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Defining Attribute Families

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Use the Attribute Families view to define, map, and build attribute families with attributes. The attributes in attribute families can be used to create attribute hierarchies. Using this view, you map every attribute to a data warehouse base table (primary table) and a base field, then create multiple attribute hierarchies using some or all of the attributes. The base field corresponds to the set of unique values at the lowest level of the Attribute Family.

The Attribute Families list displays available attribute families, every attribute member defined within the attribute family, and the associated table and field mappings. Create user-defined labels as an alternative when labels for an attribute level need to be defined manually. You can create an unlimited number of labels.

To create attribute Families

From the application-level menu, choose View > Site Map > Marketing Administration screen.
In the Attribute Families list, create a new record.
Complete the necessary fields using the table at the end of this procedure as a guide.

When you save the record, the new record appears in the Attribute Families list.

In the Attribute Families list, select the attribute family for data retrieval.

Use SHIFT select or CTRL select to choose more than one Attribute Family for data retrieval.

Click Retrieve Data.
In the Pick Start Time dialog box, click the field's arrow button.
Use the calendar controls to choose a date and the time for the Retrieve Data job and click OK.

A validation process begins to ascertain each attribute in the list contains values in the Label Table and Label Field fields. If there are no values in these fields, validation checks for records in the user-defined labels list for the attribute.

If validation fails, the attribute family's Data Retrieval Required field will contain a Y (Yes), and the Last Data Retrieval and Size fields will contain no values.

Field	Comment
Base Field	Click the Base Field select button. In the Pick Fields dialog box, select the base field from the list of fields in the selected table. The base field should be the lowest level of the attribute hierarchy. For example, if a time-based hierarchy has levels of Years, Weeks, and Days, select Day as the base field. The base field should be a field that is unlikely to have duplicate values and can be joined to. The field width accommodates a maximum of 50 characters.
Base Table	Click the Base Table select button. In the Pick Tables dialog box, select the table and click OK. The base table contains the base field for the attributes in this family. An example would be a time table with a day field. A start-point join must exist for the base table for it to be retrieved.
Data Retrieval Required (Yes/No)	This system-monitored and automatically populated field indicates whether an attribute data retrieval (rebuild) is required. Data Retrieval is required if: A new attribute family is added. A new attribute member is added to an existing attribute family, or attribute elements are changed. A new attribute hierarchy is added that uses this attribute family. An attribute hierarchy which uses this attribute family is deleted. An attribute hierarchy using this attribute family is modified (levels added or deleted, or a change is made to the rollup).
Description	(Optional) Type a description of the attribute family's properties.
Last Data Retrieval	This field contains the date of the last attribute data retrieval (rebuild).
Name	Type a unique name for the attribute family.
Number of Attributes	The number of attributes defined in the attribute family is automatically generated in this field when data retrieval is completed.
Size	The number of unique values in the data source for the attribute family. This field is automatically filled in after an attribute build.

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