Attributes represent additional information which can be defined and assigned to objects available in the system (e.g., items, customers/vendors/invoices etc.).  Each attribute has specific type. Depending on selected attribute type, a user can define its format, predefined value and/or directory value..

The list of attributes is available from the level of the menu Configuration → General → Attributes

List of attributes

The list of attributes is divided into two tabs: Attributes and Objects llists

The tab Atrributes is divided into two sections:

• List of attributes ─ contains all attributes defined in the system along with their basic data: name and predefined value
• List of attribute values ─ contains values defined for attributes of List or Directory type

If the list of attributes contains multi-company attributes, an additional section, Comapny Structure, is displayed, which allows for previewing all attribute values assigned within a given company.

The section Company Structure presents all company structure units defined in the system.

After marking with the cursor a given company, all values assigned to attributes within that company appear along with predefined value, provided that it was defined.

If there are several companies marked in the window, all values of attributes common for the selected   companies are displayed on the list of attribute values. A default value is however displayed only if it is the same for all the highlighted companies. In case of entering/removing an attribute value, it will be added/deleted for   all of the marked companies.

Values of a not materialized multi-company attribute of Directory type can only be added and removed with the use of the buttons [Attach] and [Detach]. Dateiled information regarding materialization of an attribute can be found here.

Values of a multi-company attribute of List or Directory type can be copied between companies. To copy an attribute value, highlight given attribute value on the list of attribute values (from the level of indicated company) and then click on the button [Copy].

The tab contains all system objects to which it is possible to assign attributes.

The list of objects is divided into three sections:

• List of objects with names of particular objects
• Attributes To Be Added with attributes which can be added to an object
• Added Attributes with attributes assigned to a given object

The list of attributes associated with a given object is composed of the following columns:

• Attribute Name ─ value retrieved from the attribute definition
• Measure ─ parameter available for analytical attributes, allows for parametrizing a measure to ensure that attributes are properly uploaded to BI (Business Intelligence) module
• Required ─ if the parameter is checked, field in the column Default Value will be mandatory
• Default Value ─ value retrieved from the attribute definition with a possibility of changing

Defining an attribute

A new attribute can be added by clicking on [Add] button on the list of attributes.

Name is a mandatory field whose value must be unique and can be composed of up to 50 characters (letters and digits). A user can also define translations of names into languages available in the system.  Name field is a context field – the entered name is given in language selected from the drop-down list located on the right side of the field. The field InternalName may be used to identify an attribute class and it also must be unique for each attribute.  By default, the value of this field is retrieved from the field Name, not including special characters.

Other data regarding attribute must be defined in section Data Type and Format.

• Type – type of attribute value:
  • Text – any sequence of characters
  • Number – positive or negative number
  • Directory – an existing generic directory is assigned to the attribute a one of its values will constitute the value of the attribute

• Logic Value – selection button
• List – selected item from the list of values defined by the user. New values cannot be added to the list if the parameter Closed list has been checked
• Date –in format: yyyy-mm-dd
• Customer/Vendor – if selected, attribute value will be a customer/vendor selected from the list of customers/vendors defined in the system
• Employee – if selected, attribute value will be an employee selected from the list of employees defined in the system
• Binary Data – if selected, attribute value will be a graphic file from the object form, to which the user assigned an attribute of that type
• Item – if selected, attribute value will be an item selected from the list of items defined in the system
• Purchase Invoice – value of attribute will be purchase invoice selected from the list of purchase invoices defined in the system
• Purchase Quote – value of attribute will be purchase quote selected from the list of purchase invokes defined in the system
• Fixed Asset – value of attribute will be fixed asset selected from the list of fixed assets defined in the system

• Format – field active only if one of the following values is selected in Type field:
  • Number – available formats: integer, decimal number with two decimal places, decimal number with four decimal places
  • List – available formats: text, integer, decimal number with two decimal places, decimal number with four decimal places, SQL query (values of the list will result from an executed SQL query). Upon selecting the last format, the field SQL Query becomes active and then an appropriate query text can be entered.

In order to materialize data for SQL Query, it is necessary to select [Execute Query] button from the main menu and then [Materialize] button from Directories For not materialized attribute of List type with SQL Query format it is not possible to check parameter Multi-company

• Default Value –value which is by default assigned to an attribute after it is assigned to an object. The field will be greyed-out if parameter Multi-company is selected. For Purchase Invoice and Sales Quote types, an additional button [Select] appears, which opens the list of documents of one of those types defined in the system.
• Directory – allows for assigning a value from selected generic directory to an attribute. =

On the attribute form, it is also necessary to determine attribute parameters:

• Active – parameter checked by default. If unchecked, selected attribute cannot be used by the objects in the system
• Analytical – if checked, a given attribute will be transferred to BI data warehouse and then used in the controlling analyses. The parameter is not available for the type Binary Data
• Closed list – if checked, it means that it is no longer possible to add new values to an attribute
• Periodic – if checked, it is possible to define attribute values which will be valid within specified periods

• Polyvalent – parameter available for attributes of Text, Dictionary or List type, if checked, it becomes possible to add more than one value to an attribute
• Response to question – if checked, an attribute can be assigned to an object Questionnaire. The parameter is available for the following types: Text, Number, Logic Value, List or Date
• Multi-company – if checked, different attribute values can be assigned for centers of Company type
• Grouping – if checked, it is possible to specify attributes which will be displayed in eShop for grouped items – base products. The parameter is not available for the following types: Number, Date and Binary Data.

With the use of selection buttons available under the Parameters section, it is possible to decide whether other modules and applications cooperating with Comarch ERP Standard should have possibility of modifying attributes or displaying them only.

In field Description, additional notes regarding defined attribute can be provided.

Defining attribute value

To add a new attribute value, first mark an attribute on the list of attributes and then click on the button [Add] available in section Attribute Values on the right in the Value button group.

An attribute value must be typed in a selected language in the column Transaction Values. Here it is possible to add subsequent translations of the attribute value in various languages.

To assign a given attribute to an object, it is necessary to mark it from the level of Configuration → (General) → Attributes, in the tab Objects, in the section Attributes To Be Added and select [Associate] button from the list Object Relations in the main menu. Such attribute will be moved to the section Added attributes  which means that it is assigned to the object.

To remove an association between an attribute an and an object, it is necessary to select an appropriate attribute in Added attributes section and click on [Assign] button. The attribute will be moved back to the section Added Attributes.

In the menu, there are standard buttons for adding/deleting/saving a given object from the list as well as buttons for refreshing and closing the list.

For the object Item, an additional parameter Copyable is available in the section Added Attributes. If the parameter is checked for a given attribute assigned to the object Item, when copying an item, the attribute derived from the source item along with its value (values) is copied.

After an attribute is <<assigned to an object>>, it is possible to specify a value of that attribute for object instance. It means that if attribute, for example, Color is attached to object Item, then it is possible to specify a different value (color) of that attribute for each item.

To do so, on the object instance form, for example, item form, go to tab Attributes and click on the button [Add] in the Attributes button group. A list of attributes assigned to that object will open. Select attributes which must be assigned to that object instance and specify their values.

Depending on the type of the attached attribute, its values can be specified by:

• typing the values manually (Text, List, Customer/Vendor, Employee, Item, Purchase Invoice, Purchase Quote)
• selecting them from a drop-down list (List, Directory)
• selecting a parameter (Logic Value)
• selecting from a built-in calendar (Date)
• selecting a number with the help of arrows (Number)

Multi-company attributes

In the case of multi-company attributes, presentation of attribute value, that is assigned to an object, depends on the level of company structure from the level of which the object is being edited.

In the parent company, on an object, by a multi-company attribute, there is an active option of expanding the nested list. Value presented in the column Value is assigned to parent company. Values defined for child companies are listed upon clicking on the button [+] located next to attribute name.

In the case of multi-company and polyvalent attributes, a drop-down list of attribute values includes all the values defined for each company.

When detaching an attribute from an object which has values specified in other companies, an appropriate message will be displayed. If deletion is attribute is confirmed, it will be removed from object in the parent company and in all the child companies.

From the level of other centers of company structure, it is not possible to expand the list of attribute values of other companies. Presented attribute value is assigned to a company to which a user is logged in. In the case of multi-company and polyvalent attributes, those attribute values will be displayed, which are defined for a center to which a user is logged in.

If an attribute has a value which is attached also to another center of Company type, then such attribute cannot be deleted from object.

Periodic attributes

In the case of periodic attributes that are assigned to an object, it is possible to add values and to specify their validity periods. These values can be defined on the form opened upon clicking on the suspension points button […] in the column Value.

[hint] For periodic attributes it is not required to maintain continuity between defined periods. [/hint]