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Editing an Attribute Definition

You can edit attribute definitions for both classes and subclasses. When you edit an attribute defined on a class, the attribute definition is changed for all members of the class. This means the attribute definition is changed for all subclasses and all products of the class.

For a subclass, if you edit an inherited attribute, this permanently breaks the chain of inheritance for the fields you edit. Changes to these fields in the parent class attribute definition no longer propagate to the edited attribute. By editing inherited attribute definitions, you can customize the way attribute definitions propagate through the product hierarchy.

For example, you have the class hierarchy in Figure 2. Product Class A has one subclass called Subclass B. Subclass B has one subclass called Subclass C. Class A has Attribute A defined on it. Subclass B has attribute B defined on it. Subclass C has Attribute C defined on it. Subclass B inherits Attribute A from Class A. Subclass C inherits Attribute A from Class A and Attribute B from Subclass B.

Figure 2.  Product Class Hierarchy

In Subclass B, you edit the definition of Attribute A by entering a new Default Value. The Default Value field for Attribute A in Subclass B no longer inherits changes from Attribute A in Class A, its parent attribute.

When you edit a local or inherited attribute, the changes propagate to all members of the class or subclass. In the example, the new Default Value propagates to Attribute A in Subclass C.

There are restrictions on which fields you can edit in an inherited attribute definition. These restrictions are shown in Table 11.

Table 11.  Editable Fields in a Subclass Inherited Attribute Definition
Field
Editable?
Attribute Name
Yes. Breaks inheritance for all fields. Same as defining new attribute.
Data Type
Yes. Breaks inheritance for all fields. Same as defining new attribute.
List of Values
Yes. Breaks inheritance for this field.
Default Value
Yes. Breaks inheritance for this field.
Validation
Yes. Breaks inheritance for this field.
Required
Yes. Breaks inheritance for this field.
Display Name
Yes. Breaks inheritance for this field.
Parametric Search
Yes. Breaks inheritance for this field.
Unit of Measure
Yes. Breaks inheritance for this field.
Description
Yes. Breaks inheritance for this field.

To edit an attribute definition

  1. Navigate to Application Administration > Class Administration.
  2. Select the desired class.
  3. In the Dynamic Attributes list, highlight the desired attribute.
  4. Click in the desired field to change its value.
  5. Save the record.

 Product Administration Guide 
 Published: 23 June 2003