Attributes

Attributes can be defined as characteristics of system entities. For example, CPU Speed and Ram Size can be defined as computer attributes.

The Sterling Order Management System supports the following attributes:

  • Attributes with valid values
  • Derived attributes
  • Attributes by Reference

Attributes with valid values

The Sterling Order Management System enables you to define attributes with the following data types:

  • Text defines the attribute as a text value. Text properties can be defined either as free-form text or as a defined list of values, such as small, medium, and large. You can configure multiple values for an attribute and a maximum character length for free-form text. You can also specify a default value.
  • Boolean defines the attribute as a Y/N value. You can also specify a default value of Y or N.
  • Decimal and Integer defines the attribute as a numerical value in decimal or integer format. You can specify a range of allowed numbers, such as 60-180, allow any number or a range of incremental values. For example, you can define a range of allowed values for the Hard Drive Size attribute in increments of 60 GB, such as 60 GB, 120 GB, 180 GB and so on. You can also configure a default value and a multiple list of values.

Derived attributes

Derived attributes are attributes that represent a specific aspect of another attribute. You can define multiple derived attributes for an attribute and assign these derived attributes to different categories. For example, you can define two derived attributes called Dimension Range and associate them with the Dimension attributes in the TVs and Computers category. When an online customer searches for TVs, the system calculates the dimension range for each TV, based on the TV's dimensions, and displays the TVs in the appropriate ranges. Online customers can locate 32-inch TVs in the 32-35 inch range and 40-inch TVs in the 40-50 inch range.

Note: You assign attributes and derived attributes to categories but cannot assign values to derived attributes.
Only the decimal and integer data type is supported as a valid value for derived attributes.

Attributes by reference

Attribute management allows you to dynamically create and assign attributes without extending database tables. However, in some cases, you may want to use attributes that reference database fields, such as the yfs_item table. In this case, the assigned values of the attribute are extracted from the corresponding field in the database table. For example, if an attribute called Lead Time refers to the Lead Time field in the yfs_item table, the value for the item attribute information is taken from the Lead Time field in the yfs_item table.