Field types defined via custom metadata types

A computer-implemented method to execute within a computing architecture having at least a processor and a memory therein to execute instructions, wherein the computer-implemented method comprises:

• operating a database system within the computing architecture to store a plurality of objects;
• creating a custom metadata type by specifying at least (i) a name for the custom metadata type, (ii) one or more fields to contain configuration information for the custom metadata type, and (iii) at least one relationship field having fields as its domain relating the custom metadata type to a column or field of an object stored in the database system;
• creating a custom datatype by specifying at least (i) a name for the custom datatype, (ii) a base datatype available from the database system, and (iii) the custom metadata type;
• executing application code at the computing architecture, wherein the application code evaluates one or more objects referenced by the application code to identify one or more fields of the objects to identify a field of an object expressly declared as having a datatype corresponding to the custom datatype;
• and
• retrieving, via the application code, the configuration information for use by the application code.

Non-transitory computer readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor of a system, the instructions cause the system to perform operations including:

• operating a database system within the computing architecture to store a plurality of objects;
• creating a custom metadata type by specifying at least (i) a name for the custom metadata type, (ii) one or more fields to contain configuration information for the custom metadata type, and (iii) at least one relationship field having fields as its domain relating the custom metadata type to a column or field of an object stored in the database system;
• creating a custom datatype by specifying at least (i) a name for the custom datatype, (ii) a base datatype available from the database system, and (iii) the custom metadata type;
• executing application code at the computing architecture, wherein the application code evaluates one or more objects referenced by the application code to identify one or more fields of the objects to identify a field of an object expressly declared as having a datatype corresponding to the custom datatype;
• and
• retrieving, via the application code, the configuration information for use by the application code.

A system comprising:

• a processor and a memory to execute instructions at the system;
• a database system to store a plurality of objects, each object including one or more columns or fields declared to correspond to exactly one datatype;
• a custom metadata type defined by a first party of the database system, the definition for the custom metadata type including at least (i) a specified name for the custom metadata type, (ii) specified one or more fields to contain configuration information for the custom metadata type, and (iii) specification of at least one relationship field having fields as its domain relating the custom metadata type to a column or field of an object stored in the database system;
• a custom datatype defined by the first party of the database system, the definition for the custom datatype including at least (i) a specified name for the custom datatype, (ii) a specified base datatype available from the database system, and (iii) the custom metadata type defined by the first party;
• application code from a second party of the database system, the application code to evaluate one or more objects referenced by the application code to identify one or more fields of the objects and to identify a field of an object expressly declared as having a datatype corresponding to the custom datatype;
• and
• wherein the application code is to retrieve the configuration information for use by the application code at runtime.