# US 10,311,107 B2 · Techniques and architectures for providing references to custom metametadata in declarative validations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,311,107 B2 - Document ID: US10311107B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/140,451 - Filed: 2018-09-24 - Published: 2019-01-24 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-02 - Assignees: salesforce.com, inc. - Applicants: salesforce.com, inc. - Inventors: Avrom Roy-Faderman; Carolyn Leigh Grabill; Seth Leger; Bryan Yan; Mason Everett; Vladimir Gerasimov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311107B2 ## CPC - G06F 16/907: Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually - G06F 16/252: {between a Database Management System and a front-end application} - G06F 16/258: {Data format conversion from or to a database} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A definition of a custom object specifying a custom format for metadata is received within a database system where creation of the metadata is required to comply with the custom format specified within the custom object with the metadata is associated with the custom object. At least a portion of the metadata refers to another custom metadata object type. The custom object having the definition is stored within the database system. A database record is created utilizing the custom object with reference to the another custom metadata object type. At least one aspect of an application is defined utilizing the database system using the metadata of the record. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, are configurable to cause the one or more processors to: receive, within a database system provided by the one or more processors, a definition of a custom object specifying a custom format for metadata, wherein creation of the metadata is required to comply with the custom format specified within the custom object with the metadata is associated with the custom object, and further wherein at least a portion of the metadata refers to another custom metadata object type; customize the metadata format specified by a particular custom object to be used in creating metadata; store the custom object having the definition within the database system; create a database record utilizing the custom object having the associated metadata that references another custom metadata object type; and define at least one aspect of an application utilizing the database system using the metadata associated with the custom object utilized in the created database record, wherein the reference to the another custom metadata object type is within a formula field that do not require hard coding as with the formula. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the database system comprises a multitenant database system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the at least one aspect of the application comprises at least a graphical object on a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the database system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the reference to the another custom metadata object type is within a validation formula. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the reference to the another custom metadata object type is within an error formula. ### Claim 6 A system comprising: a memory system comprising one or more memory devices; one or more processors coupled with the memory system, the one or more processors configurable to: receive, within a database system provided by the one or more processors, a definition of a custom object specifying a custom format for metadata, wherein creation of the metadata is required to comply with the custom format specified within the custom object with the metadata is associated with the custom object, and further wherein at least a portion of the metadata refers to another custom metadata object type, customize the metadata format specified by a particular custom object to be used in creating metadata, store the custom object having the definition within the database system, create a database record utilizing the custom object having the associated metadata that references another custom metadata object type, and define at least one aspect of an application utilizing the database system using the metadata associated with the custom object utilized in the created database record, wherein the reference to the another custom metadata object type is within a formula field that do not require hard coding as with the formula. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 wherein the database system comprises a multitenant database system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 wherein the at least one aspect of the application comprises at least a graphical object on a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the database system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 wherein the reference to the another custom metadata object type is within a validation formula. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 wherein the reference to the another custom metadata object type is within an error formula. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: receiving, within a database system provided by the one or more processors, a definition of a custom object specifying a custom format for metadata, wherein creation of the metadata is required to comply with the custom format specified within the custom object with the metadata is associated with the custom object, and further wherein at least a portion of the metadata refers to another custom metadata object type; customizing the metadata format specified by a particular custom object to be used in creating metadata; storing the custom object having the definition within the database system; creating a database record utilizing the custom object having the associated metadata that references another custom metadata object type; and defining at least one aspect of an application utilizing the database system using the metadata associated with the custom object utilized in the created database record, wherein the reference to the another custom metadata object type is within a formula field that do not require hard coding as with the formula. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the database system comprises a multitenant database system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one aspect of the application comprises at least a graphical object on a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the database system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the reference to the another custom metadata object type is within a validation formula. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the reference to the another custom metadata object type is within an error condition.