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Attribute Metadata Settings

Attribute Metadata Settings

This guide explains how to configure attribute metadata in Ellie: which fields are available on attributes and how to control their visibility per model level (Conceptual, Logical, Physical).

Overview

Metadata Settings let you:

  1. Configure attribute fields — Control which metadata fields are available when editing attributes.

  2. Set visibility by level — Show or hide each field at Conceptual, Logical, and Physical level independently.

Visibility only affects whether the field is shown in the Ellie UI at that level. Hidden fields can still appear in the API, Glossary Import/Export.

Where to configure

  1. Go to Admin Tools → Metadata Settings.

  2. Open the Attribute tab (the Entity tab configures entity-level metadata).

  3. Use the table to configure your attributes.

    1. Set visibility per field and per level

    2. Reorder fields (drag handle)

    3. Add custom fields

Changes apply after you save.

Predefined attribute fields

Field name

Description

Field name

Description

PK (Primary Key)

Marks the attribute as the primary key of the entity or table. When visible, users can set or clear the primary key flag.

Draft FK (Foreign Key)

A flag to mark an attribute as intended to be a foreign key, without defining a real relationship. Useful at logical level when drafting FK attributes before you are ready to configure relationships.

When using API or other exports - it is referred as FK flag.

Read more: https://ellie.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ELLIE/pages/1519648769

FK (Relationship FK)

When enabled, shows real foreign keys that are automatically calculated from relationship attributes. Read-only (calculated). Designed primarily for physical level; can be enabled on other levels if needed. When enabled, it also unlocks all relationship-attribute features: define relationship attributes, relationship-attribute highlight, relationship-attribute suggestions.

When using API or other exports - it is not available as a separate field. All necessary info can be extracted from relationship attributes.

Read more: https://ellie.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ELLIE/pages/1519648769

Name

The name of the attribute

Data type

The type of data stored (e.g. VARCHAR, INTEGER, DATE). Depends on the database engine and Data Type Settings.

Not null

Whether the attribute is required (non-nullable). When checked, the attribute cannot be left empty.

Unique

Whether values for this attribute must be unique across the entity or table.

Partitioned by

Whether the attribute is used as a partition key (typically relevant at physical level for partitioned tables).

Default

Default value applied when no value is provided (e.g. on insert or when the column is added).

Description

Free-text description of the attribute’s meaning, usage, or business rules.