Defining an Attribute

On the Dimension Attributes form, use these steps to define attributes:

  1. Specify the object name to which the attribute applies.
  2. Ensure that the information you want to add is not already included in the predefined attributes.
  3. Specify a name and description for the new attribute.
  4. Specify the attribute type:
    • Function: A field, calculation, or a SQL function that manipulates another attribute value or constant.
    • Attribute: The actual values that users want to see in reports.
  5. Specify the value. You can either type directly in the Value text box, or, for Function attributes,  use the fields and button in the right pane to build the Value expression:
    • In the Type field, select one of these options and then select the appropriate row from the grid:
      • Attribute Text: The grid lists the available attributes. When selected, the attribute name is displayed. In the Value text box, this appears as A(attribute). Literals can be used to develop strings based on a concatenation of string values. This results in consistent descriptions that can be modified across dimensions.
      • Attribute Value: The grid lists the available attributes. When selected, the attribute value displays. In the Value text box, this appears as V(attribute).
      • Parameter: The grid displays a list of the available tables and columns that were defined for this object on the Dimension Table Joins form. Use the Table field to filter the grid for a specific table. Select a table and column from the grid.
      • Operation: The grid displays a list of available operations.
      • SQL Function: The grid displays a list of the functions defined on the Dimension Functions form.
    • Click Add to add your selection to the Value text box. You can build a Value expression by combining parameters, operations, functions, and literals.
    • Literals must be typed in the text box and are designated as L(value). Literals can be concatenated with V(Attribute). For example, you could create the attribute Account Number with a value of A(Account) + L(-) + V(Account). This attribute is displayed as, for example, Account-11200.
  6. For numeric or date fields, you can specify an appropriate mask in the Masking field.
  7. Attributes can be hidden if they are used in calculations and not required to be displayed. This is useful when you create complex formulas.

    For example, you could define the literal from the example above and use it in a more complex literal: V(Account Number) + L( ) + A(Ledger Unit Code 1) + L(-) + V(Ledger Unit Code 1). This displays as Account-11200 Ledger Unit Code 1-123. In this example, there is no need to display the original literal, so it can be hidden.

  8. Optionally, you can configure the 15 pre-defined Ledger object dimension analysis attributes for use on the Journal Entries, Import Journal Entries, and G/L Posted Transactions forms. See About Dimension Analysis Attributes.
  9. Save your changes. In the case of a Chart object attribute, the attribute is then available for selection on the Chart of Accounts Dimensions form and Ledger objects attributes are available for selection on the Ledger Dimensions form.
Related topics
Creating Dimensions and Attributes for Extended Data Analysis