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Configuring Assignment Attributes

An assignment attribute object definition defines an attribute that can be referenced in assignment criteria records. It specifies a logical attribute that can be chosen from a picklist for defining comparisons; it does not directly specify a particular database column or combination of columns. Column mapping is accomplished through the child assignment attribute column object definitions, one for each assignment object that uses the parent assignment attribute.

An assignment attribute also specifies the picklist that appears in the Values list in the Assignment Criteria view when you are entering an attribute in a value record, as shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15.  Picklist for Populating an Attribute in a Value Record

An assignment criteria attribute object definition implements each list column in the Values applet, as described in Configuring Assignment Criteria Attributes. The assignment criteria attribute is based on an assignment attribute, as specified in its assignment attribute property. The referenced assignment attribute identifies a picklist. This is the picklist that appears when you click the drop-down arrow to the right of the list column cell.

The Assignment Attribute object type functions as an intermediary between the assignment criteria on the one hand and the assignment objects on the other, as shown in Figure 14.

An assignment criteria attribute references an assignment attribute through its assignment attribute property. In turn, each of the assignment attribute's child assignment attribute columns specifies an assignment object and a workflow policy component/column combination.

An assignment attribute is a logical grouping of similar mappings to different assignment objects that can use the same picklist for value selection. For example, the Account State assignment attribute has ten child assignment attribute column object definitions. Each of these assignment attributes is used for selection of the state in which an account is located, but five of them are used for different assignment objects (Activity, Account, Campaign Contact, and Order), and the other five are used for different account state attributes in the Opportunity assignment object (such as Primary Account State and Indirect Account Primary State).

NOTE:  To generate a trigger based on an assignment attribute, a corresponding assignment attribute column must be configured. See Configuring Assignment Attribute Columns.

To create a new assignment attribute

1. Start Siebel Tools.
2. Lock the assignment object's project.
   1. In the Object Explorer, click the Types tab, and then select Project.
   2. In the Projects window, select the appropriate project.
   3. Check the Locked field.
3. In the Object Explorer, select the Assignment Attribute object, and then choose Edit > New Record.

   TIP:   If the Assignment Attribute object is not visible in the Object Explorer, you can enable it in the Development Tools Options dialog box (View > Options > Object Explorer).

4. In the Assignment Attributes window, configure the assignment attribute object by setting values in the appropriate fields.
   1. In the Name field, type the name of the new assignment attribute.
   2. In the Project field, select a project.
   3. Optionally, if the attribute supports a range of values (such as revenue), check the Use Range field.
   4. In the Data Type field, select a data type for the attribute.
   5. Optionally, if you want a picklist for the attribute to allow users to select values for the assignment attribute, enter a value in the Picklist field.
   6. Optionally, you can use a pick field for the attribute to allow users to select values for the assignment attribute, enter a value in the Pick Field field.

      For a description of these properties, see Table 15.

5. Update the siebel.srf file and run various server administration tasks.

   For instructions on updating your deployment with the new configurations, see Server Administration After Configuring Assignment Manager.

Table 15 shows some of the properties of the Assignment Attribute object type.

Configuring MLOV for Assignment Attributes

Multilingual List of Values (MLOV) capability allows assignment attributes to be stored in a form that can be retrieved and displayed in a variety of supported client languages. For detailed information on MLOV, see Configuring Siebel eBusiness Applications. To enable assignment attributes for MLOV, use the following procedure.

To enable assignment attributes for MLOV

1. Start Siebel Tools.
2. Lock the assignment object's project.
   1. In the Object Explorer, click the Types tab, and then select Project.
   2. In the Projects window, select the appropriate project.
   3. Check the Locked field.
3. In the Object Explorer, select the Assignment Attribute object.
4. Select the Assignment Attribute in the list of attributes that requires translation.
5. Locate the Translate column for this attribute, and select the check box to assign this property with a TRUE value.
6. Locate the Translate Pick Field for the assignment attribute, and select from the Translate Pick Field dialog box the field in the Pick List Business Component that stores the Language Independent Code (in most cases this is the Name field).

You can also configure the application to enable MLOV for workload criteria, criteria values, and skills. For more information, see Configuring Siebel eBusiness Applications.