Create generic (custom) attributes

A generic attribute is a custom attribute configure for a class. You can create multiple generic attributes to capture relevant information about the objects in the class. As an administrative user, you can create predefined generic attributes for a class and make those generic attributes available to the user community. Users can then set values for the attributes in the data workbenches and content area of the class that you create the generic attribute for.

Create a generic attribute.The generic attribute requires a name which will be the caption of the attribute field in the user interface, and a property type which will determine whether the field is a checkbox, text field, date field, etc. You may specify a default value to be displayed or leave the field empty. A default value can be changed by the user. The generic attribute must be assigned to a property group. It will be displayed in that property group in the content area

1. Go to Configuration > Class Configuration. In the explorer, click the class that you want to create a generic attribute. In the content area, scroll to Generic Attributes
2. Click the  > Create New Generic Attribute to create a generic attribute from scratch. Alternatively, click Add Existing Generic Attributes to copy all generic attributes defined for an object class to the one you are currently working with. You can then remove generic attributes that aren't relevant for this class or modify the generic attributes you have added.
   • Name: The name is used as a caption for the generic attribute field.
   • Type: Select the type of property that the generic attribute is. The property type also determines the type of field that will be available to capture the data.
     • String: Users can enter 1-1999 characters of text in a text field.
     • Boolean: Users can set a checkmark in a checkbox
     • Integer: Users can enter a positive or negative integer number in a field.
     • Date: Users can select a date in the calendar picker.
     • Real: Users can enter a positive or negative decimal number as value in a field.
     • Color: Users can select a color in a color picker.
     • Icon: Users can select an icon that is stored in the icon gallery of Alfabet FastLane.
     • Enumerations that have been preconfigured to be available for generic attributes are also displayed in the Type field. If an enumeration is selected, the user can select one of its enumeration values in a drop-down menu.
   • Property Group: A property group is preconfigured and groups a set of attributes in the content area in a content area. The property group Generic Attributes is a property group for generic attributes only. You can use this property group to group all generic attributes or you can distribute the generic attributes to other existing property groups listed in the Property Groups field. A property group may display multiple standard and generic attributes.

     For example, in the content area for the class Application, the property group Lifecycle bundles the standard attributes Start Date, End Date, Object State, Recommendation, Strategic Application, and Successor attributes. You could add a new generic attribute such as Lifecycle Review Date to the Lifecycle property group.

   • Value: (Optional) Define a default value for the generic attribute. The values that may be specified will depend on the type of property defined in the Type field.

Make sure the generic attribute is displayed in the content area. The property group that the generic attribute is assigned to must be visible in the content area for the generic attribute to be visible. If the property group is visible, then all generic attributes assigned to it at any point in time will automatically be visible.

The property group Generic Attributes is a property group for generic attributes only. You can use this property group to group all generic attributes or distribute the generic attributes to other existing property groups. However, Generic Attributes property group is not displayed per default in content areas and must be explicitly added to a content area page. If you create a generic attribute and it is the first attribute assigned for a class to the property group Generic Attribute, then you will need to add the Generic Attribute property group to the content area.

1. Go to the content area of the class you are working with. For example, for the class Application, go to Application Architecture > Applications and click the Navigate   button for any application in the data workbench to open the content area.
2. Click the three vertical dots  button for the entire content area and click Add Content. In the Item Type filter select Attribute Groups. Set a checkmark for the property group you want to add and click Update.
3. The newly added property group will be added to the content area. Click the six dots  symbol to the left of the view caption and drag the view to the place you want. The other views will automatically readjust their position in the content area.
4. Click the three vertical dots  button for the entire content area and click Save as Default.