Learn Dictionary Override, Base Tables and Extended Tables with an Example Today
Don’t know what is Dictionary Override? Don’t worry I will teach you today!
(If you prefer video format, click the play button below otherwise scroll down)
Before understanding Dictionary Override and it’s use, you should first to know what is a base table and Extended table.
In this example I am going to create a table, since this is my first table it’s called a parent table. Next I will be creating 3 child tables.
These child tables will be extended from the first parent table.
So now you know that my parent table is an extendible table. Parent table that is extendible is called a base table
Why?
A base table is a table that acts as a foundation for other tables, meaning it can be extended by child tables.
If a table is not extendable, it cannot serve as a parent for other tables, so it does not qualify as a base table.
In this example my base table or parent table is called vehicle
Child tables are called car,bike and truck
How Data is Stored in These Tables?
1️⃣ Base Table: vehicle (Parent Table)
This table contains all vehicle records and stores common fields like:
- Vehicle ID (Unique for each vehicle)
- Make (e.g., Toyota, Honda, Ford)
- Model (e.g., Corolla, CBR500, F-150)
- Year (e.g., 2022, 2023)
- Owner (e.g., John Doe)
2️⃣ Extended Tables (Child Tables)
Each extended table (car, bike, truck) inherits from vehicle but adds extra fields.
| Table | Vehicle ID | Make | Model | Year | Owner | Additional Fields |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vehicle (Base) |
V1001 | Toyota | Corolla | 2022 | John Doe | (Common Fields) |
car (Extends vehicle) |
V1001 | Toyota | Corolla | 2022 | John Doe | Number of Doors, Fuel Type |
bike (Extends vehicle) |
V2001 | Honda | CBR500 | 2023 | Jane Smith | Engine CC, Type (Sports/Cruiser) |
truck (Extends vehicle) |
V3001 | Ford | F-150 | 2021 | Mike Ross | Load Capacity, Axle Count |
Now you know that car, bike and truck is a child table. These tables inherit all the fields of Vehicle table.
In this example the field “vehicle id” is a mandatory field but I don’t want this field to be mandatory on Bike table.
This is where you can use Dictionary override
Key Benefits of Dictionary Override
✅ Customize inherited fields without modifying the parent table.
✅ Keep configurations modular and maintainable.
✅ Apply changes only to specific child tables.
To see Dictionary override in a real time action, play this video below
