Block (Create Change Request)

A block is a subset of Properties within an Application Class. If all Properties of a device type are arranged with equal importance on one single level, the list will become less understandable while more Properties are added. Clarity can be achieved by structuring the Properties into sub-concepts, which are described by Properties. These sub-concepts are called Block (of Properties).

The workspace area for the management of Blocks can be accessed via menu Content manager → Block.

Figure 1: Content Manager Block

First of all, the user can change the language of the content by navigating the mouse to the button "en" which is left to search field. Various languages can be selected. 

Figure 2: Languages of the Content

In the field Enter query it is possible to type in the ID or the preferred name of the Block.

By clicking on "advanced search" (under search field), there are several search options available.

Figure 3: Advanced search field

The search options are explained via mouse over in the CDP. By clicking on the Search button without entering name or ID in the search field, all Blocks are displayed in the list view below.

Figure 4: List of Blocks

The user can select between the tabs Classes [number of existent Blocks] and Change requests [number of Change requests]. Note: Number of Change requests is only displayed after clicking on the tab.

On the far-right side, the option to display up to 100 entries is available. Here the Excel icon allows to directly export in an Excel file the entries that are displayed on the page:

Several steps are necessary to create a block structure. Blocks assigned to its parent classes via reference Property. How to set up a block structure is explained in the example below. Further down the page you will also find explanations of other CRs (such as change text).

1. Creating a Block

Navigate to Content manager -> Block

Click on Create button in toolbar

Figure 8: Option "Create..."

Choose the Root Block in three view (marked) and click on select

Figure 9: Root Block

Fill in the mandatory information in the next window and save the Change Requests

Figure 10: Create Block Dialog

2. Assign Properties to Block

As the next step, assign the Properties to the Block

Click on the menu Block and select the Block you want to assign the Properties to.

In our example the Block “car tire”

Note: Select the “change request tab” if you want to assign to a Block that is still a CR

Figure 11: Assign Property to Block

Afterwards select the Properties you want to assign and click on “Select”.

Figure 12: List of Properties

In the next dialogue fill in the reason and “Save”.

Figure 13: dialogue add existing Property

3. Create a reference Property

Blocks are assigned to Application Classes or Aspects via reference Property.

Create a Reference Property with the following options

Data type Reference

Type of Property: non-dependent

The preferred name has to be the same as the preferred name of the Block 

Select the Block (in our example the Block “Car tire”) as referenced class

Figure 14: Create Block

Figure 15: Create Dialog

Figure 16: List of all referenced classes

Fill in all mandatory fields!

Figure 17: Create Dialog

Note: The Reference Property is now attached to the parent Block

In general, a Block should only be removed after intense consideration as ECLASS users might already describe their products with the help of the Properties used in the Block, Therefore, to remove a Block without a successor is almost impossible.

Note: REMOVE BLOCK is a structural change and therefore only allowed before Alpha Release.

Note: REMOVE BLOCK means that the Block is marked as deprecated, its identifier cannot be used again. The removed Block stays part of former releases. 

In order to create a Change Request for removing a Block proceed as follows: 

After selecting Block under Content Manager, the user has to select a specific Block he/she would like to remove. After this the user has to hover above the “Remove” icon and will have two options to choose from: “Delete (CR)” and “Hard-delete”.

Figure 18: List of Blocks

Delete (CR) Block

User selects a Block from the list – the systems displays the Withdraw block dialog:

Fill in the mandatory fields “Reason” and press “Save”.

Figure 19: Dialog withdraw Block

Hard-delete Block

The hard delete function gives the user the opportunity to remove structural elements that were created incorrectly or by mistake in Alpha and Beta versions.

In order to hard-delete a Block, the user needs to select the element in the corresponding list or tree view. Then it is necessary to open the drop-down of “Remove” button in the toolbar and select option “Hard-delete”.

Note: If the user tries to “Hard-delete” an element from the PROD release, the following ERROR message will be displayed:

Figure 20: hard-delete error

A deprecated Block can also be reactivated. In order to reactivate a Block just select a Block in the Block menu and click on the button “Reactivate Block”.

Subsequently fill in the mandatory fields and save the Change request. 

Figure 21: Reactivate Block

In order to withdraw a Block from a Block proceed as follows:

Choose a Block and click on “Withdraw block reference”.

Figure 22: Select Withdraw block reference

The System will open the new dialog. Choose a Property of the list of properties and click on “Select”.

Figure 23: Choose Property

Fill in the reason and “Save”

Figure 24: Enter reason

In order to withdraw a Property from a Block proceed as follows:

After clicking on “Withdraw properties”, you will be prompted to select a Property. 

Figure 25: Select withdraw Property

Choose from the list of properties, then click on “Select” to proceed.

Figure 26: Select Property

Fill in the fields and press “Save”

Figure 27: Fill in the reason

• ECLASS ContentDevelopmentPlatform

• Application Class (Create Change Request)

• Property (Create Change Request)

• Aspect (Create Change Request)

• Polymorphism (Help Page)

• Cardinality (Help Page)

• Using the Content Development Platform