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Configure data value types

Asset features can have different value types. The value type defines, what type of data an asset feature stores. For example, strings, dates, asset references, or XML snippets.

Context

Asset features are configured in the censhare Admin Client.

Prerequisites

You should be familiar with the data model of assets.

Introduction

By selecting the value type you indicate how censhare stores an asset feature in the database. The value type also determines the index type. The following table shows the available value types. The default UI control indicates how the feature is represented in censhare Web using the metadata directive. For some value types, alternative UI controls can be defined. If selected, they overwrite the defaults when used in the csMetadataRow directive.

Value types

Value

Description

Asset resource key

This value type contains an asset resource key that refers to a different asset. Users need the asset resource key to edit this feature. The resource key is entered in this field.

Note: This feature type is deprecated and will be removed. Users need the resource key in order to create a reference. Use this type instead: "Asset key reference". Here, users can reference an asset via the asset selection dialog. You don't need the resource key for that. censhare sets it automatically.

Asset key reference

This value type contains an asset resource key that refers to a different asset. Features with this value type can be configured in two ways:

(1) Without value list: In this case, the value type behaves for users like the value type "asset_reference". Users can select a reference and then an asset in censhare Web by going to the asset menu under the option "Add relation". If the selected asset has no resource key, censhare generates it from the UUID of the asset. Like asset relations, you can configure a name for the parent and child relation.

(2) With value list: In this case, the value type behaves for users like the value type "value_list_string". The configuration is still fundamentally different. Feature values are not in the feature itself but rather saved as assets of the type "Feature value". An asset of the type "Value list" is also created. It generates an XML representation of the feature values. The text output of feature values can be set up flexibly using XSLT transformations. The value list is referenced in the field "resource_key_for_value_list".

If you select this value type, a new area "asset_filters" is displayed in which you can specify further settings for how the reference should behave. These settings are only relevant in the case of (1) Without value list.

Boolean

A boolean variable can be true or false. That type of feature is displayed in the user interface as a checkbox. Users can either activate or deactivate the checkbox. Examples are product features such as "Fee-based" or features used internally like "Exclude from search".

Date

For this value type, users in censhare need to enter a complete date consisting of day, month and year. When you click on the feature value field a date selection dialog will appear.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". The time of day in this case is set to 00:00:00.

Date pair

For this value type, users in censhare need to enter a date pair consisting of day, month, and year. When you click on the feature value field, a date selection dialog will appear. The data is saved in the database as well as in the XML representation of the feature in two feature attributes.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". The time of day in this case is set to 00:00:00.

Date/time

For this value type, users in censhare need to enter a complete date and time consisting of day, month, and year as well as hour, minute, and second. When you click on the feature value field, a date and time selection dialog will appear.

Date/time pair

For this value type, users in censhare need to enter a date and time pair consisting of day, month, and year as well as hour, minute, and second. When you click on the feature value field, a date selection dialog will appear. The data is saved in the feature in two feature attributes.

Hierarchical value list (String)

The entry allows you to define a hierarchical value list for the feature. For example, the "Domain" feature is saved as a hierarchical value list:

root. root.A. root.A.A-1. root.A.A-2. root.B. root.B.B-1.

You can configure a value list in two ways:

(1) Master data table: The feature refers to a table in the master data that contains the permitted values. To do that, enter the table that the value delivers in the field "master_data_table". For example, the entry domain@pathid refers to the attribute "pathid" in the table "Domain". This table contains a hierarchical notation of all domains. Definitely do not enter anything in the "Values" area.

(2) Value list in the feature: When you select this value type, another area "Values" will appear in the dialog where you can define the value list in the feature. When defining the value list you first need to specify a starting element. This can then have child elements. These can in turn contain child elements. To generate a child element for an existing element, you need to select the element and select the "Add" button. In this case, leave the field "Master data value list" empty.

Year

For this value type, censhare provides users with a year selection option.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". In this case, the date is set to 01.01., and the time of day to 00:00:00.

Year pair

For this value type, censhare provides users with a two-year selection list. The values are saved in two feature attributes.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". In this case, the date is set to 01.01., and the time of day to 00:00:00.

Year/month

For this value type, censhare provides users with a month and year selection list.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". In this case, the day is set to the first of the month, and the time of day to 00:00:00.

Year/month pair

For this value type, censhare provides users with a two-month and year selection list. The values are saved in two feature attributes.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". In this case, the day is set to the first of the month and the time of day to 00:00:00.

Month

For this value type, censhare provides users with a month selection list.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". In this case, the year is reset to the beginning of the system time, the day to the first of the month, and the time to 00:00:00.

Month pair

For this value type, censhare provides users with a month selection list.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". In this case, the year is reset to the beginning of the system time, the day to the first of the month, and the time to 00:00:00.

Month/day

For this value type, users in censhare can enter a date consisting of month and year.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". In this case, the year is set to the beginning of the system time and the time of day to 00:00:00.

Month/day pair

For this value type, users in censhare can enter a date pair consisting of month and day. The values are saved in two feature attributes.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". In this case, the year is set to the beginning of the system time and the time of day to 00:00:00.

None

The feature contains no value. This entry is used for hierarchical features. For example, the "Address" feature itself contains no address but it possesses the child features "Street", "Postal code" and "City".

Day

For this value type, users can enter a day of the month.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". In this case, the year is reset to the beginning of the system time, the month to 01, and the time to 00:00:00.

Day pair

For this value type, users can enter a value type with two days of the month.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". In this case, the year is reset to the beginning of the system time, the month to 01, and the time to 00:00:00.

Text (String)

This value type saves all entries as a string. Diacritical characters and punctuation marks are taken into consideration.

Value list (String)

The entry allows you to define a value list for the feature. For example, product features like "Color" or "Clothing size" can be saved as a value list:

red, blue, green, yellow

You can configure a value list in two ways:

(1) Master data table: The feature refers to a table in the master data that contains the permitted values. To do that, enter the table that the value delivers in the field "master_data_table". For example, the entry party@id refers to a user ID table "party". This table contains all of the saved users in one censhare instance. Definitely do not enter anything in the "Values" area.

(2) Value list in the feature: When you select this value type, another area "Values" will appear in the dialog where you can define the value list in the feature. When defining the value list you first need to specify a starting element. This can then have child elements. These can in turn contain child elements. In this case, leave the field "Master data value list" empty.

XML

This setting helps you save XML in a feature. Application examples include XML snippets with parameters like for the bar code generator.

Floating-point number (Double)

This value type is used for decimal numbers with two commas.

Integer (long)

This value type provides an expanded area (at least 32 bit) for whole number values.

Floating-point number pair (Double)

This value type is used for value pairs of decimal numbers with two commas. censhare saves both values in two feature attributes.


Integer pair (long)

This value type is used for a pair of whole number values. censhare saves both values in two feature attributes.

Time

This value type saves an exact time consisting of hour, minute, and second.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". In this case, the year is reset to the beginning of the system time and the date to the first of the month.

Time pair

This value type saves a value pair as an exact time consisting of hour, minute and second.

Note: Technically speaking, all data in censhare is saved as a complete timestamp in the format "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ". In this case, the year is reset to the beginning of the system time and the date to the first of the month.

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