How to Manage Attributes

What is an attribute?

An attribute is a custom data point that is asserted on your document. Attributes can be used to establish external metadata, workflow steps, or business assertions on the document. 

What is the difference between Provisions and Attributes?

Your environment comes pre-loaded with a number of Attribute Types, but they can be completely customized to fit your company's needs. Thomson Reuters Document Intelligence Administrators can set up Attributes for you to populate for your documents or to be updated in bulk using Document Intelligence Automate.

What is Document Intelligence Automate? (click enroll to watch video)

What are the different types of attributes?

There are two kinds of attributes: single-field and multi-field

Single-field attributes are used to capture simple data like document numbers, names, dates, etc.

• one available data point and type
• useful for doc identifiers, statuses, workflow assignments, and other items that can be contained in a 1-to-1 fashion

Multi-field attributes can capture more complex (parent-child) data and create custom provision models

• allow you to store more complex data, such as a customized provision to capture a Provision
• Each field within an attribute Type has a specified data type that cannot be changed after the Attribute Type has been created

Data Types

Within both multi and single-field attributes, you have different options for the data type. Those are listed here.

How to edit an attribute type

In Settings > Attribute Types, use the search bar at the top of the page to search for existing attribute types, or scroll through the list. Note you can include or exclude archived Attribute Types

Select the Attribute Type by clicking on the name, an edit pane will slide out from the right and allow you to edit everything about the Attribute type EXCEPT THE DATA TYPE.

TIP: You can change the data type of a new attribute by temporarily making it a multifield attribute, adding in the new field with the correct data type, deleting the incorrect/unwanted field, and then changing the Attribute Type back to a single field attribute.

How to add an attribute type

1. Settings > Attribute Types

2. Select the    button

3. Set up your attribute in the settings menu that slides out on the right-hand side of the page. 

How to archive attribute types

1. Settings > Attribute Types

2. Select the button on the Attribute Type to be archived

3. Confirm the archival of the Attribute Type

For more information on Archiving and what it accomplishes, please click this link for the How to Archive Documents, Document Types, and Attributes article.

Tip! If there are Attribute values on documents that need to be deleted, the archived Attribute Type can be deleted and all of the Attribute values associated with the deleted Attribute Type will be deleted as well. 

How to delete attribute types (must be archived first)

1. Settings > Attribute Types

2. Check the "Include Archived" box on the right side of the Attributes screen

3. Select Delete on the Attribute Type to be deleted and confirm

If you have any questions or technical difficulties, you can reach out to disupport@thomsonreuters.com