Maintainable Objects: Modules and Schemes

Maintainable objects are of two basic types, Modules and Schemes.

Modules roughly relate to stages in the life cycle or publishing packages. Publishing packages pull together related material regarding a study, a series or group of studies, reusable resources, or deposited objects. Modules like DataCollection, LogicalProduct, PhysicalDataProduct, and ConceptualComponents bring together sets of information related to specific activities, the results of a study, or conceptual background. They may include other modules, schemes, or non-scheme based objects.

Schemes are designed to bring together sets of similar objects (i.e. Variables, Concepts, RecordLayouts, etc.) which are managed as a unit for either conceptual or administrative purposes. Schemes have a common structure providing descriptive information about the scheme, a set of similar objects, and the ability to group those objects for administrative purposes.