eptos Dictionary Manager User Guide
Breadcrumbs

Value

Overview

Values are Structure elements which determine the most useful characteristics of the Property (e.g. property: color, value: red). The sum of all Values of a Property is called a Value list.

/*<![CDATA[*/ div.rbtoc1770892091183 {padding: 0px;} div.rbtoc1770892091183 ul {list-style: disc;margin-left: 0px;} div.rbtoc1770892091183 li {margin-left: 0px;padding-left: 0px;} /*]]>*/ Overview General Information Details Page Export Export Options DIN4002 Export Format Create Data types Special cases Change Text Delete Reactivate Replace Create Class Value Assignment (CVA) Assign Synonym Withdraw Synonym Copy

General Information

The workspace area for the management of Values can be accessed via menu Values. Information on the graphical user interface and basic functionalities can be found on page Graphical User Interface and Basic Functions. This workspace offers users different functionalities described in brief in the following table as well as in more detail in the next chapters.

Toolbar in Browse View

Button Icon

Button Name

Description

search.png

Search

Triggers a search in the available content, considering the search options set in the advanced search.

Perspective mode.png

Tree view

Allows navigation to the hierarchical view of Values.

Perspective mode.png

Perspective view

Allows navigation to the perspective view of Values.

Compare.png

Compare

Allows the comparison of two or more Values.

image2022-7-14_15-33-42.png

Create

Allows the creation of new Values.

image2022-7-14_15-34-26.png

Change text

Allows editing the attributes of a selected Value.

image2022-7-14_15-34-40.png

Delete

Allows deletion of a selected Value.

image2022-7-14_15-37-37.png

Reactivate

Allows reactivation of a deprecated Value.

image2022-8-31_13-40-49.png

Replace

Allows replacing of a selected Value.

image2022-8-31_13-41-5.png

Create class value assignment

Allows creation of class value assignments (CVA).

image2022-8-31_13-41-22.png

Assign

Allows assignation of dictionary elements (Synonyms) to a selected Value.

Unassign.png

Withdraw

Allows withdrawal of dictionary elements (Synonyms) from a selected Value.

image2022-8-31_13-42-12.png

Copy

Allows copying of a selected Value.

Start workflow.png

Start workflow

Allows starting a workflow for selected Values.

Details Page

In order to view more details related to a Value, users may open the Value in view mode by clicking on it from the list view. 

The view mode of a Value is subdivided into different tabs. The visibility and order of the displayed tabs is configurable by users with configuration rights. Furthermore, custom tabs can be created. The custom tabs allow customers to organize the standard and extended attributes as required by their business use cases.  

Tabs which do not contain any information are grayed out.

The following table gives an overview of the tabs available for a Value:

Tab Name

Description

General

Tab General displays the standard and extended Attributes of a Value and Item usages (in how many Items this Value is used in Items) which is also displayed as column in tabular view. The visibility and order of the attributes displayed in tab General is configurable by users with configuration rights via the Validation Framework.

Admin

Tab Admin displays administrative information such as creation date, version date and creator of the selected Value.

Attribute

Tab Attribute displays extended attributes of the selected Value.

Change request

Tab Change request displays the change requests in connection with the selected Value.

History

Tab History displays historical information on the selected Value.

Context attributes

Tab Context attributes displays information on Parent value and Properties connected to the selected Value.

Release

Tab Release displays the release(s) the selected Value is part of.

Property

Tab Property displays in a tabular view information related to the Properties in which the selected Value is used. 

Value list

Tab Value list displays in a tabular view information related to the Value list(s) in which the selected Value is used.

Item

Tab Item displays in a tabular view information related to the Items in which selected Value is included.

Mapping

Tab Mapping displays in a tabular view information related to the Mappings of the selected Value to other Values.

Note: Tab Mapping is only available if the Dictionary Transformation Manager is licensed and the user has Dictionary Transformation Manager Viewer or Editor rights. 

Impacted groups

Tab Impacted groups displays the groups that are impacted by a change of the selected element. Precondition: owner groups are set via Access Control.

Document

Tab Document displays in a tabular view information related to the documents connected to the selected Value.

Note: Tab Document is only available if the Document Manager is licensed and the user has Document Manager Viewer or Editor rights. 

Constraints

Tab Constraints displays in a tabular view the Constraints existing for the selected Value.

Relations

Tab Relations displays the Free Relations the selected Value has to other elements. 

Log

Tab Log contains logging information, structured in a clear, user-friendly manner, related to the selected Value and is visible only for users with administrator rights.

Export

Users may export all or a selection of Values the available export format.

The following export format(s) are available:

→ from the tabular view of Values:

  • DIN 4002

After defining the export options in the graphical user interface, user can start the export in background by selecting Export option. The exported file will be sent per e-mail to the specified e-mail address. 

Export Options DIN4002 Export Format

Through a redesign of the eptos export pages, the external appearance of the exports has now been fully adapted to the defined Usability Guidelines.

This has significantly improved the look and feel of these pages.

In a harmonized DIN 4002 Export dialog the user can save and load favorite dialog settings in tab “Selection of attributes” to access those settings faster instead of selecting them again for each new export.


Tab

Option

Description

General

Export range

The Export range option offers the following selection possibilities:

  • All → System will export all available Values from the selected Release

  • Selection → System will export the Values selected in the table view of Values

  • Search Results → System will export the results of a search performed in the table view of Values

General

Split file into chunks

Allows user to decide via check-box whether the file should be exported in one complete file or separated in more, smaller files.

General

Table result renderer

Allows users to select the export format (xlsx, csv).

General

Export languages

Contains list of all available content languages, including check-box for selection. As soon as box is checked, respective language is added in the Export languages field, including option for removal.

General

To:

Allows users to input the e-mail address where the exported file will be sent.

General

CC:

Allows users to input the e-mail address where a carbon copy of the exported file will be sent.

Selection of attributes

Export attributes

Allows users to select from a set of predefined Attributes of Values the ones which will be exported.

All three columns from this Tab ("Column name", "Column code" and "Export languages") are sortable and have also filtering possibility. Column "Export languages" contains the languages selected in previous Tab "General".

Create

This functionality allows the user to create new Values of different Data types.

Value specification is always Coded for Values created stand-alone (i.e. not created within a Value list).

Mandatory attributes are marked with an asterisk. Non-editable attributes are displayed as read-only. 

When the work is finished, the user may save the new Value as Change Request (using button Save) or directly as structure element (using button Save and Release).

Change Requests usually undergo an approval process before they are released and become effective. 

Data types

Values have different data types. User may select them in the create value interface.

Value data types:

Data Type

Definition

Examples

Date

Format yyyy-mm-dd according ISO 8601:2004

1979-01-15

Integer (count)

data type which represents some finite subset of the mathematical integers. These are also known as integral data types. Used only for counting.

1 ; 10 ; 111

Link to External Attribute

This data type is used to represent external attributes (e.g. SAP attributes). It functions as a pointer to the (SAP) table/column to which the attribute belongs to.

Pointer to SAP attribute Size/Dimension

Rational (count)

to represent rational numbers like 1/3 and -11/17 without rounding 


Real (count)

a rational number expressed in decimal representation. Used only for counting.

1,5 ; 102,35

Real (measure)

a rational number expressed in decimal representation. Used for measuring in a specific unit of measure.

1,5 ; 102,35

Reference

References a block


String

A finite sequence of symbols that are chosen from a set or alphabet […] a sequence of characters. Cannot be translated into other languages.

0173-1#01-ADG629#001 ; DN 700 ; 10 Mbps

Time

Format hh:mm according ISO 8601:2004

12:45

Timestamp

Format yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm according ISO 8601:2004

1979-01-15 12:45

Special cases

Depending on the selected Data type, mandatory field Value is adapted accordingly.

e.g. if Data type "Date" is selected, system displays Calendar format for the selection of Value; if Data type "Integer (count)" is selected, system allows only integer digits to be entered etc.

For Values with Data type "Reference", system additionally requires mandatory selection of a referenced Block.

For Values with Data type "Real measure", system additionally requires mandatory selection of a Unit.

Change Text

This functionality allows users to edit the textual attributes of a Value. Mandatory attributes are marked with an asterisk. Non-editable attributes are displayed as read-only. The user has also the possibility to change the Data type of the Value if needed. 

When the work is finished, the user may save the changes made to the Value as Change Request (using button Save) or directly as structure element (using button Save and Release).

Change Requests usually undergo an approval process before they are released and become effective.  

Note, that changing the Data Type of a Value is an incompatible change and will lead to a change of the unique object code. On performing a data type change via Change Text, the following actions happen:

  • a new Value with the changed data type is created and receives a new ID

  • the "old" Value is replaced by the new Value with the changed data type (change request of type Replace value)

  • the "old" Value is deprecated and cannot be used anymore

Delete

This functionality allows users to delete existing Values.

Note: on deletion, the Value will be marked as deprecated, meaning that it is withdrawn from further usage. Deprecated elements are displayed grayed out in the system and they cannot be worked on or used anymore. 

On pressing the Delete button, the system displays the details page of the Value selected for deletion. User may check the attributes/relations of the Value before proceeding with the deletion. 

The user may confirm the deletion by pressing button Save or Save and Release. 

On Save, a Change Request for the deletion of the Value will be created. Change Requests usually undergo an approval process before they are released and become effective. 

On Save and Release, the Change Request for the deletion of the Value will be automatically executed (released). As a result, the Value is immediately withdrawn from further usage and is displayed as inactive within a given release (grayed out). 

Reactivate

This functionality allows users to reactivate (to make them available for usage within a certain release) the deprecated Values. Button "Reactivate" is active only if the selected Value is deprecated.

For the reactivation of Value, the Reactivate graphical user interface consists of a detailed view of the selected Value. The user may save the Value Reactivation as Change Request (using button Save) or directly as structure element (using button Save and Release). Change Requests usually undergo an approval process before they are released and become effective. 

Replace

This function allows users to replace a value that is no longer needed with another one. The value will be replaced in all value lists where it is used and then it will be deprecated. 

The starting point of this functionality is the tabular view of Values, where the user can select the Value to be replaced. In the next step, the user chooses the replacing Value. 

The user may save the Value Replacement as Change Request (using button Save) or directly as structure element (using button Save and Release). Change Requests usually undergo an approval process before they are released and become effective. 

Create Class Value Assignment (CVA)

Within the polymorphism functionality, CVA provides the possibility for a Sub-class Property to reference any specialization of the Super-block where it is assigned.

The starting point of this functionality is the tabular view of Values, where the user can press the Create class value assignment button. System then displays the hierarchical view where the Sub-class Property needs to be selected under the specialized Block, for which the CVA will be created. 

In the CVA new interface, the Value needs to be selected which will point to the specialized Block.

The user may save the New CVA as Change Request (using button Save) or directly as structure element (using button Save and Release). Change Requests usually undergo an approval process before they are released and become effective.

Assign Synonym

This functionality allows users to assign Synonym(s) to the selected Value.

The starting point of this functionality is the tabular view of Values, where the user can select the Value to which a Synonym should be assigned. In the next step, the user can select the Synonym(s) to be assigned from the list of available Synonyms.

For the assignment of a Synonym(s) to a Value, the graphical user interface consists of the list of selected Synonyms and the Value details page.

The user may confirm the assignment(s) by pressing button Save or Save and Release. 

On Save, a Change Request for the assignment of the Synonym(s) will be created. Change Requests usually undergo an approval process before they are released and become effective. 

On Save and Release, the Change Request for the assignment of the Synonym(s) will be automatically executed (released). As a result, the connection between the Value and Synonym(s) is immediately available.

Withdraw Synonym

This functionality allows users to deprecate (withdraw from usage) the connection between Synonym and a specific Value.

The starting point of this functionality is the tabular view of Values, where the user can select the needed Value. In the next step, the user can select the Synonym(s) to be withdrawn from the list of the Synonyms assigned to the selected Value.

For the withdrawal of Synonym, the graphical user interface consists of the details page of the Value and the list of Synonyms to be withdrawn.

The user may confirm the withdrawal by pressing button Save or Save and Release. 

On Save, a Change Request for the withdrawal of the Synonym(s) will be created. Change Requests usually undergo an approval process before they are released and become effective. 

On Save and Release, the Change Request for the withdrawal of the Synonym(s) will be automatically executed (released). As a result, the connection of the Synonym to the Value is immediately deprecated and displayed grayed out.

Copy

This functionality allows users to create assignments of Values to other elements by means of copy and paste. 

The user may select a Value in the tabular view or in the tree view and press button Copy. In the tabular view or tree view of Value list, the user may select a Value list of the same data type as the copied Value where it should be assigned.

Note: if the selected element has a different data type than the selected Value, the Paste button will NOT be displayed.

On pressing the Paste button, the system will lead to the Assign Value page where user may confirm the assignment by pressing button Save or Save and Release. 

On Save, a Change Request for the assignment of the copied Value to the selected Value list will be created. Change Requests usually undergo an approval process before they are released and become effective. 

On Save and Release, the Change Request for the assignment of the copied Value to the selected Value list will be automatically executed (released). As a result, the Value is immediately connected to the Value list.