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Metadata Hierarchies

Arrange metadata types and entries as parents and children, such as Region, District and Store, then browse them as a tree, group them and target them from a rule.

Link types and entries​

Links work at two levels.

  • Types: a metadata type can have parent and child types. On a type's detail view, add a child type or a parent type. The pickers leave out types that are already linked to this one in either direction, so two types can't become parent and child of each other. Longer loops are rejected, and the reason appears in the panel.
  • Entries: an entry can be linked under a parent entry of the parent type. Each entry has one parent for each parent type.

You can also set entry links from the hierarchy tree, described below.

Create a hierarchy​

A hierarchy is an ordered list of levels, each a metadata type, where each level is linked under the one above.

  1. In the Hub, open Data → Metadata Hierarchies.
  2. Select the create button. The Create Metadata Hierarchy panel opens.
  3. Enter a Name and a Code.
  4. Pick the types for each level, from the top level down.
  5. Select Create Metadata Hierarchy.

If a level isn't linked under the one above it, the panel shows an error until you fix the type links.

Browse the tree​

Select a hierarchy to open its tree. The tree loads each branch when you expand it.

  • Use the Chart and Outline toggle beside the title to switch between an org chart and an indented list.
  • The chart sizes itself to the tree. A tree too wide to fit at a readable size scrolls sideways.
  • Select Metadata Hierarchies above the title to go back to the list.

Work with a node​

Select a node to open its details panel. It shows the node's Name, Code, Type, Level and number of Direct children.

  • Links: add an existing entry of the next level under the node, or take the node out from under its parent.
  • Create group from descendants: build a metadata group from the node's descendants at a level you choose. The button is unavailable on last-level nodes, which have no descendants.
  • Rule target: choose This node or Descendants at level, then select the Create rule button to open the event rule editor with that target filled in. Last-level nodes can only target themselves.