Creating Properties

  To create a property definition:

1. On the Home page, select Administer.

2. From New, select Property Definition.

3. Enter a name for the property.

   Note:

   The property is assigned to the Custom namespace. The Fully Qualified Name and Label fields are filled in automatically after entering the name. The Fully Qualified Name for the property must be unique. The property label is a user-friendly descriptor that is displayed for property definitions for all features aside of application administration. Multiple properties can have the same Label for convenience purposes. The property Description is an optional, long descriptor that is displayed at the bottom of the Property Editor. Multiple properties can have the same Label as long as they are not in the same namespace.

4. Define parameters for the property:

   • Data Type – See Property Data Types

   • Property Level – Level of property definition:

     • Local node – Property values are managed for nodes in a specific hierarchy and accessible only at this level.

     • Global node – Property values are managed for nodes in a version but also accessible at a local node level.

     • Hierarchy – Property values are managed for hierarchies but also accessible at a local node level.

     • Version – Property values are managed for versions but also accessible at a global or local node level.

     Note:

     If defining a global node inherited property, you must define a controlling hierarchy for the global property. You do with on the Home page on the Hierarchies tab by assigning controlled properties to a hierarchy.

   • Property Type

     • Defined – Values are defined by the user and stored.

     • Lookup – Lookup based on another property and a lookup table.

     • Derived – Calculated by using a Deriver class.

       Note:

       To create a derived property, go to Creating Derived Properties with Formulas.

   • Default Value – Default value for the property

   • Column Width – Width for fixed-width columns if the property type is Defined.

   • Minimum Value/Length– Value or length for the property based on data type.

   • Maximum Value/Length – Value or length for the property based on data type.

5. Select from these options:

   • List – Allows property values to be selected only from a pre-defined list of values.

     Note:

     Property values stored for a list property can be limited to only values in the list using the EnforceListProps system preference.

     Note:

     A list of values can be used for a defined property or a derived, overrideable property.

   • Inherited – Defines the property as Inheriting

     Note:

     This option has no effect on the Derived property type except in the special case where property derivers such as AncestorProp or DualAncestorProp are used and the property is global. In these cases, although the property is not literally inheriting values, the Inherited option should be enabled to allow the specification of a controlling hierarchy.

   • Overrideable – Allows property to be overridden in the property grid.

     Note:

     This option is enabled only for the Derived property type.

   • Hidden – Hides the property in the property grid

6. Do any of the following:

   • To assign a property to a category:

     1. Select the Categories tab.

     2. From the Available list, select categories and move them to the Selected list.

   • To add a list of values to the property:

     1. Select the List option.

     2. Select the List Values tab.

     3. Click Add and enter a value to the list.

     4. Click Save in the Action column for the row.

        Note:

        Use Move or Delete for each row to reorder or delete list values. Use Edit or double-click a row to edit it and Cancel to cancel edits.

   • To add a lookup table to the property:

     1. Select Lookup as the property type.

     2. Select the Lookup Table tab.

     3. Click Add to enter a new key-value pair to the list.

     4. Click Save in the Action column for the row.

        Note:

        Use Move or Delete for each row to reorder or delete list values. Use Edit or double-click a row to edit it and Cancel to cancel edits.

7. Click .