A generic attribute is a custom attribute that allows the ad-hoc capture of information for a class. As an administrative user, you can create predefined custom attributes for a class. The custom attribute requires a name and may have a value defined. The custom attribute can then be added to an object of the respective object class when the object is defined. The value of the custom attribute can be changed by the user. Users may also create custom attributes in the context of the Generic Attributes view for the object.

To create a predefined custom attribute:

1. In the navigation pane, expand Configuration > Class Configuration Explorer.
2. Click the class that you want to create the custom attribute for click Generic Attributes.
3. Create the custom attribute and define the following:
   • Name: Enter a name that is easy for users to understand. The attribute name will be displayed in the Generic Attributes view for an object.
   • Type: Select the type of property that the generic attribute is. The field will display standard property types and enumerations. If you select an enumeration, the enumeration values will be displayed in the Value field.
   • Generic Attribute Group: Enter a name for the generic attribute group that the generic attribute belongs to.
   • Value: Define the default value that is relevant for the generic attribute for the selected object class. The values that may be specified will depend on the type of property defined in the Type field. If you are reusing a default value, you can change it as needed.

     If you select Date, a placeholder for a non-existing date will be displayed indicating the date format to be used.