7.2. The Mapping Editor
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## 7.2. The Mapping Editor

The Mapping Editor gives the developer access to all of the mapping information stored for the given class. The editor is divided into two parts. The top half corresponds to class-level mapping information. The bottom half corresponds to field mappings for each field in the class.

The top half is further divided by tabs into three mapping components. These three tabs control the currently selected mappings for class data, version indicator and class indicator.

However, both the class-level and field-level components are all based on the same mapping component system. Each component is built of three major parts. The first provides a selector for Kodo-known mappings for the given type, be it a field, class, or version mapping. When you select a mapping type from the drop down, the second component, the mapping description, will update with a thorough explanation of what the current selected mapping type does. And the final component provides inputs for each mapping type.

The inputs for a given mapping type are usually of three major types:

- Single schema selection - These provide a simple textfield to enter a schema object of the appropriate type. They are accompanied by a button to select graphically from Kodo Workbench's schema representation in a component not unlike the Schema explorer.

- Optional schema selection - These function similar to the single schema selection inputs, however they are controlled further by a checkbox which enables or disables the input value. For example, Collections are not ordered by default. By selecting the Ordered checkbox, and entering a column name to store the order, the Collection field mapping will know to store the order in the specified column at runtime.

- Foreign Key selection - These inputs allow the entering of the three major elements in a foreign key: table, source columns, and target columns. Each is dependent on the kind of foreign key being built, however they provide 2 major components, an single schema selection input for the table, and a table to store source and target column pairs. These column pairs can be added and removed by the controls on the right. Furthermore, each cell's value can be entered by a graphical selection from Kodo Workbench's schema by using the `From Database` button.

A mapping type available at every level is the `Custom` mapping type. This requires a high level of understanding of the Kodo mapping system and provides a streamlined access to the information stored in the MappingInfo for the class.

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