Attribute Management

Overview

The Attributes tab is used to manage the attribute fields of CI types. Attributes are the basic data units of CIs, defining what information a CI can store.

Each CI type can define multiple attributes. For example, the Computer type can define attributes like Memory, FQDN, OS Version, etc.

Attribute Categories

The Attributes tab contains three sub-tabs for viewing attributes from different sources:

Sub-tab	Description	Content
All Attributes	Shows all available attributes	Current type's own attributes + inherited attributes from parent types
Inherited Attributes	Shows only inherited attributes	All attributes inherited from parent types
Own Attributes	Shows only own attributes	Attributes defined directly by the current type (not inherited)

Inheritance Mechanism

Subtypes automatically inherit all attributes from their parent type. For example:

• Computer type defines FQDN, OS Version attributes
• Linux inherits from Computer and automatically has these two attributes
• Linux can then define its own attributes like Distribution

Attribute Types

The system supports the following attribute types:

Type	Description	Example Use
String	Longer text	Description information
Integer	Whole numbers	CPU core count, port number
Long Integer	Large integers	Memory size (MB)
Float	Decimal numbers	CPU usage
Double	High-precision decimals	Geographic coordinates
Datetime	Date and time	Creation time, update time
Boolean	Yes/No	Enabled, online status
String List	Multiple string values	Tags, DNS servers
Integer List	Multiple integer values	Open port list
Key-Value List	Key-value pair collection	Custom tags, environment variables
Option	Predefined option list	OS type, status
CI ID	Reference to another CI	Attached CI
IP Address	IP address format	Primary IP, backup IP
URL	URL format	Management address, download address
Email	Email address format	Contact email
Binary	Binary data	File content, certificates

Adding Attributes

Steps

1. Switch to the "Own Attributes" sub-tab
2. Click the "Add Attribute" button in the top toolbar
3. Fill in attribute information in the popup dialog

Attribute Field Reference

Field	Description	When to Use
Name	Unique identifier for the attribute, must start with a letter, can only contain letters, numbers, and underscores	Defined when creating; cannot be modified after creation
Display Name	Display name for the attribute	When users need to easily identify it
Type	Data type of the attribute	Defined when creating; cannot be modified after creation
Option Type	Data source for options	Only needed when type is "Option"; specifies the source of options
Description	Purpose description of the attribute	Helps users understand the attribute's purpose
Group	Attribute group membership	For organizing related attributes; displayed grouped on CI detail pages; attributes in "Basic Information" group are shown as default columns in instance lists
Max Length	Maximum value length	Effective for string, URL, integer list types; limits character count or element count
Default Value	Default value for the attribute	When most instances use the same value
Required	Whether it's a required field	Key information should be set as required
Read-only	Whether the value is read-only on the interface	Attributes not allowed to be modified by users on the interface (does not affect API)
Hidden	Whether the attribute is hidden on the interface	Sensitive or rarely used attributes (does not affect API)
Track History	Whether to record attribute change history	When attribute changes need auditing
Index	Whether to create an index for the attribute	When the attribute is frequently queried

Note: "Track History" and "Index" options may affect system performance. Enable with caution:

• Enabling "Track History" causes the system to record history data for every change to the attribute, significantly increasing data volume
• Enabling "Index" requires the system to maintain index structures for the attribute, which may affect write performance with large data volumes
• It's recommended to only enable these for attributes that truly need frequent querying or audit tracking |

Editing Attributes

Steps

1. Find the attribute to edit in the attribute list
2. Click the "Edit" button on that row
3. Modify attribute information in the popup dialog
4. Click "OK" to save changes

Note:

• Attribute name cannot be modified after creation
• Attribute type cannot be modified after creation
• Modifying attribute definitions may affect existing CI data

Deleting Attributes

Steps

1. Find the attribute to delete in the attribute list
2. Click the "Delete" button on that row
3. Click "OK" in the confirmation dialog

Restrictions:

• Only own attributes can be deleted; inherited attributes cannot be deleted
• System built-in attributes cannot be deleted
• If CIs are already using the attribute to store data, confirm before deleting

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where are option type options defined?

A: Option type options are defined in the "Option List" module. When creating an option attribute, you need to select an existing option list. See Option Management documentation for details.