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# Define valid sets

Use valid sets to define which values can be specified for an attribute. In the Administration Console, you can create valid sets, modify and export them, and assign them to attributes.

To create and manage valid sets, you need the Manage Valid Sets privilege.

In this topic:

## Add a valid set

You can create a single-column or multicolumn valid set of values for object attributes.

To define a valid set:

1. In the Administration Console, go to Product Administration > Valid sets.

2. On the toolbar, click New.

3. On the General tab of the New Valid Set dialog box, enter the valid set details:

   Field | Description
   --- | ---
   Valid Set Name | Enter a name for the valid set, up to 25 characters long. The name must be unique within the base database.
   No. of Cols | Enter the number of columns that comprise the valid set. You can use up to 8 columns. To create a simple list of valid values, enter a value of 1.
   Description | (Optional) Enter a description that explains the intended use of the valid set. Use up to 240 characters.
   Error Message | (Optional) Enter a message to be displayed whenever a user enters a value that is not included in the valid set.

4. Select the Values tab. The Values tab displays the number of columns you specified.

5. Enter attribute values using the following buttons:

   Button | Description
   --- | ---
   | Inserts a new row under the current row.
   | Inserts a new row above the current row.
   | Deletes the current row.

   Note: On the Values tab, you can enter up to 1978 characters.

6. Click OK to add the valid set.

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## Copy a valid set

To reuse the values of an existing valid set for a new valid set, copy the valid set.

To copy a valid set, you need the Manage Valid Sets privilege.

To copy a valid set:

1. In the Administration Console, go to Product Administration > Valid sets.

2. In the content pane or the navigation pane, select the valid set to copy.

3. On the toolbar, click Copy.

4. In the Copy Valid Set dialog box, specify the details of the new valid set:

   Field | Description
   --- | ---
   Product | The product to which the new valid set belongs. By default, the product of the current valid set is selected.
   Valid Set Name | Enter a name for the new valid set, up to 25 characters long. The name must be unique within the base database.
   Description | (Optional) Enter a description that explains the intended use of the valid set. Use up to 240 characters.
   Error Message | (Optional) Specify a message to be displayed if a user enters a value that is not included in the valid set.

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## Edit or delete a valid set

You can edit the general details and the values specified for a valid set. Delete valid sets that you no longer need. You can delete values from a valid set while they are still in use in existing attributes.

To modify a valid set:

1. In the Administration Console, go to Product Administration > Valid sets.

2. In the navigation pane, select the relevant valid set.

3. To edit a valid set's general details or values, click the Edit button in the relevant section of the content pane. In the Edit Valid Set dialog box, edit valid set information, as needed.

   Note: You cannot edit disabled values.

4. To delete one or more valid set values, in the Values section of the content pane, select the values, click the Delete rows button, and confirm.

5. To delete the full valid set, click the Delete button on the toolbar. Then confirm the deletion.

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## Export and import valid sets

You can add values to a .csv file and import the file into a selected valid set. Download valid set values by exporting them to your machine as a .csv file.

To prepare a .csv file for import:

In a .csv file, enter each valid set value on a new row. Specify the details of each value in separate columns in the following order:

1. Whether the value is disabled or enabled.

2. A comment explaining the reason for disabling or enabling the value. You can leave an empty comment.

3. A single value for single-column valid sets. For multicolumn valid sets, a value for each column, up to 8 columns.

For example, these are the possible values to import into a two-column valid set for IDE integrations:

Enabled/disabled | Comment | Column 1 | Column 2
--- | --- | --- | ---
enabled |  | Eclipse | ecl
disabled | out of scope | PowerBuilder | pb

To export or import valid set values:

1. In the Administration Console, go to Product Administration > Valid sets.

2. In the navigation pane, select the relevant valid set.

3. To download valid set values as a .csv file, in the Values section of the content pane, select the values and click the Export rows button.

   If you don't select any values, the full valid set is exported.

4. To upload new values into the valid set, click the Import rows button. In the Import into Valid Set dialog box, select the .csv file you have prepared, and click OK. The imported values are appended to the list of existing values.

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## Disable valid set values

Disable one or more valid set values if you no longer need them but want to keep them displayed in historical entries. Disabled values can be enabled back anytime.

Guidelines and behaviors:

- Disabled values are displayed dimmed in the Administration Console. In Dimensions CM clients, disabled values are not available for new selection when editing object attributes.

- You cannot edit a disabled value, but you can delete it.

- For each valid set value, Dimensions CM keeps track of the last disable/enable operation, including who disabled or enabled the value and when.

To disable or enable valid set values:

1. In the Administration Console, go to Product Administration > Valid sets.

2. In the navigation pane, select the relevant valid set.

3. In the Values section of the content pane, select one or more values to disable, and click Disable valid set values .

4. In the Disable Valid Set Values dialog box, provide a reason for disabling the values, and click Yes.

5. To view information about the last disable/enable operation for a particular value, in the Values section, select the value and click Disable/Enable details .

6. To enable one or more values, in the Values section, select the disabled values and click Enable valid set values .

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## Assign valid sets to attributes

After you have defined a valid set, you can assign it to one or more attributes. This way, you restrict the values of an attribute to those defined in the valid set.

To assign a valid set to an attribute, you need the Manage Valid Sets privilege.

Note: You can assign a valid set to a user attribute only if the valid set is defined in the $GENERIC product.

To assign a valid set to an attribute:

1. In the Administration Console, go to Product Administration > Valid sets.

2. In the navigation pane, select the relevant valid set.

3. In the Used By section of the content pane, click the Assign valid set button.

4. In the Assign Valid Set wizard, specify the following details:

   Field | Description
   --- | ---
   Object Class | Select the object class to which the attribute belongs. You can select Baseline, Project, Request, Design Part, Item, or Users. Note: The Users object class is available only if the valid set has been defined in the $GENERIC product.
   Object Type | Select the object class type to which the attribute belongs.

5. Click Next.

6. Single-column valid sets: From the Attribute list, select the name of the attribute to which you want to assign the valid set.

   Multi-column valid sets: Select the following options:

   Field | Description
   --- | ---
   Valid Set Column | Select the column number that you want to use as the set of values for the attribute.
   Attribute | Select the attribute to which you want to assign the valid set.
   Validation Group Name | Specify the validation group that identifies the instance of the valid set you want to assign to the attribute. Select an existing validation group from the list, or enter the name of a new group.
   Auto populate | Select this option to automatically populate the attribute if a single match against the valid set is found. For example, you have the following valid set: Name, Address Fred, 2 Fore Street Fred, 1 New Road Jim, 10 North Road Selecting the Auto Populate option means that the attribute for Jim is auto populated, because only one matching address is defined in the valid set. When you enter Jim in the Name field, the Address field is auto populated with 10 North Road.

7. Click Finish to assign the valid set to the attribute.

To unassign a valid set from an attribute:

1. In the Administration Console, go to Product Administration > Valid sets.

2. In the navigation pane, select the valid set to unassign.

3. In the Used By section of the content pane, select the row with the attribute from which you want to unassign the valid set.

4. Click the Unassign valid set button and confirm that you want to unassign the valid set.

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See also:

- Valid Sets main window

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