instance

In object-oriented software terminology, an instance is a single example of a concrete class. The New operation creates a new object instance of the class.

In most situations, PRPC uses the term New for the act of creating a new instance, rather than the Java term constructor or instantiation.

PRPC uses the term Save As for making a copy of an instance, and Delete for eliminating it.

However, the term "instantiation" is used to describe the creation of a new work item, whether automatically through operation of a case type rule, or manually.

In PRPC documentation, the words new and instantiate do not appear as verbs or method names. The terms add, make, or create are used interchangeably for rules and data instances. The verb enter is used for new work item instances. The verb delete corresponds to the destroy() function.

A PRPC instance is a durable, potentially permanent, saved representation of a concrete class that is stored in the database. This corresponds to a row in the relational database or to a record in traditional computer terms. The instance consists of properties and values, and some of these property values form a unique key to the instance.

An instance copied from the database into a clipboard page is called an open instance. Usually an open instance is locked, so that only one requestor can update it at a time.

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