Add a characteristic type to an asset type

Characteristic types are used to provide additional context or information on an asset page. They include attributes, relations, and complex relations. The characteristic types you add to an asset type are shown on the Summary tab of all the asset pages of that asset type.

Important 

In Collibra 2024.05, we launched a new user interface (UI) for Collibra Data Intelligence Platform! You can learn more about this latest UI in the UI overview.

Use the following options to see the documentation in the latest UI or in the previous, classic UI:

Adding a characteristic type to an asset type involves the following main steps:

  1. Adding the characteristic type to the asset type's assignment.
  2. Adding the characteristic type to the asset page layout. This means editing the asset page layout to include the characteristic type and then publishing the layout.
    Important 

    This step is needed only if:

    • The asset type has an out-of-the-box (OOTB) layout.
      • AI Use Case
      • Adaptive Rule Score
      • Column
      • Data Category
      • Data Contract
      • Data Notebook
      • Data Product
      • Data Product Input Port
      • Data Product Output Port
      • Data Quality Job
      • Data Quality Rule
      • Data Set
      • Database
      • Database View
      • Duplicate Score
      • Outlier Score
      • Pattern Score
      • Record Score
      • Schema
      • Schema Score
      • Shape Score
      • Source Score
      • Table
    • A specific layout was previously published.

    For certain asset types, assigning a characteristic type automatically adds it to the layout too, meaning that the characteristic type is already available on the asset page and you don't need to publish the layout. If, however, you still choose to publish the layout for such an asset type, automatic updates to the layout will become permanently disabled. This means that you will need to manually edit and publish the layout every time you assign a characteristic type, to make the characteristic type available on the asset page. For more information, go to Layout types.

Prerequisites

You have a global role that has the System administration global permission.

Steps

Add a characteristic type to an asset type's assignment

  1. Open an asset type.
    1. On the main toolbar, click Products icon, and then click Cogwheel icon Settings.
      The Collibra settings page opens.
    2. Click Operating Model.
      The operating model settings are shown.
    3. On the Asset types tab, click the name of an asset type.
      The asset type page opens.
    Tip You can also open an asset type via an asset page by clicking the asset type in the upper-left corner of the asset page.
  2. In the left pane, click the relevant assignment, and then click Characteristics.
    A table containing all the characteristic types assigned to the asset type is shown.
  3. Click Add a Characteristic.
    The Add a Characteristic dialog box appears.

    Image of the Add a Characteristic dialog box

    Tip To filter the characteristic types, use the tabs or the search box.


  4. Click the required characteristic type.
    The characteristic type is added to the asset type's assignment. It is shown at the bottom of the table.
    Tip 
    • To change the order of the characteristic types in the table, click Reorder Characteristics.
    • To remove a characteristic type from the table, click .
    • To add another characteristic type to the assignment, repeat the previous and current steps.
    • You can enter the required information for the characteristic type in the table.

Add the characteristic type to the asset page layout

Important You need to perform the following steps if the asset type has an out-of-the-box layout or if a specific layout was previously published. For more information, go to Tailored asset page.
  1. On the Characteristics tab, click Edit Layout.
    The Edit Asset Type Layout page opens.
    Tip This page also allows you to add a characteristic to the asset type's assignment. To do so, in the left pane, click Add a Characteristic. In the resulting Add a Characteristic dialog box, click the characteristic, enter the required information, and then click Add.
  2. If the characteristic type isn't already in the layout, drag the characteristic from the left pane to where you want it in the layout.
    Note 
    • To change the position of the characteristic type in the layout, use .
    • If the characteristic type was already present in the layout, it means that the characteristic type is already available on the asset page. If, however, you still choose to publish the layout, automatic updates to the layout will become permanently disabled. This means that you will need to manually edit and publish the layout every time you add a characteristic type to the assignment, to make the characteristic type available on the asset page. For more information, go to Tailored asset page.
  3. Click Publish.

    Your changes are published and applied to all the asset pages of the asset type.
    Tip To remove the characteristic, click X, and then click Publish.

Prerequisites

You have assigned the characteristic type to the relevant assignment of the asset's type.

Steps

  1. Open an asset page.
  2. Click Add characteristic.
    The Add a Characteristic dialog box appears.

    Image of the Add a Characteristic dialog box


  3. Click the required characteristic.
    Tip 
    • To filter the characteristics, use the tabs or the search box.
    • If you can't find a specific characteristic type, it means that the characteristic type isn't in the asset type's assignment.
  4. Enter the required information for the characteristic, and then click Save.