Managing Data Elements

About Data Elements and Feature Groups

A data element defines the attributes and properties of services and resources. It is a type of data with particular properties. A data element can be, for example, an ID, a feature, a download speed, or a telephone number. Data elements can have the following data types:

Table 6-1 Data Element Types and Description

Data Element Type	Description
Boolean	Contains true and false values.
Date	Enables users to enter or select date values.
Time	Enables users to enter or select time values.
Date and Time	Enables users to enter or select date and time values.
Numeric	Enables users to enter integers. When Numeric type is selected, Settings and Valid Values sections are displayed. In the settings section, you can specify the decimal places, minimum value, and maximum value. In the valid values section, you can specify valid value's name and value.
Secret	Enables you to protect the contents of a text or numeric data element that contains sensitive information. For example, select this type for fields that are used as password fields. When Secret type is selected, Settings section is displayed. In the settings section, you can specify the minimum characters and maximum characters.
Text	Enables you to enter alphanumeric text. When Text type is selected, Settings and Valid Values sections are displayed. In the settings section, you can specify the minimum characters, maximum characters, and regular expression that describes a pattern. In the valid values section, you can specify a valid value's name and value.
Feature Group	Enables you to create a feature group data element. Feature groups are sets of data elements that you want to use together. When Feature Group type is selected, the Data Elements section is displayed. You can select the existing data elements that you want to combine into the feature group.

You can combine data elements into feature groups. You can use the same data element in multiple specifications.

Data elements are used to:

Provide metadata that enriches the understanding of the services and resources. This metadata can include information like the data type, units of measurement, allowed values, and more.
Manage the configuration of services and resources with an accurate representation of how services are configured, which resources are allocated, and what settings are applied.
Describe the details of the network assets and resources, such as the physical location, capacity, manufacturer, and maintenance history.
Provide the building blocks for describing the specific details of services, resources, and operations.

Creating New Data Elements and Feature Groups

You create data elements and feature groups in the following ways:

In the Data Elements application, you can create the data elements and feature groups. Define data elements and features here if you want to reuse the data elements elsewhere in the application as design parameters, delivery parameters, and entity characteristics within the same initiative. The data elements and features from the released initiative are available system-wide.
When defining design parameters, delivery parameters, and entity characteristics in the Specifications application, you can add a previously defined data element or feature group or create new ones. The data elements and feature groups that you create as design parameters, delivery parameters, and entity characteristics then show up in the Data Elements application.

The data elements are available only to those specifications with the same initiative until they are released. Data elements from the released initiative are available system-wide.

Creating Data Elements and Feature Groups in the Data Elements Application

You can create data elements and feature groups in the Data Elements application, when creating specifications, and when creating PSR Models.

To create data elements and features in the Data Elements application:

In the Data Elements application, click Create Data Element.

The Create Data Element page opens.
Enter a name, ID, type, initiative, and a description.
Click Create.

The data element is created and the newly created data element is listed in the Data Elements page.

Creating Data Elements in Specifications and PSR Models

You can also create data elements when creating specifications and creating PSR Models. The data elements that you create in the specifications or in the PSR models are added to the Data Elements application.

To create data elements in Specifications and the PSR Models:

In the Solution Designer landing page, click the application that you want to work with.
Do one of the following:
- In the Specifications application, in the Specifications details page, in the Design Parameters tab, create a new or open an existing design parameter and click + Create Element in the Data Element field.
- In the Specifications application, in the Specifications details page, in the Entity Characteristics tab, create a new or open an existing characteristic and click + Create Element in the Data Element field.
- In the Specifications application, in the Specifications details page, in the Delivery Policies tab, in the New Delivery Policy drawer, create a new or open a delivery parameter and click + Create Element in the Data Element field.
- In the PSR Models application, in the Configure model step, in the Specification Configuration, expand the Design parameters, select the specification and create a new or open an existing design parameter and click + Create Element in the Data Element field.
- In the PSR Models application, in the Configure model step, in the Specification Configuration, expand the Entity characteristics, select the specification, click + Create Element in the Data Element field.
- In the PSR Models application, in the Configure model step, in the Specification Configuration, expand the Delivery Policies, select the specification and create a new delivery parameter and click + Create Element in the Data Element field.
  
  The New data element drawer opens.
Enter a name, ID, initiative, and a description. Enter the details in the Settings and Valid Values based on the type you select.
Click Add.

The data element is added to the design parameters, the entity characteristics, or the delivery parameters. These data elements are added to the Data Elements application and can be managed from the Data Elements application.

Creating Feature Groups in Specifications and PSR Models

You can also create feature groups when creating the specifications and creating the PSR Models. The features that you create in the specifications or in the PSR models are added to the Data Elements application.

To create Feature Groups in Specifications and the PSR Models:

In the Solution Designer landing page, click the application that you want to work with.
Do one of the following:
- In the Specifications application, in the Specifications details page, in the Design Parameters tab, create a new or open an existing design parameter and click + Create Feature in the Data Element field.
- In the Specifications application, in the Specifications details page, in the Entity Characteristics tab, create a new or open an existing characteristic and click + Create Feature in the Data Element field.
- In the Specifications application, in the Specifications details page, in the Delivery Policies tab, in the New Delivery Policy drawer, create a new or open a delivery parameter and click + Create Feature in the Data Element field.
- In the PSR Models application, in the Configure model step, in the Specification Configuration, expand the Design Parameters, select the specification and create a new or open an existing design parameter and click + Create Feature in the Data Element field.
- In the PSR Models application, in the Configure model step, in the Specification Configuration, expand the Entity characteristics, select the specification, click + Create Feature in the Data Element field.
- In the PSR Models application, in the Configure model step, in the Specification Configuration, expand the Delivery Policies, select the specification and create a new delivery parameter and click + Create Feature in the Data Element field.
  
  The New data feature drawer opens.
Enter a name, ID, initiative, and a description. Enter the details in the Data Elements section.

You can select existing data elements or create a new data element to combine them into feature group. See "Creating Data Elements in Specifications and PSR Models" for more details on creating data elements.
Click Add.

The feature group is added to the design parameters, the entity characteristics, or the delivery parameters.

Viewing Data Elements

You view the data elements from the following applications:

Data Elements application
Initiative Items tab in the Initiatives application

To view data elements:

In the Solution Designer landing page, click the application that you want to work with.
Do one of the following:
- In the Data Elements application, search for a domain using the following criteria:
  - Data Elements name
  - Type
  - Initiatives
  - Last Updated date
  The data elements result is filtered based on the search criteria.
- In the Initiatives application, search for an initiative and click the Initiative Items tab in the Initiatives editor page.
Click a data element name to view the details.

A data element drawer appears with the details of the data element.
After viewing the details, click anywhere outside the dialog box to return to the data elements details page or the initiatives editor page.

Updating Data Elements

You update the data element details such as Name, Description, Settings, Valid Values, and Data Elements if the selected data element is a feature group.

To update a data element:

Do one of the following:
- In the Data Elements application, search for a data element.
  
  The data elements result is filtered based on the search criteria.
- In the Initiatives application, search for an initiative and click the Initiative Items tab in the Initiatives editor page.
Click the data element that you want to view.
Click Edit in the data elements drawer and update the name, description, settings, valid values, and the data elements in case of feature group.
Click Save.

Note:

You can't update the data element Type and Initiative.

You can't update the data element's details in the following scenarios:

If the associated initiative has completed the definition phase but has not been approved for testing.
If the associated initiative is in the Acceptance Testing phase, the Approval phase, or the Released phase.

Revising Data Elements

You revise a data element in the Released status. When you revise a data element, you create a revision of the data element that you attach to an initiative in Definition status. The original data element definition, which is attached to an initiative in Released status, does not change. You can update the details of the revised data elements. When deleting a revised data element, only the current revision is deleted and the data element is reverted to the previously released version.

To revise a data element:

In the Solution Designer landing page, click the application that you want to work with.
Do one of the following:
- In the Data Elements application, search for a data element and click to open it.
  
  The data element drawer opens.
- In the Initiatives application, search for an initiative, click the data element that you want to revise in the Initiative Items tab in the initiatives editor page.
  
  The data element drawer opens.
Click Revise.

The Revise Characteristic drawer opens.
Select a different initiative in the Definition status and click Continue.

The data element drawer opens with the newly selected initiative.
Do one of the following:
- Click Edit to modify the name, description, settings, valid values, and data elements and then click Save. The revised version is saved with the updated details.
- Click Delete to delete the current revised version. After confirmation, the revised version of the data element is deleted.

Deleting Data Elements

You delete a data element in the data element's results page or in the details page. Deleting a data element or feature group in the Data Elements application deletes it from the system. You can't delete a data element or feature group that is being used in a released initiative or that is referenced by a specification. For example, if a data element is defined as a design parameter of a specification, you can't delete that data element from the Data Elements application.

To delete a data element in the Data Elements application:

In the Solution Designer landing page, click the application that you want to work with.
Do one of the following:
- In the Data Elements application, search for a data element.
  
  The data elements results section is filtered based on the search criteria.
- In the Data Elements application, search for a data element and click to open it.
  
  The data element drawer opens.
- In the Initiatives application, search for an initiative, open the initiative details page, in the Initiative Items tab, click the data element that you want to delete.
  
  The data element drawer opens.
Click Delete.

The delete confirmation dialog box opens.
Click Delete in the confirmation dialog box.

After confirmation, the data element is deleted if it is not associated with any specifications.
Note:

You can't delete a data element:
- If the data element is associated with any specification.
- If the associated initiative has completed the definition phase but has not been approved for testing.
- If the associated initiative is in the Acceptance Testing phase, the Approval phase, or the Released phase.