In Smartfacts CDCM, the flexibility to configure and customize the data model is a key feature, empowering users to tailor the system to their specific needs. This chapter focuses on defining properties, which serve as the foundational building blocks for configuring concept types such as Configuration Areas, Components, Configurations, and Configuration Items. Besides these customizable properties all of these concepts also have default system properties that cannot be removed or altered.

Properties

Overview

Properties are essential data fields that define the characteristics of concept types within Smartfacts CDCM. Each property consists of a name and a primitive data type, providing the framework for storing and managing information associated with various elements of the data model. The primitive data types supported include:

• String

• Integer

• Double

• Decimal

• Boolean

• DateTime

• Date

• Duration

• URL

• Master Data Tables

Configuring Properties

Before incorporating properties into concept types, it's necessary to define them within the properties section. These property definitions are space-specific, ensuring consistency across all configuration areas within a space. When defining properties, the following aspects can be specified:

1. Syntactical Validation Rules: Define rules such as minimum and maximum length or regular expressions for string properties. Validation messages can be provided to guide users when entries fail validation.

2. Description and Placeholder Text: Provide descriptive text and placeholder values for each property to enhance user understanding and usability.

3. Indexing for Search: Specify if a string property should be indexed for the Smartfacts CDCM search engine, enabling efficient searching and retrieval of data.

4. Filtering Options: Determine if a property should be presented as a filter for search results or the "Where-Used" analysis, facilitating streamlined data analysis and navigation.

5. UI Appearance: Customize the appearance of properties in the user interface, including options for masking data and displaying it in a specific format.

Master Data Tables

Master Data Tables serve as predefined tables of records that can be accessed and managed via the Smartfacts CDCM REST interface. These tables enable users to select records from predefined sets, enhancing data consistency and usability. Master Data Tables are particularly useful for scenarios where selection from predefined options is required, such as associating customers from a given Master Data Table of customers with products.

Records

Records represent table definitions comprising columns defined by referencing properties. Master Data Tables can also be integrated as columns within records, providing a structured approach to organizing and managing data.

Configuration Process

To define new properties for use across all configuration areas, follow these steps within the admin area:

1. Add a New Property: Create a new property within the space, selecting a primitive data type and assigning a unique key.

2. Indexing and Filtering: Decide whether the property should be indexed for search and used as a filter for search results or the "Where-Used" analysis.

3. Validation and UI Details: Set constraints for validating user entries and provide UI details such as description, placeholder, and validation messages.

Once properties are defined, they can be seamlessly incorporated into the definition of concept types, enabling users to configure Smartfacts CDCM according to their specific requirements.

For detailed instructions on configuring properties and utilizing them within concept types, please refer to the respective sections in the administration documentation or contact our support team for assistance.

System Properties are a fixed set of properties that are defined by the data model and can vary depending on the instance of a concept.

System Properties

As stated above system properties are built in properties that cannot be changed. There are some system properties that all concept instances regardless of their type have in common (shared system properties) and then each type of concept (configuration area, unit, configuration and configuration item) has its set of system properties.

Shared System Properties

ID

System-generated distinct object id of this instance created by the System. Cannot be changed.

Title

Title of the concept instance which was given upon creation. This value can be changed.

Description

Description of the concept instance which was given upon creation. This value can be changed.

Created At

A timestamp that represents the creation time and date of the concept instance.

Created By

Represents the user id of the original creator of this concept instance.

Modified At

A time and date that represent the last modification of this concept instance.

Modified By

Represents the user id of the last modificator of this concept instance.

State

Represents the current state of this concept instance. State transitions can be done here.

Type

Represents the assigned concept type of this concept instance. See Concept Types .

System Properties of Configuration Areas

Associated Unit Types

Shows a list of unit types (see Concept Types ) that has been associated with this configuration area. See Configuration Areas.

Baseline Types

Shows a list of baseline types (see Baseline Types ) that are available in this configuration area. See Configuration Areas.

Associated Templates

Shows a list of template (see Template Use ) that has been associated with this configuration area. See Configuration Areas.

Storage Locations

Shows a list of storage locations (see Storage Locations ) that are available in this configuration area. See Configuration Areas.

Key

Shows the key of this configuration area with this instance was created. Cannot be changed. See Configuration Areas.

Confidential

Shows if this configuration area is marked as confidential. See Configuration Areas.

System Properties of Units

Associated Configuration Type

Shows the concept type of child configurations. Cannot be changed. See Concept Types .

System Properties of Configurations

Configuration Kind

Shows the kind of configuration with which this instance was created. Can be either STREAM or BASELINE. See Handling of Baselines. Cannot be changed.

Derived From

Shows the title of the configuration this configuration has been derived from. Blank if it hasn’t been derived.

Associated Configuration Item Type

Shows the concept type of child configuration items. Cannot be changed. See Concept Types .

System Properties of Configuration Items

Configuration Kind

Shows the kind of configuration item with which this instance was created. Can be either STREAM or BASELINE. See Handling of Baselines. Cannot be changed.

Storage Location

Shows the type of storage location selected for this configuration item. Cannot be changed.