---
title: Load a group's chapters
summary: Retrieve a groups chapters and seed a placeholder when none exist.
status: draft
owner: Technical Writer
last_reviewed: 2026-07-31
library: SAIF.Business.Policy.Group
reference_type: package
operation_id: OP-004
trigger: Caller reads `clsGroupAssociation.Chapters` or requests chapters directly
---

# Load a group's chapters

Lazily loads chapter rows for a group and guarantees that callers see at least one chapter object.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| **Operation ID** | OP-004 |
| **Trigger** | Caller reads `clsGroupAssociation.Chapters` or requests chapters directly |
| **Inputs** | — |
| **Outputs** | A `clsChapterCollection`, or a placeholder chapter when no rows exist. |
| **Primary components** | `clsGroupAssociation.Chapters`, `clsChapterCollection.GetChapters` |
| **Entry point** | `Business\SAIF.Business.Policy.Group\clsChapterCollection.vb` |

## Steps

1. On first access to `Chapters`, the group calls `clsChapterCollection.GetChapters(DataPortalInfo, Code)`.
2. `BeforeRetrieve` binds `:GroupAssociationCode`; `RetrieveSQL` selects from `GROUP_CHAPTER`.
3. `AfterRetrieve` fills one `clsChapter` per row.
4. Branch — if the returned collection is empty, a placeholder chapter is added via `clsChapter.NewChapter(dpi, Code, "")` (blank chapter code) so callers always have at least one chapter. ([BR-005](../business-rules.md#br-005-group-exposes-a-placeholder-chapter-when-none-exist))
5. Callers filter with `ActiveChapters(selectDate)` and `GroupChaptersByCode(code)`. ([BR-006](../business-rules.md#br-006-chapter-activity-is-bounded-by-effective-dates))
6. Database statements executed or relied on by this operation: [SQL-018](../sql/SQL-018-saif-business-policy-group.md); affected tables: [GROUP_CHAPTER](../database-tables.md#group_chapter).

## Process flow

The following diagram visualizes this operation's control flow.

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    Start([Trigger]) --> Step1[Build criteria / load state]
    Step1 --> Step2[Apply local business logic]
    Step2 --> Decision{Valid and complete?}
    Decision -->|Yes| Step3[Return data or persist rows]
    Decision -->|No| EndErr([Return BOF validation or SQL-state issues])
    Step3 --> EndOk([Operation completes])
```

## Failure and edge-case behavior

- If no rows exist in [GROUP_CHAPTER](../database-tables.md#group_chapter), the library seeds a placeholder chapter instead of returning an empty collection ([BR-005](../business-rules.md#br-005-group-exposes-a-placeholder-chapter-when-none-exist)).

## Related documentation
- [Operations and processes](../operations-processes.md)
- [Business rules](../business-rules.md)
- [SQL catalog](../sql/index.md)
- [Database tables](../database-tables.md)
## Sources
- `Business\SAIF.Business.Policy.Group\clsChapterCollection.vb`