Data Item Properties

You can modify an object's properties from its property sheet. To open a data item property sheet, double-click its Browser entry in the Data Items folder.

The General tab contains the following properties:

Property

Description

Name

Specifies the name of the item, which should be clear and meaningful, and should convey the item's purpose to non-technical users.

Code

Specifies the technical name of the object, which is used for generating code or scripts, which may be abbreviated, and should not generally include spaces.

Comment

Specifies a descriptive label for the data item.

Stereotype

Sub-classification used to extend the semantics of an object without changing its structure; it can be predefined or user-defined.

Data type

Specifies the code indicating the data format, such as N for numeric or A for alphanumeric, followed by the number of characters.

Length

Specifies the maximum number of characters.

Precision

Specifies the number of places after the decimal point, for data values that can take a decimal point.

Domain

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

The following tabs are also commonly used:

  • Standard Checks - contains checks which control the values permitted for the data item (see Check Parameters (CDM/LDM/PDM)).

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

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

Parent topic: Data Items (CDM)