Create custom reference data types

Create a custom common data type. Common data is culture independent and does not require translation. Ensure that the class is marked as [Serializable]:

namespace Documentation
{
    [Serializable]
    public class AiportCommonData
    {
        public int NumberOfRunways { get; set; }
    }
}

Create a custom culture data type. Ensure that the class is marked as [Serializable]:

namespace Documentation
{
    [Serializable]
    public class AirportCultureData
    {
        public string AirportName { get; set; }
    }
}

Choose a definition type name. It is recommended that you store definition type names in a central location. For example, Sitecore’s default definition type names are stored under Sitecore.Marketing.Operations.Xdb.ReferenceData.Model.Definitions.DefinitionTypeNames.

Use custom definition type as shown. If the type does not exist, it will be created when the EnsureDefinitionTypeAsync() method is called:

using Sitecore.DependencyInjection;
using Sitecore.Xdb.ReferenceData.Client;
using Sitecore.Marketing.Operations.Xdb.ReferenceData.Model;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Globalization;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Sitecore.Xdb.ReferenceData.Core;

namespace Documentation
{
    public class RefDataCustomDefinitionData
    {
        public async void Example()
        {
            var client = ServiceLocator.ServiceProvider.GetService(typeof(IReferenceDataClient)) as IReferenceDataClient;

            DefinitionTypeKey definitionType = await client.EnsureDefinitionTypeAsync("Airport Codes"); // Do not hardcode defintion type name like this

            var definitionKey = new DefinitionKey("LHR", definitionType, 1);
            var definition = new Definition<AiportCommonData, AirportCultureData>(definitionKey)
            {
                IsActive = true,
                CommonData = new AiportCommonData
                {
                    NumberOfRunways = 5
                }
            };

            definition.CultureData.Add(new CultureInfo("en"), new AirportCultureData() { AirportName = "Heathrow Airport" });
            definition.CultureData.Add(new CultureInfo("dk"), new AirportCultureData() { AirportName = "Danish Heathrow Airport" });

            await client.SaveAsync(definition);
        }
    }

    [Serializable]
    public class AirportCultureData
    {
        public string AirportName { get; set; }
    }

    [Serializable]
    public class AiportCommonData
    {
        public int NumberOfRunways { get; set; }
    }
}