Create a custom property in the application dictionary
The Application Dictionary is designed to be highly configurable to accommodate a multitude of business needs. Custom Properties are attributes attached to entities that can be created without custom development. If the entity is displayed within the UI, then the Custom Properties are fields and other content that can be displayed on the page.
📘 Note The Application Dictionary controls field names, field labels, language options, field length and securing access and data requirements based on assigned User Roles. Only make changes in this area if you are confident and understand the implications of the change.
For the steps below, we'll use the scenario of adding an organizational code to an order. It is helpful to know the type of information that will be found within the organizational code before the configured property is created, so as to create the correct property type.
- Go to the Admin Console > Administration > System > Application Dictionary.
- Search for the correct entity in the Search field. In this example we will search for CustomerOrder.
- Click Edit next to CustomerOrder.
- Select the Properties finger tab.
- Click Add Property Configuration.
- Name the new custom property.
📘 Note The Name field is what is displayed within the Application Dictionary and cannot include special characters, including spaces and dashes.
- Enter in a description in the Label field. The Label field is displayed in its respective object. For example, if the Custom Property is created for Customer Orders, the Label name will display when viewing the Custom finger tab of the Customer Order entity.
- From the Property Type menu, select String to allow for both numbers and letters.
- From the Control Type menu, select Drop Down Control.
- As necessary, use the radio buttons to force requirement and set the default security.
- Enter any desired contextual help in both the Hint Text (shows below the field) and the Tool Tip (shows in the question icon). In this example, the information can be found by navigating to Sales > Cart History > Edit an existing order > select the Custom finger tab.
- Click Save to accept changes.
📘 Note The Control Type Properties, Data Validator Properties, and Permissions finger tabs only become active after saving the information on the Details finger tab.
- The fields available in both the Control Type and Data Validator are dependent on what is selected in the Property Type and Control Type fields.
- Based on the example provided in this article the following three fields are only applicable based on the configuration of this Property Configuration:
- In the MultiValueList field, using a comma as the delimiter, enter all of the Organizational Codes.
- Select the maximum and minimum lengths of the Organizational Code.
- Enter in the default Organizational Code in the DefaultValue field.
- Click Save.
🚧 Important By default, newly created custom properties are only accessible in the Admin Console by default and are NOT accessible by the website. To change this, navigate to the Permissions finger tab of the Custom Property and edit, as necessary, the ISC_StoreFrontApi Role.