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Hibernate version: 3.2.26.GA

Hibernate has thus far excelled at mapping my complex legacy database.

However, is it still necessary to implement a UserType to get polymorphic components? Your expedited reply is most appreciated as I am about to do exactly that.

Consider the following scenario:

I have a Product entity.

I have a special kind of Product - ResearchAndDevelopmentProduct using the table per subclass strategy. ie we have a Discriminator value determining what kind of Product we have.

Now I'd like my Product to include a component (ProductComponent) that models some related fields and behaviors.

And I'd like my ResearchAndDevelopmentProduct to include a component (ResearchAndDevelopmentComponent) that includes polymorphic behaviors, relating to the same fields. Along with some additional fields and behaviors.

Please consider that I'm not at liberty to make changes to the legacy database (however much I may want to).

Did I just type table-per-subclass? I meant single table.

In any case, I want the component type to be determined by the owning entity.