Attribute Properties

To view or edit an attribute's properties, double-click its Browser or list entry. The property sheet tabs and fields listed here are those available by default, before any customization of the interface by you or an administrator.

The General tab contains the following properties:

Property

Description

Name/Code/Comment

Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to non-technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or scripts, may be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can optionally add a comment to provide more detailed information about the object. By default the code is generated from the name by applying the naming conventions specified in the model options. To decouple name-code synchronization, click to release the = button to the right of the Code field.

Stereotype

Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.

Entity/ Association/ Inheritance

[read-only] Specifies the parent object. Click the tool to the right of the field to open its property sheet.

Data Item

[CDM only, read-only] Specifies the related data item. Click the tool to the right of the field to open its property sheet.

Inherited from

[LDM only, read-only] Specifies the parent entity from which the attribute is migrated through an inheritance.

Data type

Specifies the data type of the attribute, such as numeric, alphanumeric, boolean, or others. Click the question mark button to open the list of data types (see Domains (CDM/LDM/PDM)).

Length

Specifies the maximum length of the data type.

Precision

Specifies the maximum number of places after the decimal point.

Domain

Specifies the name of the associated domain (see Domains (CDM/LDM/PDM)). If you attach an attribute to a domain, the domain supplies a data type to the attribute, and can also apply length, decimal precision, and check parameters.

Primary Identifier

[entity attributes only] Indicates whether or not the attribute is the primary identifier of the entity.

Displayed

[entity and association attributes only] Displays the attribute in the object symbol.

Mandatory

Specifies that every object occurrence must assign a value to the attribute. Identifiers (see Identifiers (CDM/LDM)) are always mandatory.

Foreign identifier

[LDM only, read-only] Indicates whether or not the attribute is the foreign identifier of the entity.

The following tabs are also available:

  • Standard Checks - contains checks which control the values permitted for the attribute (see Setting Data Profiling Constraints).

  • Additional Checks - allows you to specify additional constraints (not defined by standard check parameters) for the attribute.

  • Rules - lists the business rules associated with the attribute (see Business Rules (CDM/LDM/PDM)).