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 Creating Reference Characteristics Locate this document in the navigation structure

Procedure

When you create a reference characteristic, choose the Additional data tab page in characteristics. You do not have to maintain the tab page Basic data first for reference characteristics.

If you want to create a reference characteristic:

  • You can create several reference characteristics that refer to one table field. However, we advise you to create only one reference characteristic for each table field.

  • Once you have defined a reference to a table field, you can no longer delete the reference. For example, you cannot delete the reference to table field Basic material after you have saved the characteristic.

How to Create a Reference Characteristic:

  1. Choose Characteristics in the classification menu. Enter a name for the reference characteristic and choose  ( ) Create .

  2. You can define table references on the Additional data tab page.

  3. Enter the name of the table that contains the field you want to refer to.

  4. Enter the field in this table that you want to refer to. You can display a list of the fields in the table you entered and select one.

  5. Confirm your entries.

  6. The system copies the formatting data from the object master to the characteristic. Any basic data and allowed values you already entered are overwritten by this data.

You can change the characteristic description and the headings. You cannot change the data type or format of a reference characteristic.

Once you have created a reference characteristic, you can assign it to a class and use it to classify and find objects.

Note Note

You can change the table and the field that references it as long as the reference characteristic is not in use.

End of the note.

Referring to Multiple Tables

If a table field is used in different tables, you can choose the arrow key next to the field name and enter other table references for a field. However, the field must have the same format in all the tables you enter.