Software AG Products 10.5 | Using CentraSite | Type Management | Managing Types through CentraSite Business UI | Modifying Asset Type Details
 
Modifying Asset Type Details
Pre-requisites:
To modify the details of a user-defined asset type, you must have the Manage Asset Types permission. Besides allowing you to modify user-defined asset types, this permission allows you to modify certain predefined types installed by CentraSite.
Note:
By default, users with the CentraSite Administrator role and Asset Type Administrator role have this permission.
When you modify the details of a custom asset type, keep the following points in mind:
*With respect to attributes:
*You can add new optional attributes to the asset type at any time.
*You can add new required attributes if there are no existing instances of the type in the registry. If there are existing instances of the type, you can add a new required attribute of type slot or classification, but not of type relationship or file.
*If you add a new attribute, regardless of whether it is optional or required, no automatic update of existing instances takes place. This prevents the potential degradation of performance that could arise from the automatic update of a large number of instances.
*You cannot modify the data type for an attribute, but you can modify many of an attribute's other options. Be aware that certain attributes are not permitted if assigned (that is, non-empty) instances of the attribute are present in the registry.
*You cannot delete an attribute from a type if an instance of the type exists with a value assigned to the attribute. In such a situation, you must first remove the attribute's value from each such instance before you can delete the attribute.
Note that the command line tool CentraSite command remove Attribute provides support for removing an attribute, in cases where existing instances contain a value for the attribute. For information on the usage of CentraSite command, see Removing Attribute from Asset Type Definition.
*You can add, modify, delete, rename, and reorganize the profiles associated with a type at any time.
*Beginning with version 9.9, CentraSite provides the ability to define consumable asset types for a type. If you are upgrading to CentraSite 9.9 from a version of CentraSite that did not support the definition of consumable types, CentraSite assigns each Virtual type (Virtual Service, Virtual REST Service, Virtual OData Service, and Virtual XML Service) a default consumable type for the User, Group, and Application types.
*You cannot remove a consumable type from a type definition if an instance of the consumable type is already registered as a consumer of an instance of the type. In such a situation, you must first unregister each such consuming instance before you can remove the consumable type.
Important:
If you are modifying one of the predefined asset types installed with CentraSite, review the information in Introduction to Types before you begin. It explains the kinds of modifications that you can make to the predefined types.
Important:
If you are using CentraSite in conjunction with other software products, for example, the products of the webMethods Product Suite or a third-party product, those products can add their own asset types to CentraSite. Be aware that CentraSite treats these types as user-defined custom types, which can be modified by an administrator with the appropriate permissions (just like any other custom type). Modifying or deleting these types in CentraSite can lead to inconsistencies or errors in the product that uses the type. For example, if you modify or delete a type that is used by the webMethods Product Suite, components such as the webMethods Integration Server may no longer be able to publish assets to CentraSite. To prevent these types of errors, do not modify or delete any asset type on which other Software AG components or third-party products depend.
*To modify the details of an asset type
1. In the CentraSite Business UI activity bar, click Asset Types.
A list of defined asset types is displayed in the Asset Types page.
2. Click the asset type whose details you want to modify.
The Asset Type details page is displayed. Also, the Actions bar displays a set of actions that are available for working with the displayed type.
3. In the Basic Information section, examine or modify the type's name, description, and its specific options as required.
4. In the Attributes section, examine or modify the type's attribute information as required.
5. In the Profiles section, examine or modify the type's profile information as required.
6. After you have made the required changes, click Save to update the asset type definition.