Once the Adaptation has been constructed and profiled from the parent, it is possible to use the tool to modify the Adaptation further at the Feature Type level. After initial construction, the Adaptation will be added to the “Adaptation Tree”. Within the Adaptation Tree:
Black – is an approved Adaptation that can be used as a Parent, but is owned/was created by another user,
Blue – is an approved Adaptation that is owned/was created by this user,
Green – is an unapproved Adaptation that is owned by/was created (and can be edited) by this user, and
Red – is a submitted, yet still unapproved Adaptation that is owned/was created by this user.
If a Black or Blue Adaptation is selected, it cannot be edited but may be used as a Parent (See Step One).
If a Red Adaptation is selected, it cannot be edited, but will displayed on the right of the screen looking something like the image to the right.
If a Green Adaptation is selected, the user may edit the Adaptation in all forms. This means that both the Adaptation (Configuration) Edit and the Feature Type Edit are enabled.
Until the Adaptation is ‘Submitted’, it is possible to modify the Adaptation in several Web Sessions. The Tool and the underlying database will remember the state of the tool until the next session.
Once the Adaptation is ‘Submitted’, it will be locked until either Approved or Disapproved. If approved, the Adaptation is permanently locked. If disapproved, the Adaptation will once again be available for editing and resubmission.
Once the Adaptation is selected, the right side of the screen will appear as indicated below:
Note that the screen (left) shows three buttons that do not appear on the previous page. Note also that the Parent Configuration box is NOT editable. If it is determined that this is not the best Parent for this Adaptation, it MUST be deleted and recreated using the corrected Parent. However, at this stage, the Name and Definition of the Adaptation may be changed and the ‘Save Adaptation Changes’ button clicked.
The ‘Update Included Features’ button is used to alter the Feature Type contents of the Adaptation. This is NOT Feature Type modification. It is simply used to add or delete Feature Types to the Adaptation.
The image to the right shows a sample of the display of the Feature Types included in the Adaptation. The Feature Types list on the left is the same as that displayed on creation. It shows all Feature Types included in the Parent and those that are in the current Adaptation (they are checked). As with Adaptation creation, checking or unchecking Feature Types in the list will add or remove them.
The list of Feature Types on the right side of the Adaptation detail are Feature Types included from other sources. All of these will be checked. If they get unchecked, they will be removed from the Adaptation and no longer appear in the list. The ‘Select All Feature Types’ and ‘Unselect All Feature Types’ apply ONLY to the list of Feature Types in the 'Features in the Parent' list as shown..
Note also that the complete list of included Feature Types
for the Adaptation will be displayed on the right side of the Selector.
The picture
at left shows a sample. It
will be displayed showing the customized name (if one has been assigned)
for each Feature Type.
At this step, it is also possible to extend (add Feature Types from another source) to the Adaptation. This is initialized by clicking on the <Extend> button on the Toolbar. Clicking this button will display the image below.
This is a second Selector, along with the Parameter module. The Parameter module determines what gets included in the Selector. This Selector is used to navigate through all Feature Types, including Prior Release Any of the SDSFIE releases specifically including 2.400, 2.500, 2.600, and 2.610. and Gold Feature Types, to enable a user to add virtually any feature included in any other Package, Discipline, or Adaptation. The operation of this Selector is identical to the other Selector. Simply navigate to the desired list of Feature Types, then click on one. ONLY ONE Feature Type may be added at a time using this technique. Clicking on any Feature Type displayed in the Feature Type list on the right will add it to the Adaptation. The module will disappear and the name will be included in the Selector on the left.
It is also possible to extend by adding a completely customized Feature Type; e.g. one that does not appear in any other Adaptation, Discipline, or Prior Release.
At the top of the Extension Selector (see image left) are two buttons that control the extension action.
The ‘Cancel Feature Addition’ terminates all Extension action without adding any Features. The ‘Add a Feature Manually’ displays another module that permits addition of Feature Type on a select custom basis. The module is shown at below right.
This is the appearance of the module. The ‘Discard Changes’ button terminates manual addition. The ‘Create Feature’ button adds the Feature, provided all information required has been provided. The Default Geometry must be included in the list of Permissible Geometries.
There are two critical data conditions that must be satisfied in this action. First, the name CANNOT DUPLICATE the name of any other Feature in the Adaptation. It is also likely that this name will be reviewed against all names some time during the approval process.
Secondly, and more importantly, the definition must be thorough enough to provide information that will differentiate this Feature Type from other Feature Types anyplace in the SDSFIE standard. This will require some judgment. Any ambiguity in the extent and completeness of the definition will sound alarms.
Remember that the SDSFIE is a Standard. To have two Feature Types which represent the same thing begins to adversely impact the effectiveness of the Standard, and compromise the data sharing goal.
Once the ‘Create Feature’ button has been clicked, the Feature Type will be added to the Adaptation, the module will disappear, and the Feature Type name will be added to the list in the Selector.
Any new Feature Type being added will automatically be added with the Foundation set of required attributes. When all desired Feature Types have been added, it is possible to move to Feature Type Adaptation.