Create extended attributes

An extended attribute is a custom attribute configured for a class. You can create multiple extended attributes to capture relevant information about the objects in the class. As an administrative user, you can create predefined extended attributes for a class and make those extended 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 extended attribute for.

Create an extended attribute.The extended 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 extended 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 an extended attribute. In the content area, scroll to Extended Attributes
2. Click the  > Create New Extended Attribute to create an extended attribute from scratch. Alternatively, click Add Existing Extended Attributes to copy all extended attributes defined for an object class to the one you are currently working with. You can then remove extended attributes that aren't relevant for this class or modify the extended attributes you have added.
   • Name: The name is used as a caption for the extended attribute field.
   • Type: Select the type of property that the extended 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.
     • Range: Users can select a value that you define in the Range field. In addition to the values you specify, an empty row is automatically added for undefined values. The user can select one of the values in a drop-down field.
     • Enumerations that have been preconfigured to be available for extended 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 field.
   • Property Group: A property group is preconfigured and groups a set of attributes in the content area in a content area. The property group Extended Attributes is a property group for extended attributes only. You can use this property group to group all extended attributes or you can distribute the extended attributes to other existing property groups listed in the Property Groups field. A property group may display multiple standard and extended 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 extended attribute such as Lifecycle Review Date to the Lifecycle property group.

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

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

The property group Extended Attributes is a property group for extended attributes only. You can use this property group to group all extended attributes or distribute the extended attributes to other existing property groups. However, Extended 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 extended attribute and it is the first attribute assigned for a class to the property group Extended Attribute, then you will need to add the Extended 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.