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# Assign/Edit Attribute dialog box

In the Assign Attribute dialog box, add a single-field attribute to an object type. You can assign an existing attribute, or define a new attribute and assign it.

Note: Do not create attributes that have the same names as system-defined attributes. For a list of reserved attribute names, see Reserved system-defined attributes.

In the Global properties section, define the general attribute properties:

Field | Description
--- | ---
Name | Enter the name for the attribute. When editing an attribute, you cannot change the name.
Attribute number | (Display only) Specifies a unique number that OpenText Dimensions CM assigns to the attribute. Unless you define a value for the Display Order field, this number determines the order in which the attribute is displayed in a list of attributes.
Max length | Specify the maximum length of a character field. Enter an integer between 1 and 1978. This field is relevant only for the character (Char) data type.
Data type | Select the format for the attribute's values: Char. The value must be a string of characters, with the length up to the specified Max Length. Number. The value must be a real number or integer, such as -1.23 or 42. Date. The value must be an 11-character date in the format DD-MMM-YYYY. For example: 01-JAN-2023. For this data type, specify the Date range validation options.

If you selected the Date data type, define the Date range validation options. These options describe additional validation that occurs when a user enters a value for the date attribute.

Field | Description
--- | ---
No date range validation | Select this option if you do not want additional validation for the range of the date.
Before | Select this option to require the date to be before another date attribute. Then select a date attribute from the list.
After | Select this option to require the date to be after another date attribute. Then select a date attribute from the list.
Fixed range | Select this option to require the date to be between two specified dates. Set the range by selecting the from and to dates.
Relative range | Select this option to require the date to be between two dates relative to the current date (the current date at the time the date is entered). Set the relative range by entering the number of days to add to (+) or subtract from (-) the current date.

In the Local properties section, define the properties related to the object type. Some properties may not be available for some object types.

Field | Description
--- | ---
User prompt | Enter the attribute's field label to be used in interactive dialog boxes.
Attribute type | Select the type of attribute, single-value or multivalue.
Display width (in chars.) | Specify the width for the display of the attribute, from 1 to 240 characters. Note: If this field has a list (when there is a valid set), the value includes the width of the arrow control. Make sure to allow extra characters for this.
Display height (in no. of lines) | Specify the height for the display of the attribute, from 1 to 24 lines. The height determines how many lines are visible whenever the attribute is entered or edited. The height does not restrict the number of lines the attribute may occupy. By default, the height is set to 1 line. We recommend that you set it to 2 or more lines so that users can see at least two lines of data.
Display order | (Optional) Enter the order in which the attribute is displayed in lists, from 1 to 220. If empty, the order is determined by the Attribute Number that OpenText Dimensions CM assigns to the attribute. If the attribute is declared as the first column of a multirow multicolumn block, this field determines the display order for the whole block. If it is declared as any other column of the block, this field is ignored.
Default value | (Optional) Enter the default value of the attribute for new objects, up to 240 characters long. The attribute has this value whenever an object of the selected product and type is created, until/unless a different value is assigned specifically. If this field is empty, each object has no default value for the attribute, until/unless a specific value is assigned for that object. You can use these variables as default values: $TODAYS_DATE: The current system date and time in the format DD-MMM–YYYY 00:00:00. $USER_NAME: The operating system user ID of the current user account.
Help message | (Optional) Enter the help text for the attribute, up to 80 characters long. Note: The help message does not function for the TITLE attribute. Entering a value has no effect for this attribute.
Keep history | (Optional) Select this option to record update history information for the attribute.
Is sensitive | (Optional) Select this option to require users to provide their password when they attempt to update the attribute.
Revision values | Items only: Specify how attributes are set between different revisions of the same item: Stored per revision, default as specified. When a new item revision is created, OpenText Dimensions CM does not copy the attribute values from the previous revision but sets them to the specified default value. You can then override the values for a specific revision. Stored per revision, default to previous revision. When a new item revision is created, OpenText Dimensions CM copies the attribute values from the previous revision. You can then override the values for a specific revision. Same for all revisions. OpenText Dimensions CM sets the attribute values for all revisions of the same item to the same value. When you update the attribute value for one revision, OpenText Dimensions CM also updates that attribute for all other revisions.
Display In | (Optional) Specify where to display the attribute: Edit Attributes dialogs. Displays the attribute in the Edit Attributes dialog box. If this option is cleared, the attribute is not accessible using standard OpenText Dimensions CM functions. Custom Pending & Catalog views. Displays the attribute when customizing OpenText Dimensions CM Pending/Catalog views. If selected, users can include the attribute in their Dimensions Change or Dimensions Version object windows in the desktop client.
Associated Valid Set | (Optional) Select a valid set to associate with the attribute. If you selected a multicolumn valid set, specify additional details: Column Number. Select the column number of the valid set to associate with the attribute. Validation Group Name. Specify the validation group that identifies the instance of the valid set you want to assign to the attribute. Is Auto-Populate. (Optional) Select this option to automatically populate other attributes in the same validation group if a uniquely matching value is entered in this attribute.

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See also:

- Assign attributes to object types

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