Merge pull request #1027 from catenax-ng/chore/578-consistent-null-va…

…lues

chore(concept): #578 Consistent null values

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 ### Added
 - Added concept #638: Contract agreement admin view
 - Added support for meta key for multi sorting on tables
+- Added concept #578: Consistent null values
 
 ### Changed
 - Spring-core bumped from 6.0.16 to 6.0.17

docs/concept/#578-consistent-null-values/#578-consistent-null-values.md

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+# #578 Consistent null values
+
+| Key           | Value                                                                    |
+|---------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
+| Author        | @ds-crehm                                                                |
+| Creation date | 28.02.2024                                                               |
+| Ticket Id     | [#578](https://github.com/eclipse-tractusx/traceability-foss/issues/578) |
+| State         | Draft                                                                    |
+
+# Table of Contents
+1. [Overview](#overview)
+2. [Requirements](#requirements)
+3. [Out of scope](#out-of-scope)
+4. [Concept](#concept)
+5. [References](#references)
+6. [Additional Details](#additional-details)
+
+
+# Overview
+In the frontend there are multiple versions of 'empty' values:
+
+![example-values-frontend.png](example-values-frontend.png)
+
+In the backend those values are as follows:
+
+![example-values-backend.png](example-values-backend.png)
+
+These should be consistent throughout Trace-X.
+
+# Requirements
+- Whenever a string value is saved or updated in the database and during data consumption from IRS:
+  - [ ] Leading and trailing whitespace characters are trimmed.
+  - [ ] Empty strings ("") are all converted to null.
+- [ ] Null values are shown *empty* in the frontend.
+- [ ] When sorting columns, empty values are shown all the way on the bottom regardless of the sort order.
+- [ ] Empty values can be filtered and searched for. They are shown as "(Blank)" (de: "(Leer)") when filtering for them and can be searched by inputting the same term.
+- [ ] Leading and trailing whitespace characters don't count as mandatory values during user input.
+
+# Out of scope
+Any further string validation is out of scope. For example values like "-", "--", ".", "..." will not be changed and instead written into the database and shown in the frontend **unchanged**.
+
+# Concept
+### Backend
+Whenever a string is saved or updated in the database and during data consumption from IRS:
+1. Trim leading and whitespace character
+2. Convert empty strings ("") to null
+3. Save/update value in database
+
+### Frontend
+Null values should be shown in the frontend as empty:
+
+![null-value-display-empty.png](null-value-display-empty.png)
+
+When sorting the values, empty ones should be always shown at the bottom regardless of the sort order.
+Filtering and searching for empty values must be possible. In the filter box (Blank) (de: (Leer)) should be shown at the bottom.
+To search for it, the user must type in the term "(Blank)" (de: (Leer)).
+
+![null-value-filter.png](null-value-filter.png)
+
+In order to reduce the amount of whitespace characters in the database, leading and trailing whitespaces should not be counted during user input.
+
+![null-value-input-leading-and-trailing.png](null-value-input-leading-and-trailing.png)
+In this example, the amount of counted characters should be 10 ("blank" + " " + "test") instead of 43.
+
+![null-value-input-only-spaces.png](null-value-input-only-spaces.png)
+Here, no characters should be counted and the input should not be accepted.
+
+# References
+https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVO5JVoho=/?moveToWidget=3458764580844404410&cot=10
+
+# Additional Details
+Given the dynamic nature of ongoing development, there might be variations between the conceptualization and the current implementation. For the latest status, refer to the documentation.