There Are Four Types Of Characteristics

Every characteristic referenced on an object references a characteristic type. The characteristic type controls the validity of the information entered by a user when they enter the characteristic's values. For example, if you have a characteristic type on user called "skills", the information you setup on this characteristic type controls the valid values that may be specified by a user when defining another user's skills.

When you setup a characteristic type, you must classify it as one of the following categories:

• Predefined value. When you setup a characteristic of this type, you define the individual valid values that may be entered by a user. A good example of such a characteristic type would be one on User to define one or more predefined skills for that user. The valid values for this characteristic type would be defined in a discreet list.
• Ad hoc value. Characteristics of this type do not have their valid values defined in a discreet list because the possible values are infinite. Good examples of such a characteristic type would be ones used to define a user's birth date or their mother's maiden name. Optionally, you can plug-in an algorithm on such a characteristic type to validate the value entered by the user. For example, you can plug-in an algorithm on a characteristic type to ensure the value entered is a date.
• Foreign key value. Characteristics of this type have their valid values defined in another table. For example perhaps you want to link a user to a table where User is not already a foreign key. Valid values for this type of characteristic would be defined on the user table. Please be aware of the following in respect of characteristics of this type:

• Before you can create a characteristic of this type, information about the table that contains the valid values must be defined on the foreign key reference table.

• The referenced table does not have to be a table within the system.

• Not all entities that support characteristics support foreign key characteristics. Refer to the data dictionary to identify the entities that include the foreign key characteristic columns.

• File Location. Characteristics of this type contain a URL. The URL can point to a file or any web site. Characteristics of this type might be useful to hold references to documentation / images associated with a given entity. For example, the image of a letter sent to you by one of your customers could be referenced as a file location characteristic on a customer contact entry. When such a characteristic is defined on an entity, a button can be used to open the URL in a separate browser window.