Add & manage properties

Properties are the fields of your definition. On the Definition Details tab of a definition record you add properties, set what kind of data each one holds, and arrange them into the hierarchy that gives your output its structure.

Value properties vs entity properties

Each property is one of two kinds:

A value property is a single, atomic field — for example a batch number, an assay result or a release date. It has a name, a type and, where relevant, a unit and validation.
An entity property is a container that groups other properties. Entities give your output its nested shape. A repeatable entity (for example one “Test Result” per row of source data) produces one output element per instance.

Add a value property

Open the definition from the Definitions list and stay on the Definition Details tab.
Select Add Property.
Fill in the form:
- Property Name — what the field is called.
- Type — choose Integer, Float, Text, Boolean or Date.
- Unit — an optional unit of measure (for example mg/mL).
- Description — optional notes about the property.
- Required — turn on if a certificate must supply a value for this property before it can be signed.
- Validation Method and its fields (Min Value, Max Value, Pattern Description, date Reference and offset options) — optional acceptance criteria for the value.
Select Save.

Adding a value property with its name, type, unit and validation

Add an entity and nest properties under it

To build a hierarchy, add an entity property and give the properties beneath it that entity as their parent. Nesting several value properties under one repeatable entity is how a test-results table is modelled — each row of source data becomes one instance of the entity.

Reorder and re-parent properties

The property list shows entities as expandable groups. Use Expand All and Collapse All to open or close every group at once.
Change a property’s position or move it under a different parent by editing the property and updating its parent and display order. The order you set here is the order used in the generated output.