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Attribute types

Atrtibute types (attributes) are related to other ARIS Method items. Attributes are properties of items, such as models and objects, that are used to describe the items in more detail. Typical attributes are Name, Type, Description/Definition and Last change. Certain attributes, such as Name and Description/Definition, are set by the user. Other attributes, such as Type, and Last change, are set by the system. You cannot change attributes set by the system. Attributes have a specific data type.

If you have the ARIS Enterprise Admin license privilege and the Configuration administrator function privilege, you can rename attribute types or delete the ones you do no longer want to use.

On the Attribute types page, you find all the attributes that are included in the ARIS Method of this tenant. Note that you can only edit attribute values of the multi-value data type in ARIS and not in ARIS Architect. Use the Filter filter to find the type you want to continue with.

You can do the following:

Create attribute type

If you have special modeling requirements that are not covered by the provided ARIS Method items, you can create your own attribute types.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration. Configuration Configuration is displayed.

  2. Click Conventions.

  3. Click Attribute types.

  4. Click Create model type Create attribute type.

      Warning

      Verify that you select the settings you require in this dialog, because you cannot change the settings after the attribute type is created.

    1. Select the data type to use to specify the attribute values.

    2. Choose whether to enable or disable the Is editable and the Is language-dependent check boxes.

    3. Click Create.

      All attributes are displayed in the language with which you logged in.

    4. Select all configuration languages that you use on this tenant.

    5. Enter the attribute values, such as Name and Description. You cannot edit certain attributes that are set by the system, such as Original name, API name, or GUID.

        Warning

        You must enter all values in each language. If you do not enter the name and description in a language, users who log in with this language will not be able to find this filter because (Untitled) is displayed as the filter name.

      1. Save the attribute type in a suitable attribute type group.

        1. Click Groups to select the attribute type group in which you want to copy the attribute type. The Show only types assigned view displays all locked attribute type groups. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

        2. Select the Show all view.

        3. To move the attribute type to a group, enable the controls in the Assigned column. If you do not select a group, the attribute type is displayed at the top level when users edit attributes. Use the Filter filter to quickly find attribute type groups or sort the columns.

        4. The attribute type that you moved is still part of the original group. The assignment of an attribute type to an attribute type group applies to all languages.

        5. Click Assign Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected groups are listed and shown as assigned.

        6. Check the assignment. Click Remove assignment Remove to delete the attribute type from selected groups.

        7. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

      2. If you created an attribute type of the Value data type, define a set of default values for users to select.

      3. If you want to use symbols for specified and not specified attribute values, assign symbols as required.

      4. Make the new attribute type available in model types.

        1. Click Used in model types to select the model types in which you want to provide the attribute type as a model attribute. The Show only types assigned view displays all locked model types. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

      5. Select the Show all view.

      6. To assign the required models, enable the controls in the Assigned column.

        Use the Filter filter to quickly find model types or sort the columns. If you are looking for model types you configured, filter the list using the User-defined keyword. If you click a header, the column entries are sorted.

      7. Click Assign Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected models are listed and shown as assigned.

      8. Check the assignment. Click Remove assignment Remove to delete selected attributes from the model type.

        1. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

      9. Make the new attribute type available in object types.

        1. Click Used in object types to select the object types in which you want to provide the attribute type as an object attribute. The Show only types assigned view displays all locked model types. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

        2. Select the Show all view.

        3. To assign the required object types, enable the controls in the Assigned column.

        4. Use the Filter filter to quickly find object types or sort the columns. If you are looking for object types you configured, filter the list using the User-defined keyword. If you click a header, the column entries are sorted.

        5. Click Assign Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected object types are listed and shown as assigned.

        6. Check the assignment. Click Remove assignment Remove to delete selected attributes from the attribute type.

        7. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

      10. Make the new attribute type available in connection types.

        1. Click Used in connection types to select the connection types in which you want to provide the attribute type as a connection attribute. The Show only types assigned view displays all locked connection types. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

        2. Select the Show all view.

        3. To assign the required connection types, enable the controls in the Assigned column.

        4. Use the Filter filter to quickly find connection types or sort the columns.

        5. Click Assign Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected connection types are listed and shown as assigned.

        6. Check the assignment. Click Remove assignment Remove to delete selected connections from the attribute type.

        7. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

      11. Click Apply.

      12. Add the attribute type to the method filter that users should use for login. You can add it as a model attribute, an object attribute, or a connection attribute.

      The attribute type is created and can be used in filters.

      The new attribute type is available for all users of this tenant who logged in with a method filter that contains the new type.

      Add default value to attribute type

      If you created your own attribute types of the Value data type, you can define a set of default values for users to select. You cannot add values to default ARIS attribute types based on the Value data type, but you can rename the values.

      Specify that different symbols are to be displayed for the values if symbols are placed.

      1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration. Configuration Configuration is displayed.

      2. Click Conventions.

      3. Click Attribute types.

      4. Click the entry that you want to change. You cannot modify entries of the Default (not configurable) type.

      5. Click Values & Symbols. All values are listed in the current language.

      6. Click Create model type Add value. The New value line is added.

      7. Select the value and click Rename Rename.

      8. Change the name as required and click Save. Do so in each language that you provide.

      9. Use the Move up Move up and Down Move down buttons to change the sort order. In this order default values are provided for users to select.

      10. Check the list of values. Click Remove Remove values to delete selected values from the attribute type.

      11. If the values are OK, click Apply.

      The values are available for users using the attribute type.

      You can specify to display different symbols for the values if the symbols are placed in models.

      Rename default values

      You can rename default values that are used in attribute types of the Value data type.

      1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration. Configuration Configuration is displayed.

      2. Click Conventions.

      3. Click Attribute types.

      4. Click the entry that you want to change. You cannot modify entries of the Default (not configurable) type.

      5. Click Values & Symbols. All values are listed in the current language.

      6. Select the value and click Rename Rename.

      7. Change the name as required and click Save. Do so in each language that you provide.

      8. Use the Move up Move up and Down Move down buttons to change the sort order. In this order default values are provided for users to select.

      9. Check the list of values. Click Remove Remove values to delete selected values from the attribute type.

      10. If the values are OK, click Apply.

      The values are renamed in the selected languages.

      Assign attribute symbols

      Specify to display different symbols for the values if the symbols are placed in models. You cannot specify symbols for attribute types of the Default (not configurable) type.

      1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration. Configuration Configuration is displayed.

      2. Click Conventions.

      3. Click Attribute types.

      4. Click the entry that you want to change. You cannot modify entries of the Default (not configurable) type.

      5. Click Values and symbols. The following steps depend on the data type of the selected attribute.

        If you selected an attribute that does not use the Value data type, you can specify two symbols that users can place in models. If placed the symbols indicate whether an attribute is specified or not.

        1. To select a symbol, click Change symbol.

          Use the Filter filter to find a list entry. If you are looking for attribute symbols you configured, filter the list using the User-defined keyword. If you click a header, the column entries are sorted.

        2. Select the attribute symbol from the list and click Use symbol.

        3. Select the second symbol if required. To remove symbols from selected values, click Change symbol > Use no symbol.

          If you selected an attribute type of the Value data type, all values are listed in the current language. Use the <Is not set> value to place a symbol indicating that this attribute is not specified if required.

        4. Select a value and click Assign Assign symbol.

        5. Select the attribute symbol from the list and click Use symbol.

          Use the Filter filter to find a list entry. If you are looking for attribute symbols you configured, filter the list using the User-defined keyword. If you click a header, the column entries are sorted.

        6. Check the listed values. To remove symbols from selected values, click Assign Assign symbol > Use no symbol.

      6. If the values are OK, click Apply.

      The attribute symbols are assigned to values.

      Move attribute type to attribute type group

      Use attribute type groups to create a structure for your attribute types. With the attribute type groups, users can find the required attributes when modeling. If you do not use attribute type groups, all unstructured attributes are displayed at the top level when users edit attributes.

      1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration. Configuration Configuration is displayed.

      2. Click Conventions.

      3. Click Attribute types.

      4. Click the type that you want to move.

      5. Click Groups to select the attribute type group in which you want to copy the attribute type. The Show only types assigned view displays all locked attribute type groups. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

      6. Select the Show all view.

      7. To move the attribute type to a group, enable the controls in the Assigned column. If you do not select a group, the attribute type is displayed at the top level when users edit attributes. Use the Filter filter to quickly find attribute type groups or sort the columns.

        The attribute type that you moved is still part of the original group. The assignment of an attribute type to an attribute type group applies to all languages.

      8. Click Assign Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected groups are listed and shown as assigned.

      9. Check the assignment. Click Remove assignment Remove to delete the attribute type from selected groups.

      10. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

      All selected attribute types are copied to the selected attribute type group.

      Use attribute type in other models

      If you want to make attributes available in other model types, proceed as follows.

      1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration. Configuration Configuration is displayed.

      2. Click Conventions.

      3. Click Attribute types.

      4. Click the entry that you want to change. You cannot modify entries of the Default (not configurable) type. Use the Filter filter to find a list entry.

      5. Click Used in model types to select the model types in which you want to provide the attribute type as a model attribute. The Show only types assigned view displays all locked model types. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

      6. Select the Show all view.

      7. To assign the required models, enable the controls in the Assigned column.

        Use the Filter filter to quickly find model types or sort the columns. If you are looking for model types you configured, filter the list using the User-defined keyword. If you click a header, the column entries are sorted.

      8. Click Assign Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected models are listed and shown as assigned.

      9. Check the assignment. Click Remove assignment Remove to delete selected attributes from the model type.

      10. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

      The selected attribute type is available in models of the selected types.

      Use attribute type in other objects

      If you want to make attributes available in other object types, proceed as follows.

      1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration. Configuration Configuration is displayed.

      2. Click Conventions.

      3. Click Attribute types.

      4. Click the entry that you want to change. You cannot modify entries of the Default (not configurable) type. Use the Filter filter to find a list entry.

      5. Click Used in object types to select the object types in which you want to provide the attribute type as an object attribute. The Show only types assigned view displays all locked model types. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

      6. Select the Show all view.

      7. To assign the required object types, enable the controls in the Assigned column.

        Use the Filter filter to quickly find object types or sort the columns. If you are looking for object types you configured, filter the list using the User-defined keyword. If you click a header, the column entries are sorted.

      8. Click Assign Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected object types are listed and shown as assigned.

      9. Check the assignment. Click Remove assignment Remove to delete selected attributes from the attribute type.

      10. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

      The selected attribute type is available in objects of the selected types.

      Use attribute type in other connections

      If you want to make attributes available in other connection types, proceed as follows.

      1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration. Configuration Configuration is displayed.

      2. Click Conventions.

      3. Click Attribute types.

      4. Click the name of the object type that you want to edit.

      5. Click Used in connection types to select the connection types in which you want to provide the attribute type as a connection attribute. The Show only types assigned view displays all locked connection types. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

      6. Select the Show all view.

      7. To assign the required connection types, enable the controls in the Assigned column.

        Use the Filter filter to quickly find connection types or sort the columns.

      8. Click Assign Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected connection types are listed and shown as assigned.

      9. Check the assignment. Click Remove assignment Remove to delete selected connections from the attribute type.

      10. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

      The selected attribute type is available in connections of the selected types.

      Rename attribute type

      You can either change the name of an attribute type in the current language or you can change the names and descriptions in multiple languages.

      1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration. Configuration Configuration is displayed.

      2. Click Conventions.

      3. Click Attribute types.

      4. Select the name that you want to change. You cannot modify entries of the Default (not configurable) type.

      5. Click Rename Rename to change the name in the current language. To change the name and description in multiple languages, click Edit Edit, select the languages, and overwrite the current name or description in each language as required.

      The names and descriptions are changed. For default ARIS Method items, the original names always remain so that you can easily reset your modifications to the default state.

      Reset attribute type name

      You can reset the name of an attribute type in the current language to the original name as defined in ARIS Method.

      1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration. Configuration Configuration is displayed.

      2. Click Conventions.

      3. Click Attribute types.

      4. Select the name that you want to reset.

      5. Click Rename Rename. The current name is displayed.

      6. Click Reset. The original name is used in the current language.

      7. Click Save.

      The name is changed in the current language.

      Reset attribute type

      You can replace one or several of the customized attribute types on this tenant with original attribute types from the standard ARIS Method.

      1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration. Configuration Configuration is displayed.

      2. Click Conventions.

      3. Click Attribute types.

      4. Enter Customized as a keyword and Filter filter the list to find all customized types that you can reset.

      5. Select the items that you want to reset to the default state.

      6. Click Reset Reset.

          Warning

          All selected customized method items are deleted and replaced by default ARIS Method items. Make sure that you exported method filters containing customized method items before you proceed. Then you can restore customized method items by importing the filters again.

        1. Click Reset to confirm the action.

        All selected items are reset to the default state.

        Delete attribute type

        If you no longer want to use user-defined attribute types, you can delete them from ARIS Method of a tenant. To prevent users from using an attribute type, you must remove it from the available method filters. In this case, you do not have to delete the attribute types from your extended ARIS Method of the tenant.

        1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration. Configuration Configuration is displayed.

        2. Click Conventions.

        3. Click Attribute types.

        4. Select the user-defined attribute types that you want to delete.

        5. Click Delete Delete.

        6. To confirm the action, click Delete.

        The selected attribute types are deleted from ARIS Method of this tenant.