Simple vs. Complex Attributes in Business Central
Simple Attributes
In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, an attribute is a characteristic or property of an item or a resource that can be used to filter, group, or classify data. For example, an item attribute might be its color, size, or weight. A resource attribute might be its location, type, or availability.
Attributes can be used in various ways in Business Central, such as:
-
Filtering data in lists and reports
-
Grouping data in charts and pivot tables
-
Classifying data for analysis and decision-making
-
Customizing forms and pages
-
Enhancing the user experience with search and personalization features
Attributes can be simple or complex, depending on the data type and the level of detail they represent. Simple attributes use a single value or a fixed list of values, such as a drop-down list or a check box. Complex attributes are those that use multiple values or a dynamic list of values, such as a multi-select list or a range of values.
Simple attributes are typically used to store basic information about an item or a resource, such as its name, description, or status. They can also enable or disable features or functions or control access to data.
To create a simple attribute in Business Central, you can use the CSM Item Attributes page. These tools let you define the attribute’s name, data type, and values, and specify its usage and visibility.
Once you create and assign values to your simple attributes, you can use them in various ways in Business Central, such as filtering lists, grouping data, or customizing forms and pages. You can also use them to create calculated fields or to trigger events or actions based on certain conditions or thresholds.
Configurable Attributes
In Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, configurable attributes are additional fields you can add to certain objects, such as items, customers, and vendors. These attributes let you store and track information specific to your business.
For example, you might add a configurable attribute to your item records to store each item’s color. You could then use this attribute to filter and search for items by color.
Configurable attributes are created and managed in the CSM Item Attributes window in Business Central. You can specify the data type (such as text, date, or number) and other properties for each attribute. You can then assign the attribute to the relevant object type in the Object Designer.
Once you have created configurable attributes and assigned them to an object type, you can enter values for the attributes on the relevant pages in Business Central. For example, you can enter an item’s color on the Item Card page.
Configurable attributes can be very useful for storing and tracking business-specific information. They let you customize Business Central to meet your organization’s unique needs.
For more details on this topic, check out our knowledge base.
Read more …
