and under it, you are only going to create items. If you make Field
a category type, each time you create a subtype beneath it, you must define the
Class as Item in the Properties window. If you make Field an item type, the
Class of Item is automatically selected.
Propagating Properties
Creation time is not the only time properties can be passed from a type to its
subtypes. You can pass certain properties after types have been created. This is
called propagation. Propagation passes the settings of a particular property from a
given type to all types in its sub-tree.
To propagate a property
1 In the Properties window for the type, right-click the property you want to
propagate.
2 Click Propagate.
Properties That Can Be Propagated
You can select any property and propagate it to types in the sub-tree of the
selected type. When a property does not apply to a type, it is not propagated. For
example, if the selected type is an item with Number Character Decimal
properties, and you propagate the Separator property, it affects only types in the
sub-tree that also have Number Character Decimal properties. If the selected
type is a fixed group and you propagate the Include trailing white space
property, only fixed groups in the sub-tree are affected.