Implementing "attributre dependencies"

My current plan with Scarab:
========================
There is one big issue remaining for me to do (right now): We want to add
data dependencies, so that the value of one attribute can drive the value of
another attribute.

For example:
dependancy between "tool" (drop down list) and "admin" (drop down list):
When the "tool" value is changed , then the  "admin" value changes
automatically according to the defined dependency.

* one to one dependencies (that's what we need right now) should not be 
a big deal.
    "A particular tool has exactly one responsible admin"

* 1 to n dependencies should be automatically supported: Changing one 
value can
   change a set of other attributes values, we only need to define 
multiple dependencies
   between attributes. One particular case could be:

   Dependency: Primary responsibility. from "tool" to "admin"
   Dependency: Secondary responsibility: from "tool" to "admin"

   This will probably be implemented, except i find unexpected problems.

* n to one dependencies
    That sounds a bit related to constraints. Maybe there is a simple 
solution,
    i might take a look into that (but probably only when i need it).

* n to m dependencies seem out of focus to me as i think that the 
complexity
   of the definition would blow up significantly.
   I do not want to implement that. However it may be possible that
   combining "one to n" and "n to one" could(...) be a way to go, but it
   realy sounds like "better keep hands off that" ...

Ok, maybe the better solution is "complex attributes" ?
So i can for example define an attribute named "tool" with "sub attributes":

tool.long name
tool.shortname
tool.primary_admin
tool.secondary_admin
tool.development state

I like that idea although i fear that complex attributes may need even 
more changes
to the Scarab code base than adding dependencies...

Feedback, advice, hints are welcome.

best regards,
hussayn

------------------------------------------------------
http://scarab.tigris.org/ds/viewMessage.do?dsForumId=456&dsMessageId=2831103

To unsubscribe from this discussion, e-mail: [[email protected]].