Attributes

Attributes are information about a work item that shows in a field or column of a view. Attributes should have unique names; if an attribute has the same name as another attribute, then it must have a unique attribute type and/or it must be dimensioned. Attributes can be assigned to work item types from the Investment Type tab in the Types Setup tab.

There are six primary types of attributes:

General A general attribute can be used by any work item type. A general attribute is never timephased (or ranged) and it is never a milestone. General attribute types include: date, flag, float, integer, large text, money, percent, resource, text, time, and URL link.
Timephased A timephased attribute can be used to track costs and/or benefits over a defined time period. There are four types of timephased attributes: labor costs, non-labor costs, other costs, and benefits. Timephased attributes can be split so that costs and/or benefits can be tracked in smaller, more detailed levels. When a timephased attribute is split, cost and benefit values are tracked at the split level, plus are rolled-up into the parent timephased attribute. Timephased attribute types include: Timephased - CURRENCY, Timephased - FTE, Timephased - NonLabor, and Timephased - UNITS.
Calculated Timephased A calculated timephased attribute can be used to calculate currency, hours, skills, and other measurements that are already being tracked using a timephased attribute. There are four types of calculated timephased attributes: currency, FTE, hours, and units. Calculated timephased attributes may use MathML. The calculated timephased attribute type includes: Timephased Calc - CURRENCY, Timephased Calc - FTE, Timephased Calc - HOURS, and Timephased Calc - UNITS.
Ranged Calculation A ranged calculation attribute can be used to derive the sum for timephased attributes and calculated timephased attributes. Ranged calculation attributes always use MathML.
Milestone A milestone attribute can be used to define dates. A milestone attribute is always dimensioned and can be rolled-up. Status can be assigned to a milestone.
Constant A constant attribute can be used in calculations, transitions, or whenever there is a need for a fixed value. A constant attribute is defined using the Edit Rates dialog box. A constant attribute must have a rate defined; use the Edit Rates dialog box to define a rate.

There are four roll-up types that can be applied to attributes (from the Attributes tab) and attribute dimensions (from the Dimensions tab):

Sum The sum roll-up type adds all of an attribute's direct descendent values.
Average The average roll-up type calculates the mean average of an attribute's direct descendent values.
Minimum The min roll-up type selects the lowest value or earliest date from an attribute's direct descendent values.
Maximum The max roll-up type selects the highest value or latest date from an attribute's direct descendent values.

Roll-up types can be used with the following attribute types: date, float, integer, milestone, money, percent, ranged calculation, time, and calculated timephased (all four of them).

Copying an attribute

You can create new attributes by copying existing ones.

To copy an attribute

From the application toolbar, click Setup, and then select Customization.
Select the Attributes Setup tab.
Select the Attributes tab.
Select the attribute you want to copy and click Copy.
Make your changes.
Click Save.

Deleting an attribute

You can remove any attribute that is not being used by an existing work item type, column, or box. Removing an attribute will remove any associated attribute list values.

To delete an attribute

From the application toolbar, click Setup, and then select Customization.
Select the Attributes Setup tab.
Select the Attributes tab.
Select an attribute.
Click Delete.

Editing an attribute

Make your changes and then save them. Once created, there are some properties of an attribute that cannot be modified, including its data type, roll-up type, or whether it is dimensioned.

To edit an attribute

From the application toolbar, click Setup, and then select Customization.
Select the Attributes Setup tab.
Select the Attributes tab.
Select an attribute.
Make your changes.
Click Save.

Viewing an attribute

An attribute can be viewed from the Attributes tab in the Types Setup view.

To view an attribute

From the application toolbar, click Setup, and then select Customization.
Select the Attributes Setup tab.
Select the Attributes tab.
Select an attribute and view its properties.