How to Add a Field to the Data Dictionary

1. In Smart Client, select System / Add-in Manager / Edit Field Dictionary to access the Archibus Fields (afm_flds) table.
2. Click in the top row to create a new blank record.
3. Specify the table to which this field belongs by choosing an existing table for the Table Name field.
4. For Field Name, enter a value that will uniquely identify this record.
5. Define the properties of your field by entering the appropriate values for the fields defining this field's attributes. For information on setting the specific properties of your new field, see Archibus Fields table (reference).
6. Save the record defining your new field.
7. Run the Schema Change Wizard. For details, see General Procedure for Changing the Structure of the Database.

Tip: You can also create a field by completing the form presented by Web Central's System / Add-in Manager / Add Field task. Or, use the System / Add-in Manager / Edit Data Dictionary task, available from both Smart Client and Web Central.

Hints for Defining New Fields

The Archibus Fields table uses the following conventions for field name definitions.

• Field names are all lower-case and use underscores to separate words.
• Field names use abbreviations (e.g. fl_id) unless the abbreviations are unclear. Some standard abbreviations are "qty" for quantity and "std" for standard.
• All code key fields are of string type UpperAlphaNum.
• All descriptive code fields (Trade Code, Problem Code, etc.) are 16 characters.
• You may wish to prefix certain field names with their type. The database sorts the fields by name, and it is often very useful to be able to list all fields of the same type together. Examples of typed field names are below.

date_of_last_count

date_of_last_use

date_of_last_purchase

date_to_order

qty_on_hand

qty_to_order

qty_on_reserve