What are attributes?
Attributes store information on your site and are responsible for making it function on the backend. Your platform comes equipped with hundreds of Attributes ready for use, but we made it easy to add and customize Attributes as needed.
Why use attributes?
Attributes make your data actionable!
How to create attributes
Navigate to the Attributes page by hovering over the Configuration Icon in the top-right corner and selecting Attributes. There are three starting points to choose from under the 'Add Attribute' drop-down menu:
- Online Form Attributes: Provides direct access to the online form attribute interface. Selecting this option opens a 3-step configuration page that allows for easy navigation to add attributes from TraceGains Online Forms with the latest data.
- Configuration Library: Leads to the TG configuration library, stocked with standard attributes. Specification Management and Supplier Compliance customers can take advantage of pre-configured attribute profiles for seamless integration / sharing of business rules across the two modules.
- Create New Attribute: Recommended for users who have already searched the Online Form Attributes and Configuration Library and want to create an Attribute from scratch.
Start from Online Form Attributes
The following steps detail how to add and/or sync attributes to existing online forms.
Step 1: Hover over Configuration in the top-right corner and select Attributes.
Step 2: Click the Add Attribute drop-down, then select Online Form Attributes.
Step 3: In the first column, select the online form to pull attributes from.
Step 4: In the columns that follow, select one or more tab view to apply your attribute configuration to.
Step 5: Select the attributes from the selected online form to add to your new configuration.
The Attribute Queue on the right of the screen indicates whether that attribute is already in your system, or whether the information will be synced:
Step 6: For each attribute you wish to add, select DS (Data Sheet), SM (Supplier Management), or both.
Step 7: Click Submit when satisfied with the Attribute Queue.
Start from Configuration Library
Step 1: Hover over Configuration in the top-right corner and select Attributes.
Step 2: Select Configuration Library under the Add Attribute drop-down.
Step 3: Search the Configuration Library as usual, using the search bar at the top or filters to the left.
Step 4: Click the checkboxes next to the desired Attributes. The action should read: “Add from Library.”
Step 5: Click Apply Action to Selected when satisfied with the selection.
Start from Create New
Step 1: Hover over Configuration in the top-right corner and select Attributes.
Step 2: Click New to open a New Attribute page.
Step 3: In the New Attribute page, enter the desired Attribute ID, Name, Group, Data Type, and Use.
For a New Attribute, Storage Group and Column Name will populate automatically.
Reference:
- ID: Unique ID for this Attribute.
- Name: Can be the same as your Attribute ID (advisable).
- Group: Moisture, Physical, Chemical, etc. This Group helps you organize the new Attributes in your site.
- Data Type: Refer to the Overview of Attributes article for Data Type definitions.
- Use: Where in the system you want to use this Attribute: In a CAR, COA, Items Supplied, PO, PO Line, Specification Management, Supplier/Site, etc.
Step 4: Click Save.
Copy Existing
Satisfied with the new Attribute you just created? Good news! You can copy that Attribute (or any preexisting Attribute) to other pages.
Step 1: Hover over Configuration in the top-right corner and select Attributes.
Step 2: Find an Attribute you'd like to Copy and click the edit gear on the left end of the row.
Step 3: In your existing Manage Attribute page, click the blue Copy... button at the top of the page.
Step 4: Provide the new identifiers requested and click Save.
Step 5: Go to another Manage Attribute page filled in with the same data but with the new identifications. Make any other alterations needed and click Save.
Normalization Scripts and Property Checkboxes
If you're expecting data from Suppliers to arrive in multiple formats, you can use a Normalization Script to streamline the data into your preferred single format. Normalization Scripts are usually optional, but there may also be some cases when they are mandated. Consult your CSM for help creating Norm Scripts.
These Scripts are written in SQL (Structured Query Language). Below is an example of a Norm Script that uses a built-in TraceGains function (example: dbo.TG_Micro_) on Attribute values, changing multiple different numeric formats to one standard format.
The following image explains each of the 3 Property checkboxes: