PolicyCenter data entities

PolicyCenter uses XML metadata files to define all data entities in the data model. The datamodel.xsd file defines the elements and attributes that you can include in the XML metadata files. You can view a read-only version of this file in the configuration > xsd > metadata folder in Studio.

File datamodel.xsd defines the following:

• The set of allowable or valid data entities
• The attributes associated with each data entity
• The allowable subelements on each data entity

All PolicyCenter entity definition files must correspond to the definitions in datamodel.xsd.

Using XML files, Guidewire defines a data entity as a root element in an XML file that bears the name of the entity. For example, Guidewire declares the Activity entity type with the following Activity.eti file:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<entity xmlns="http://guidewire.com/datamodel"
        desc="An activity is a instance of work assigned to a user and belonging to a claim."
        entity="Activity"
        exportable="true"
        extendable="true"
        platform="true"
        table="activity"
        type="retireable">
  ...
</entity>

At application server start up, PolicyCenter loads the XML definitions of the data entities into the application database.