Classification types

The two types of classifications are: global classifications and customer-specific classifications. Classification hierarchies can be entirely global, entirely customer-specific, or a mix of both.

Global classifications

Global classifications are classifications that all users have access to. Even if a user is restricted to the records of a particular customer, that user can always see global classifications.

Example

All of your customers have desktop computers. You create these global classifications that all users can use:
  • IT
  • IT or HARDWARE
  • IT or HARDWARE or DESKTOP COMPUTER

Customer-specific classifications

Customer-specific classifications are classifications that apply to certain customers. Classifications can be only more restrictive at each subsequent level of the classification hierarchy. Therefore, a customer-specific classification cannot be the parent of a global classification.

At lower levels of the hierarchy, a particular customer might require other classifications in the classification structure that are not relevant to any other customers. You can create such classifications as customer-specific classifications.

Customer-specific classifications can be restricted from the views and depends on the security profile of the user.

Example

All of your customers have desktop computers, but only one customer (Customer A, a graphic design customer) tracks video cards. These global classifications exist:
  • IT
  • IT or HARDWARE
  • IT or HARDWARE or DESKTOP COMPUTER
You create the VIDEOCARD customer-specific classification that has the IT or HARDWARE or DESKTOP COMPUTER parent. Then, you associate VIDEOCARD with the graphic design customer.
  • IT
  • IT or HARDWARE
  • IT or HARDWARE or DESKTOP COMPUTER or VIDEOCARD - (Customer A)

If you want to associate a customer with a classification, that customer must also be associated with any ancestors of the classification, unless the ancestor is a global classification. These customer associations are automatically created on all customer-specific ancestors in the hierarchy.