Attributes are additional fields holding information which is not part of the base IDI platform. They are used as a means of providing additional or customized information that is unique to your company's specific business requirements.
Attributes are created in Administration Console and populate various windows in the IDI platform. Attributes are comprised of the following items:
Attribute Category
Attribute Object
Attribute Type
These items are combined to create the attributes available to you when working with a customer or performing a sale.
An Attribute Category is a collection of Attribute Objects. The Attribute Category determines where the Attribute Objects are located in the IDI platform, such as the Attributes tab of the Edit Customer window.
An Attribute Object is a collection of Attribute Properties.
Attribute Properties include Child Properties (created for a specific Attribute Object) and Child Referenced Objects (existing Attribute Objects). Each Attribute Property is a field used in the IDI platform.
Each Attribute Property includes a name and a definition. The definition is enclosed in parentheses and includes the caption and a valid Attribute Type.
The Attribute Type describes the kind of data used by the Attribute Object for the specific function of the object. The IDI platform supplies basic Attribute Types, such as Integer, Decimal, and Date, and you can create your own attribute types.
Attribute Objects group fields to be displayed together in Customer Management. For example, you can group the fields you want to appear on customer records under one Attribute Object and the fields you want to appear on wireless services under another Attribute Object. Each object consists of various properties which are displayed in the IDI platform as entry fields. Attribute Objects are the Base Attribute or Definition Attribute you select when adding or editing attributes in the IDI platform.
Attribute Objects can also be used to create custom reports. (See Creating Custom Reports - Overview)
Attribute Categories group Attribute Objects to determine where the Attribute Objects are displayed in the IDI platform. Each Attribute Category is linked to specific windows. For example, an Attribute Category of Product groups the Attribute Objects appearing for selection in the list of Base Attributes on the product specification in Product Management. In addition, the Attribute Properties (fields) within the selected Attribute Object are presented on the Product detail page when assigning the product to a customer or service.
Warning
IDI platforms strongly discourages you from attempting to add or change the data in this section. Contact your IDI Billing Solutions' account manager for additional information.
See also:
Creating Custom Reports - Overview