Building Your Collection Path

You can build a collection path by entering the path manually, by selecting the elements of the path individually, or you can accept the default collection path for a selected class.

To build a root collection path, perform one of the following actions

• Accept the default root collection path.

  Select a collection class in the Root Object pane that is already referenced by a feature of an existing type.

  In the Root Collection Path pane at the lower left of the Root Collections sheet, the path is then set to the first instance of your selected collection, as shown in the following image. The traffic light icon changes from red to green, to indicate that a valid root collection path is selected.

  

• Build the elements of the collection, as follows.

  1. Select the class that is the root of your collection.

     The class is then displayed in the Root Collection Path pane at the lower left of the Root Collections sheet. The traffic light icon remains red because the root collection path is still incomplete.

  2. Enter the next element in the collection path by selecting it from the Build Path combo box.

     Select one of the elements. If you select the instances element, your collection path is complete. The collection then comprises all instances of the selected class.

  3. If you select the firstInstance element, enter your collection name as the next element of the path or select it from the Build Path combo box again.

     The Build Path combo box displays the following collections after you have selected the firstInstance element

     

     To complete your collection path, select one of the collections.

  4. If you decide to change the elements of your collection path before you select it for inclusion in your view, click the Remove last path element button or press the Backspace key to remove the last path element.

     You should then follow steps b and c, earlier in this instruction, to rebuild your collection path.

When you have built a valid root collection path, the traffic light icon displayed at the right of the Root Collection Path pane turns from red to green.

If the light does not turn green, the root collection path is incomplete or invalid. Repeat one of the procedures in this subsection and ensure that you have selected a valid path.

Having created a root collection path, you can then select it for inclusion in your reporting view. For details, see "Selecting Your Collection Path", in the following subsection.