Instance

Definition

While an ontology is like a template, an instance is a specific occurrence of an ontology. An instance is not confined to a single case: the same instance can be linked into several cases at once. Each case that has the instance works from its own copy of the instance's values while it is ongoing; approving the case is what writes that copy back to the instance itself.

Example

During configuration, the ontology 'Person' has been defined.

Whenever a person becomes part of a case, this individual will then be an instance of the ontology 'Person'. He or she will have a first and last name and other information that make that someone an individual instance of 'Person'. "Jonathan Griffin" could be one instance of the ontology 'Person', "Maria Lopez" another one.

As the case moves through the process, Atfinity will include all the information fields, roles, documents and proofs you have defined during the configuration for the ontology 'Person'. At the end of the case, all information about all involved instances will be known.