View Basic Data Definitions

To access Basic Data Definitions

  1. Go to the Company Workspace tab and switch to Admin mode.
  2. Click Data Structure Setup > Data Definitions > Basic in the left Navigator. The Basic Data Definitions log opens. The system-generated data definitions are listed as Company or System in the Category field.

Field

Description

Name

Descriptive name for the data definition. This is the database name, and accepts alphanumeric characters, spaces, - (dash) and _ (underline).

Category

General: Defaults to Company

Cost Code: Defaults to CBS Code

Data Type

String or Integer

String: Any alphanumeric character or special character like * or #

Integer: Non-decimal numbers

If a Data Definition (DD) with the Data Type = Integer or Input Type - Pull-down Menu, and the Data Set value of 0 (zero), then the value of 0 (zero) overrides the default value. If a Data Element (DE) exists for such DD, and the DE is used as the master DE in a Data Definition Structure (DDS), then the DDS will not override the DE value when the DD is created, if the default value of the master DE is set to a field that has the value of 0 (zero).

Data Size

This field is available for text entry fields. Displays the number of characters that the data definition will accept.

Notes:

  • The maximum limit for the Data Size is determined by the database being used with your installation. Check with your Site Administrator for the actual maximum allowable characters in a field.
  • Ensure that the data you enter is within the limit set in Unifier; otherwise, the system will ask you to shorten the number of the characters that you had entered (message: Data entered exceeds the allowed space limit for this field in the database. You must remove few characters before submitting.). This is mainly applicable to multi-byte character languages such as Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.

Input Type

Select one of the options. This determines how data is entered or displayed in the field:

  • Pull-down Menu: users can choose a value from a selection list
  • Text Box: for short text entries
  • Multi-line Text Area: for longer text entries
  • Radio Buttons: users select one of multiple options presented
  • Checkbox: users have the option of selecting or not
  • Multi-select Input: users can choose one or more values from a selection list

The following is applicable when deleting or otherwise modifying the options in the data definition design process, after the system has deployed the design and the data has been saved:

  • When you modify or delete an option in then data structure design, the system will not modify the existing record data. Consequently, within the BP logs, log preview panes, and UDRs, the system will display the option with the value that was originally saved in the record form, as read-only.
  • When you delete an option, the value will be displayed but not the label.
  • When you rename an option, or when you add the option later with the same value, the existing value will be associated with a different label, but in forms only the active options are available and only the labels (not values) will be visible.

Example

The value for the Priority drop-down field is set as High in the record details of a selected existing record.

Based on an enhancement, you need to remove this value (High) from the list of originally applicable values (High, Medium, Low).

You proceed and remove High from the list of values, in the record form and save your changes: Company workspace (Admin mode) > Data Structure Setup grouping node > Data Definitions sub-grouping node > Basic.

When you go to the BP log, preview pane, or UDRs and select that record, the system will still display the record details (in the right pane) with the value that was originally included in the Priority field (High), as read-only.

Default Value

Available for text entry fields. You may enter an optional default value to the field.

Separator

For multi-select input, where users can select one or more values to enter into a field. The separate (for example, a comma) is used to separate the values.

All the Integer-type Data Elements (DEs) will have a default value of "0" (zero). As a result, when processing an Integer drop-down list (Pull-down field), if the system finds "0" (zero) as a Data Set value, then the corresponding data set value/label associated with “0” will be seen.

Example

An Integer drop-down list (Pull-down field) is named "Risk Priority."

If the Data Definition (DD) has:

1. Data Set value of "0" (zero), and the label is "No."

2. Data Set value of "1," and the label is "Yes."

Then, when a record is being created (in User mode), the value for the "Risk Priority" field will be "No" because the default value for an Integer drop-down list (Pull-down field) is "0" (zero).


Last Published Monday, August 28, 2023