This example tutorial provides explanations and code examples to get an idea on how to define and specify structured data properties and on how to query them.

Table of Contents

Introduction

yuuvis® Momentum offers a property type for the storage of structured data in JSON format. Thus, it is possible to store interleaved data structures in a queryable way without defining each single sub-property in the schema. The structured data properties should NOT be considered to replace the concept of a well-defined schema. They should be used only if the handling of objects' metadata via the conventional property definitions is not reasonable. Especially, if the structure of metadata and/or the availability of properties differs a lot for the individual object instances, the schema might grow to a really long list of scarcely used properties. This can be avoided by the usage of a property field that can store a JSON structure as value. In this tutorial, the bibliographic information of media in a library is considered an example use case. For this purpose, the set of information for each medium is provided in JSON structure following the concept of BibJSON.

>> Code examples in GitHub

Requirements

This tutorial is dedicated to experienced users. Please find information on requirements, maven and client configuration in our "Importing Documents via Core API" tutorial. The handling of any IOException is demonstrated there, too.

Definition in the Schema

In the context of the library example, the below displayed app schema is used. It contains two property definitions and one object type definition referencing the properties. The first property bibjsonsample:bibjson has the property type structureddata. Its id matches the expression expected for the validation and the cardinality is single which is the only accepted value.
>> Structured Data Properties

This property will be used for the storage of the BibJSON structure containing the bibliographic information of the corresponding medium. The second property bibjsonsample:locations allows for the assignment of a list of strings indicating storage locations if a printed version is available for the corresponding medium. In the object type definition of bibjsonsample:medium, both properties are referenced. Additionally, a binary content file can be assigned if necessary as defined in line 25 with the value allowed for the contentStreamAllowed attribute.

Example Schema

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<schema xmlns="http://optimal-systems.org/ns/dmscloud/schema/v5.0/"
        xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
        xsi:schemaLocation="http://optimal-systems.org/ns/dmscloud/schema/v5.0/ dmsCloud-schema.xsd">

    <propertyStructuredDataDefinition>
        <id>bibjsonsample:bibjson</id>
        <description>field for the BibJSON structure identifying and describing the medium</description>
        <propertyType>structureddata</propertyType>
        <cardinality>single</cardinality>
        <required>false</required>
    </propertyStructuredDataDefinition>
    <propertyStringDefinition>
        <id>bibjsonsample:locations</id>
        <description>field for storage locations of printed versions of the medium</description>
        <propertyType>string</propertyType>
        <cardinality>multi</cardinality>
        <required>false</required>
    </propertyStringDefinition>
    <typeDocumentDefinition>
        <id>bibjsonsample:medium</id>
        <baseId>system:document</baseId>
        <propertyReference>bibjsonsample:bibjson</propertyReference>
        <propertyReference>bibjsonsample:locations</propertyReference>
        <contentStreamAllowed>allowed</contentStreamAllowed>
    </typeDocumentDefinition>

</schema>

The schema for the bibjsonsample app is imported via the POST /api/system/apps/{app}/schema endpoint.

More details and further examples on schema handling are provided in the following tutorial:
>> Managing the Schema

Specifying Values during Import

Two example objects will be created as instances of the abbBibjsonsample:medium object type. Both of them are assigned a BibJSON value for the appbibjsonsample:bibjson property.
>> Structured Data in Import Bodies

For the individual sub-values of the structured data property, the system can identify integers, booleans and strings. The successfully executed import returns the entire set of metadata for each object, enriched with the system properties.

The first example object is a book. The bibliographic information stored in the appBibjsonsample:bibjson property contains one integer value specified in line 21. All other sub-values are stored as strings. In addition to the appBibjsonsample:bibjson property, two storage locations for printed versions are specified.

import request for a book

{
  "objects": [{
    "properties": {
      "objectTypeId": {
        "value": "appBibjsonsample:medium"
      },
      "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
        "value": {
          "type": "book",
          "title": "My Book Title",
          "author": [
            {"name": "Heinrich Schuetzel"},
            {"name": "Maximilian Sturz"}
          ],
          "year": "1995",
          "owner": "My Library",
          "id": "ID_of_book",
          "url": "http://mylibrary.com/ebooks/36513466534",
          "publisher": "Example Verlag Mustershagen",
          "edition": {
            "number": 2,
            "language": "English"
          },
          "identifier":[
            {
              "id": "0002-9327",
              "type": "issn"
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "appBibjsonsample:locations": {
        "value": [
          "central library, CN-3214-5324",
          "branch library east, 43-654b"
        ]
      }
    }
  }]
}

import response for the book

{
    "objects": [
        {
            "properties": {
                "system:objectId": {
                    "value": "aab2b4d9-e829-45dd-981a-2f19a688592d"
                },
                "system:baseTypeId": {
                    "value": "system:document"
                },
                "system:objectTypeId": {
                    "value": "appBibjsonsample:medium"
                },
                "system:createdBy": {
                    "value": "275c826c-6a61-4e89-9512-8d935a1631e5"
                },
                "system:creationDate": {
                    "value": "2021-06-14T13:10:52.280Z"
                },
                "system:lastModifiedBy": {
                    "value": "275c826c-6a61-4e89-9512-8d935a1631e5"
                },
                "system:lastModificationDate": {
                    "value": "2021-06-14T13:10:52.280Z"
                },
                "system:versionNumber": {
                    "value": 1
                },
                "system:tenant": {
                    "value": "default"
                },
                "system:traceId": {
                    "value": "5681d3bddb4279de"
                },
                "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
                    "value": {
                        "type": "book",
                        "title": "My Book Title",
                        "author": [
                            {
                                "name": "Heinrich Schuetzel"
                            },
                            {
                                "name": "Maximilian Sturz"
                            }
                        ],
                        "year": "1995",
                        "owner": "My Library",
                        "id": "ID_of_book",
                        "url": "http://mylibrary.com/ebooks/36513466534",
                        "publisher": "Example Verlag Mustershagen",
                        "edition": {
                            "number": 2,
                            "language": "English"
                        },
                        "identifier": [
                            {
                                "id": "0002-9327",
                                "type": "issn"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                },
                "appBibjsonsample:locations": {
                    "value": [
                        "central library, CN-3214-5324",
                        "branch library east, 43-654b"
                    ]
                }
            }
        }
    ]
}

The second example object is a collection of articles without corresponding printed versions. The structure of the JSON value for the appBibjsonsample:bibjson property looks completely different.

import request for a collection

{
  "objects": [{
    "properties": {
      "objectTypeId": {
        "value": "appBibjsonsample:medium"
      },
      "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
        "value": {
          "metadata": {
            "collection": "ym_concepts",
            "label": "yuuvis(R) Momentum Core Concepts",
            "description": "Documentation for yuuvis(R) Momentum Core in a structured, theoretical way, with links to the tutorial section.",
            "id": "ID_of_collection",
            "owner": "OS",
            "created": "2020-06-09T15:04:12.944Z",
            "modified": "2021-06-10T11:05:17.166Z",
            "source": "https://help.optimal-systems.com/yuuvis_develop/display/YMY/Concepts",
            "records": 2
          },
          "records": [
            {
              "collection": "ym_concepts",
              "type": "article",
              "title": "Schema - Defining Object Types",
              "id": "ID_of_schema_article",
              "link": "https://help.optimal-systems.com/yuuvis_develop/display/YMY/Schema+-+Defining+Object+Types",
              "author":[
                {"name": "Heinrich Schuetzel"},
                {"name": "George Trader"},
                {"name": "Johann Fluss"}
              ],
              "created": "2020-06-09T15:04:12.944Z",
              "modified": "2021-06-10T08:53:23.532Z"
            },
            {
              "collection": "ym_concepts",
              "type": "article",
              "title": "Search Query Language",
              "id": "ID_of_query_article",
              "link": "https://help.optimal-systems.com/yuuvis_develop/display/YMY/Search+Query+Language",
              "author":[
                {"name": "Andrea Schumann"},
                {"name": "Franz Lissner"},
                {"name": "Hans Kammer"},
                {"name": "Johann Fluss"}
              ],
              "created": "2020-06-16T14:03:01.833Z",
              "modified": "2021-06-02T09:54:12.643Z"
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  }]
}

import response for the collection

{
    "objects": [
        {
            "properties": {
                "system:objectId": {
                    "value": "3d4a67be-3341-4317-bb57-c48ea7ab0a1a"
                },
                "system:baseTypeId": {
                    "value": "system:document"
                },
                "system:objectTypeId": {
                    "value": "appBibjsonsample:medium"
                },
                "system:createdBy": {
                    "value": "275c826c-6a61-4e89-9512-8d935a1631e5"
                },
                "system:creationDate": {
                    "value": "2021-06-14T13:11:57.770Z"
                },
                "system:lastModifiedBy": {
                    "value": "275c826c-6a61-4e89-9512-8d935a1631e5"
                },
                "system:lastModificationDate": {
                    "value": "2021-06-14T13:11:57.770Z"
                },
                "system:versionNumber": {
                    "value": 1
                },
                "system:tenant": {
                    "value": "default"
                },
                "system:traceId": {
                    "value": "22839c5775801e9c"
                },
                "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
                    "value": {
                        "metadata": {
                            "collection": "ym_concepts",
                            "label": "yuuvis(R) Momentum Core Concepts",
                            "description": "Documentation for yuuvis(R) Momentum Core in a structured, theoretical way, with links to the tutorial section.",
                            "id": "ID_of_collection",
                            "owner": "OS",
                            "created": "2020-06-09T15:04:12.944Z",
                            "modified": "2021-06-10T11:05:17.166Z",
                            "source": "https://help.optimal-systems.com/yuuvis_develop/display/YMY/x/-4BkAg",
                            "records": 2
                        },
                        "records": [
                            {
                                "collection": "ym_concepts",
                                "type": "article",
                                "title": "Schema - Defining Object Types",
                                "id": "ID_of_schema_article",
                                "link": "https://help.optimal-systems.com/yuuvis_develop/display/YMY/x/AYFkAg",
                                "author": [
                                    {
                                        "name": "Heinrich Schuetzel"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "George Trader"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "Johann Fluss"
                                    }
                                ],
                                "created": "2020-06-09T15:04:12.944Z",
                                "modified": "2021-06-10T08:53:23.532Z"
                            },
                            {
                                "collection": "ym_concepts",
                                "type": "article",
                                "title": "Search Query Language",
                                "id": "ID_of_query_article",
                                "link": "https://help.optimal-systems.com/yuuvis_develop/display/YMY/x/gIFkAg",
                                "author": [
                                    {
                                        "name": "Andrea Schumann"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "Franz Lissner"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "Hans Kammer"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "Johann Fluss"
                                    }
                                ],
                                "created": "2020-06-16T14:03:01.833Z",
                                "modified": "2021-06-02T09:54:12.643Z"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    ]
}

Search Queries

The individual sub-values within the JSON value for the appBibjsonsample:bibjson property are queryable.
>> Queries on Structured Data

In this chapter, some example search queries are explained.

Example 1

This query statement requests a search for all objects of type appBibjsonsample:medium. The full set of metadata will be returned for each of them. In the example context of this tutorial, only two objects match the query: The book and the collection that were imported before.

SELECT * FROM appBibjsonsample:medium

request body

{
    "objects": [
        {
            "properties": {
                "system:traceId": {
                    "value": "5681d3bddb4279de"
                },
                "system:objectTypeId": {
                    "value": "appBibjsonsample:medium"
                },
                "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
                    "value": {
                        "type": "book",
                        "title": "My Book Title",
                        "author": [
                            {
                                "name": "Heinrich Schuetzel"
                            },
                            {
                                "name": "Maximilian Sturz"
                            }
                        ],
                        "year": "1995",
                        "owner": "My Library",
                        "id": "ID_of_book",
                        "url": "http://mylibrary.com/ebooks/36513466534",
                        "publisher": "Example Verlag Mustershagen",
                        "edition": {
                            "number": 2,
                            "language": "English"
                        },
                        "identifier": [
                            {
                                "id": "0002-9327",
                                "type": "issn"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                },
                "system:versionNumber": {
                    "value": 1
                },
                "system:createdBy": {
                    "value": "275c826c-6a61-4e89-9512-8d935a1631e5"
                },
                "system:creationDate": {
                    "value": "2021-06-14T13:10:52.280Z"
                },
                "system:lastModificationDate": {
                    "value": "2021-06-14T13:10:52.280Z"
                },
                "system:baseTypeId": {
                    "value": "system:document"
                },
                "system:tenant": {
                    "value": "default"
                },
                "appBibjsonsample:locations": {
                    "value": [
                        "central library, CN-3214-5324",
                        "branch library east, 43-654b"
                    ]
                },
                "system:lastModifiedBy": {
                    "value": "275c826c-6a61-4e89-9512-8d935a1631e5"
                },
                "system:objectId": {
                    "value": "aab2b4d9-e829-45dd-981a-2f19a688592d"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "properties": {
                "system:traceId": {
                    "value": "22839c5775801e9c"
                },
                "system:objectTypeId": {
                    "value": "appBibjsonsample:medium"
                },
                "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
                    "value": {
                        "metadata": {
                            "collection": "ym_concepts",
                            "label": "yuuvis(R) Momentum Core Concepts",
                            "description": "Documentation for yuuvis(R) Momentum Core in a structured, theoretical way, with links to the tutorial section.",
                            "id": "ID_of_collection",
                            "owner": "OS",
                            "created": "2020-06-09T15:04:12.944Z",
                            "modified": "2021-06-10T11:05:17.166Z",
                            "source": "https://help.optimal-systems.com/yuuvis_develop/display/YMY/x/-4BkAg",
                            "records": 2
                        },
                        "records": [
                            {
                                "collection": "ym_concepts",
                                "type": "article",
                                "title": "Schema - Defining Object Types",
                                "id": "ID_of_schema_article",
                                "link": "https://help.optimal-systems.com/yuuvis_develop/display/YMY/x/AYFkAg",
                                "author": [
                                    {
                                        "name": "Heinrich Schuetzel"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "George Trader"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "Johann Fluss"
                                    }
                                ],
                                "created": "2020-06-09T15:04:12.944Z",
                                "modified": "2021-06-10T08:53:23.532Z"
                            },
                            {
                                "collection": "ym_concepts",
                                "type": "article",
                                "title": "Search Query Language",
                                "id": "ID_of_query_article",
                                "link": "https://help.optimal-systems.com/yuuvis_develop/display/YMY/x/gIFkAg",
                                "author": [
                                    {
                                        "name": "Andrea Schumann"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "Franz Lissner"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "Hans Kammer"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "Johann Fluss"
                                    }
                                ],
                                "created": "2020-06-16T14:03:01.833Z",
                                "modified": "2021-06-02T09:54:12.643Z"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                },
                "system:lastModificationDate": {
                    "value": "2021-06-14T13:11:57.770Z"
                },
                "system:versionNumber": {
                    "value": 1
                },
                "system:baseTypeId": {
                    "value": "system:document"
                },
                "system:tenant": {
                    "value": "default"
                },
                "system:createdBy": {
                    "value": "275c826c-6a61-4e89-9512-8d935a1631e5"
                },
                "system:creationDate": {
                    "value": "2021-06-14T13:11:57.770Z"
                },
                "system:lastModifiedBy": {
                    "value": "275c826c-6a61-4e89-9512-8d935a1631e5"
                },
                "system:objectId": {
                    "value": "3d4a67be-3341-4317-bb57-c48ea7ab0a1a"
                }
            }
        }
    ],
    "numItems": 2,
    "hasMoreItems": false,
    "totalNumItems": 2
}

Example 2

In order to return only the bibliographic information in the result list of the search request, select the appBibjsonsample:bibjson property.

SELECT appBibjsonsample:bibjson FROM appBibjsonsample:medium

response body

{
    "objects": [
        {
            "properties": {
                "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
                    "value": {
                        "type": "book",
                        "title": "My Book Title",
                        "author": [
                            {
                                "name": "Heinrich Schuetzel"
                            },
                            {
                                "name": "Maximilian Sturz"
                            }
                        ],
                        "year": "1995",
                        "owner": "My Library",
                        "id": "ID_of_book",
                        "url": "http://mylibrary.com/ebooks/36513466534",
                        "publisher": "Example Verlag Mustershagen",
                        "edition": {
                            "number": 2,
                            "language": "English"
                        },
                        "identifier": [
                            {
                                "id": "0002-9327",
                                "type": "issn"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "properties": {
                "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
                    "value": {
                        "metadata": {
                            "collection": "ym_concepts",
                            "label": "yuuvis(R) Momentum Core Concepts",
                            "description": "Documentation for yuuvis(R) Momentum Core in a structured, theoretical way, with links to the tutorial section.",
                            "id": "ID_of_collection",
                            "owner": "OS",
                            "created": "2020-06-09T15:04:12.944Z",
                            "modified": "2021-06-10T11:05:17.166Z",
                            "source": "https://help.optimal-systems.com/yuuvis_develop/display/YMY/x/-4BkAg",
                            "records": 2
                        },
                        "records": [
                            {
                                "collection": "ym_concepts",
                                "type": "article",
                                "title": "Schema - Defining Object Types",
                                "id": "ID_of_schema_article",
                                "link": "https://help.optimal-systems.com/yuuvis_develop/display/YMY/x/AYFkAg",
                                "author": [
                                    {
                                        "name": "Heinrich Schuetzel"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "George Trader"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "Johann Fluss"
                                    }
                                ],
                                "created": "2020-06-09T15:04:12.944Z",
                                "modified": "2021-06-10T08:53:23.532Z"
                            },
                            {
                                "collection": "ym_concepts",
                                "type": "article",
                                "title": "Search Query Language",
                                "id": "ID_of_query_article",
                                "link": "https://help.optimal-systems.com/yuuvis_develop/display/YMY/x/gIFkAg",
                                "author": [
                                    {
                                        "name": "Andrea Schumann"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "Franz Lissner"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "Hans Kammer"
                                    },
                                    {
                                        "name": "Johann Fluss"
                                    }
                                ],
                                "created": "2020-06-16T14:03:01.833Z",
                                "modified": "2021-06-02T09:54:12.643Z"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    ],
    "numItems": 2,
    "hasMoreItems": false,
    "totalNumItems": 2
}

Example 3

It is even possible to return specified sub-values of the JSON structure stored in the appBibjsonsample:bibjson property. If you specify an index within a list, the values for the list elements with lower indices will be replaced by null in the return statement as can be seen in line 9.

SELECT appBibjsonsample:bibjson.title,appBibjsonsample:bibjson.author[1].name,appBibjsonsample:bibjson.metadata.id FROM appBibjsonsample:medium

response body

{
    "objects": [
        {
            "properties": {
                "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
                    "value": {
                        "title": "My Book Title",
                        "author": [
                            null,
                            {
                                "name": "Maximilian Sturz"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "properties": {
                "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
                    "value": {
                        "metadata": {
                            "id": "ID_of_collection"
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    ],
    "numItems": 2,
    "hasMoreItems": false,
    "totalNumItems": 2
}

Example 4

If you know the path of the sub-value within the JSON you want to query, you can directly specify it. The example query configures a search for a specific medium identified by its bibliographic ID.

SELECT appBibjsonsample:bibjson.title FROM appBibjsonsample:medium WHERE appBibjsonsample:bibjson.id = 'ID_of_book'

response body

{
    "objects": [
        {
            "properties": {
                "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
                    "value": {
                        "title": "My Book Title",
                        "author": [
                            null,
                            {
                                "name": "Maximilian Sturz"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    ],
    "numItems": 1,
    "hasMoreItems": false,
    "totalNumItems": 1
}

Example 5

If you want to search for an object with a specific sub-value but unknown path, a * wildcard can be used. Each object containing the string ID_of_schema_article as a sub-value for the appBibjsonsample:bibjson property will match the query.

SELECT appBibjsonsample:bibjson.metadata.id FROM appBibjsonsample:medium WHERE appBibjsonsample:bibjson.* = 'ID_of_schema_article'

response body

{
    "objects": [
        {
            "properties": {
                "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
                    "value": {
                        "metadata": {
                            "id": "ID_of_collection"
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    ],
    "numItems": 1,
    "hasMoreItems": false,
    "totalNumItems": 1
}

Example 6

The * wildcard can also be used instead of a specific index within a list. Thus, the condition will be checked for each list entry. Furthermore, full-text search with CONTAINS is possible in case of string sub-values.

SELECT appBibjsonsample:bibjson.title FROM appBibjsonsample:medium WHERE appBibjsonsample:bibjson.author[*].name CONTAINS('Sturz')

response body

{
    "objects": [
        {
            "properties": {
                "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
                    "value": {
                        "title": "My Book Title"
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    ],
    "numItems": 1,
    "hasMoreItems": false,
    "totalNumItems": 1
}

Example 7

Use .. in order to replace unknown parts of a path. The query below specifies a search for objects where the appBibjsonsample:bibjson property contains Schuetzel in the value for the author[*].name key which can be located at any hierarchical level within the JSON. Furthermore, only key-value mappings for keys named id will be displayed in the response body.

SELECT appBibjsonsample:bibjson..id FROM appBibjsonsample:medium WHERE appBibjsonsample:bibjson..author[*].name CONTAINS('Schuetzel')

response body

{
    "objects": [
        {
            "properties": {
                "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
                    "value": {
                        "id": "ID_of_book",
                        "identifier": [
                            {
                                "id": "0002-9327"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "properties": {
                "appBibjsonsample:bibjson": {
                    "value": {
                        "metadata": {
                            "id": "ID_of_collection"
                        },
                        "records": [
                            {
                                "id": "ID_of_schema_article"
                            },
                            {
                                "id": "ID_of_query_article"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    ],
    "numItems": 2,
    "hasMoreItems": false,
    "totalNumItems": 2
}

Summary

The structureddata property type allows for the storage of interleaved data structures in a queryable way without defining each single sub-property in the schema. This tutorial gave some explanations on how to define such a property in the schema, how to set a value during object creation and how to address the individual sub-values in search queries, in the example context of a library.

>> Code examples in GitHub

Read on

Managing the Schema

This tutorial shows how to use the Core API to get the tenant-specific schema of the system, how to validate a schema, and how to bring in a new schema. Keep reading

Importing Documents via Core API

This tutorial shows how documents can be imported into a yuuvis® API system via the Core API. During this tutorial, a short Java application will be developed that implements the HTTP requests for importing documents. We additionally provide a JavaScript version of this tutorial. Keep reading

Search Query Language

How to query in an SQL-like manner. Keep reading

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