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Let me try giving some examples.
Suppose we have an Eidolon with the following evolutions:
The eidolon's body becomes shadowy and more indistinct. This shadow form grants the eidolon constant concealment (20% miss chance), and its melee attacks affect incorporeal creatures as if it had the ghost touch weapon property. The eidolon's melee attacks deal only half damage to corporeal creatures.
An eidolon becomes adept at grappling foes, gaining the grab ability. Pick bite, claw, pincers, slam, tail slap, or tentacle attacks. Whenever the eidolon makes a successful attack of the selected type, it can attempt a free combat maneuver check. If successful, the eidolon grapples the target. This ability only works on creatures of a size one category smaller than the eidolon or smaller. Eidolons with this evolution receive a +4 bonus on CMB checks made to grapple.
An eidolon gains powerful muscles that allow it to crush those it grapples. Whenever the eidolon successfully grapples a foe using the grab evolution, it deals additional damage equal to the amount of damage dealt by the attack used by the grab evolution. This evolution is only available to eidolons of the serpentine base form.
An eidolon gains the swallow whole ability, giving it the ability to consume its foes. If the eidolon begins its turn with a creature grappled using its bite attack (see the grab evolution), it can attempt a combat maneuver check to swallow the creature. The creature can be up to one size category smaller than the eidolon. Swallowed creatures take damage equal to the eidolon’s bite damage each round plus 1d6 points of bludgeoning damage. A swallowed creature keeps the grappled condition, but can attempt to cut its way free with a light slashing or piercing weapon. The amount of damage needed to cut free is equal to 1/10 the eidolon’s total hit points. The eidolon’s AC against these attacks is equal to 10 + 1/2 its natural armor bonus. If a swallowed creature cuts its way out, the eidolon loses this ability until it heals this damage. Alternatively, the swallowed creature can attempt to escape the grapple as normal. Success indicates that it has returned to the eidolon’s mouth, where it can attempt to escape or be swallowed again. The eidolon must possess the grab evolution, tied to a bite attack, to take this evolution. The summoner must be at least 9th level before selecting this evolution.
An eidolon gains the ability to inflict bleeding wounds. Select one type of attack. Attacks of that type deal 1d6 points of bleed damage. This evolution can be selected more than once. Each time an eidolon selects this evolution, it applies to a different attack. The bleed effect doesn't stack.
Emphasis mine on the parts relevant to damage dealt.
Then we have a combat play out like this:- Eidolon attacks a corporeal enemy. Since it's a melee attack, Shadow Form makes it deal only half damage. The enemy is now bleeding, due to the Bleed evolution.
- Eidolon uses Grab to initiate a grapple. Succeeding on the grapple check, it applies Constrict. It uses the same damage as the melee attack used for the grab. Is this damage also reduced by half? Should it be?
- The enemy takes a turn, in which he bleeds for 1d6. This bleed originates from a melee attack, so is it reduced as well?
- On the eidolon's next turn, it makes a check to maintain the grapple, using it to do the Damage action. Again, this uses the damage from the eidolon's natural attack.
- Using another grapple check, the eidolon uses his Swallows Whole evolution. Yet another time, the enemy will take damage based on the eidolon's natural attack.
So, in short, I think the problem can be summarized in two questions:
Does Shadow Form's damage dealt reduction apply only when using an actual attack (standard action attack, full-attack, etc.) or on whatever effect you use your melee attack damage for (constrict, grapple damage, etc.)?
And does it reduce all damage originated from the melee attack (bleed, energy damage, etc.), or only the attack's base damage (natural attack damage, weapon damage, etc.)?