Accessing Data with Paths

Paths are references to sources of data. They are similar in concept to file system paths that are used to access files or XPath expressions that are used to access data in a structured document. All access to data of any kind from a renderer is performed through paths. Paths can be used to access the values of server interface properties, text in localized properties files, localized properties resources in the database, and other values.

Overview Diagram
The terminology that is used to describe the parts of a path is shown in the figure below.
Creating New Paths
Usually, a renderer plug-in just resolves the values of the paths that are given to it in the Binding of its Field object. However, in some cases, the renderer requires data other than that referenced by the paths.
General Properties Resources
The general properties path refers to a localized text property stored in a Java properties file on the classpath. The prefix path is extended with two further steps: the first step is the resource identifier for the properties file; the second step is the property key. Java properties files can be added to any package within the javasource folder of an application component, the same location used for the renderer plug-in classes.
Resource Store Properties Resources
Files of any kind are allowed to be uploaded and stored in the database of the application, for later retrieval. This service is called the Application Resource Store. When a file is uploaded, it no longer exists as a file, but as the value of a field in a database record. This database record is referred to as a resource. By constructing and resolving the appropriate path, a renderer plug-in can access property values from Java properties resources that are uploaded to this store.
Literal Values
Occasionally, the developer can need to represent a literal value by using a path, as the widget API usually only supports paths to represent data. For this purpose, the developer can encode a literal value within a path, so that when the DataAccessor resolves the path, the literal value is returned.