Setting Up Content Types and Properties

A content type is a broad definition of a group of items that can be added to the content catalog. Within a content type, specify the properties that all items of this type can or must have. Many of the delivered content types define legacy content originating from the Competency Management application. Many of these content types contain additional attributes that control functionality in other products. When defining new content types, attributes other than the default values and RATING_MODEL should not be added. The system displays the properties you define for a content type as fields on the Content Items - Item Details page. You can override the default label text, select default values, and indicate if the field should be available for entry, unavailable for entry, or hidden on the Content Items - Item Details page.

Depending on your organization's requirements, you may find that certain types of profile content are not suitable for storing in the content catalog due to the quantity or maintainability of the data. For example, you may want to include a section in person profiles for recording an employee's previous employers. However, employers are not stored in the database and the information is applicable to person profiles only. For this type of information, you can define free form content types that are basically empty placeholders. Free form content types do not include fields and you cannot create content items for them.

When you add a free form content type to a profile type, you add the properties (fields) that define the information entered for that specific profile type. This diagram illustrates how you could use free form content types to record previous employers and associated information such as the employment dates and a job description:

In the example, the content type definition for previous employers has no fields or content items. When this content type is added to the profile type, fields are added for employer name, job start and end dates, and a descriptive field for the job description. On the Person Profiles page, employees add their previous employer’s information in these fields. There is no validation of the employers because it isn't defined as a record in the database.

To create a free form content type, select the Free Form Type Only check box on the Content Types page.

Use the Content Types page (JPM_CAT_TYPES) to define the properties of content types.

The properties selected for a content type determine which fields appear on the Content Items - Item Details page and the attributes of those fields.

Navigation:

Set Up HCM > Product Related > Profile Management > Content Catalog > Content Types > Content Types

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Content Types page: Properties tab. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Use this page to define the property structure of a content item. The system displays the field properties you define for a content type as fields on the Content Items - Item Details Page.

Property Attributes Tab

Access the Property Attributes tab on the Content Types page.

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Content Types page: Property Attributes tab. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Field or Control	Description
Display	Select whether the property should be available for entry (Editable), unavailable for entry (Display Only), or hidden (Hidden) on the Items Details page.
Max Len (maximum length)	Enter the field length of this property. Note: Although the JPM_DESCR90 field value allows you to enter up to a 90 character maximum, a description length that is within a maximum of 30 characters is recommended for legacy content types but can be overridden. A description length that is longer than the specified maximum may be truncated when referenced by certain applications.
Minimum and Maximum	For numeric properties, enter the minimum and maximum values.
List	This option is available for the attribute EP_SUB_LEVEL only. This property is used for ePerformance processing. Select a custom list defined in the Custom List Values table. This field appears only when there is a custom list defined for the field (as delivered, EP_SUB_LEVEL). When a list value is selected, the Default field values are dynamically built from the list values associated with the custom list value assigned. See Custom Prompt Page.
Default	Enter the default value for this property. On the Item Details page, the system populates the field with this value. You should select a default value if the property is display only or hidden. The Default field is available for properties that have predefined values or are associated with a prompt table only.

Use the Relationship Rule page (JPM_CAT_TYPE_RLAT) to set up and review relationships between content types.

Navigation:

Set Up HCM > Product Related > Profile Management > Content Catalog > Content Types > Relationship Rule

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Relationship Rule page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

If a content type is related to other content types, define the relationship on this page. Leave the page blank if there are no relationship rules for the content type.

When you create a relationship here and save the content type, the system enters the opposite relationship for the related content type. For example, suppose you set up content type A and define the relationship:

Content type A Is a parent of content type B.

The system updates the content type B definition to define the relationship:

Content type B Is a child of content type A.

You cannot create two kinds of relationships between two types or create a relationship between a type and itself. The system displays a duplicate insert error when you attempt this. For example, the content type COMPETENCY cannot have both the relationship Is a parent of and the relationship Is a child of with the content type SUB_COMP.