Defining an attribute

To define an attribute, you must specify a name and associate the attribute with an element and object type. Optionally, you can assign valid values to the attribute and select whether an attribute is required or not. You can use an element to identify the data type and field size for defining attribute values.

To ensure consistency for data entry, you can define a specific range of valid values to the attribute. If you do not define valid values, then any entry valid for the attribute's data type and size is accepted.

To determine where you can use the attribute, assign an object type to an attribute.

Before you define attributes, you must load Lawson-defined attribute definitions. See Loading Lawson-Defined attributes and elements.

Follow these steps to define an attribute for the Customer (CUST) object type.

To define an element that does not exist for the attribute, run Element (MX00.2). Specify this information:

Element Name

Specify or select an identifier for the element.
Note: A user-defined element name does not have to match the attribute name, since several attributes can use that element.

Data Type

Select A for numbers and letters, N for numbers, and D for a date format to define attribute values.

Field Size

Specify a number of characters used to represent attribute values. Specify up to 32 characters for A, up to eight characters for D, and up to 18 characters for N data types.
To define an attribute, run Attribute (MX00.1). Specify this information:

Attribute

Specify or select a name and specify a description for the attribute.

Column Heading

Specify the column heading that you want to define for transaction attributes. If you are not using transaction attributes, then leave this field blank.

Element Name

Select a Lawson-defined or user-defined element to identify the attribute's data type and size.

From Value

Specify the beginning value you want to include in an attribute.

Through Value

Specify the ending value you want to include in an attribute. If you leave this field blank, then the default ending value is the beginning value.

Note: To interface valid attribute value ranges from a non-Lawson system, use Attribute Valid Value Interface (MX160). See Interfacing valid attribute value ranges to Attribute Matrix (BL).
To go to Associate Attribute to Objects (MX00.3), click Objects.
From the Associate Attribute to Objects (MX00.3), assign valid object types to the attribute. Specify this information:

Object Type

Specify or select the object types that you want to assign to the attribute. If you are assigning an attribute for Billing, select Customer (CUST) as an object type.

Required

Select whether the attribute is required or not. If you select Yes, then a reminder message is displayed on Customer (AR10) until the field is populated.

Note: You can still add or change a customer even if you do not define the required attributes.
Click Add.