Extending the attribute configuration

You can automatically identify attributes contained in the XML import files that are not known in the PPM system. Optionally, you can assign a data type to the new attributes added and automatically transfer them to the attribute configuration of your PPM client.

Automatic attribute identification supports both data import formats.

You can use the following options to enable automatic extension of the attribute configuration:

Command line arguments

When calling up runxmlimport, specify the additional arguments -autoextendattributes and -extractattributes in the command line.

Specifying these arguments has the following effect when importing:

Argument

Effect

-extractattributes <File name>

Unknown attributes are saved in the specified file. No XML fragment files are imported.

-autoextendattributes

Unknown attributes are transferred to the attribute configuration. If the automapping option is enabled, the attribute mapping configuration is extended accordingly.
The XML fragment data is then imported.

Both arguments are specified

The actions described under -autoextendattributes and -extractattributes are performed consecutively.

Data source file

Assign the value true to the autoextendattributes attribute of the attributesettings XML element in the datasource file used.

Example

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>

<!DOCTYPE datasource SYSTEM "datasource.dtd">

<datasource name="Events" type="EVENT">

...

<attributesettings autoextendattributes="true">

...

</attributesettings>

</datasource>

Certain attributes can be excluded from automatic attribute identification using pattern identification. To do this, specify the name pattern of the attributes you want to exclude from automatic extension in the excludepattern XML element. You can use the placeholders ? (any single character) and * (any set of characters).

Example

In the example below, all system event attributes whose name begins with TEST or that have the name USER are excluded from automatic attribute identification.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>

<!DOCTYPE datasource SYSTEM "datasource.dtd">

<datasource name="Events" type="EVENT">

...

<attributesettings autoextendattributes="true">

<excludepatterns>

<excludepattern>TEST*</excludepattern>

<excludepattern>USER</excludepattern>

</excludepatterns>

...

</attributesettings>

</datasource>