Structuring content via Entities: The Entity Configuration

What is it? 

Your application is designed for end2end-innovation management. This comes along with content being entered from different contexts. To allow structured processing, this content needs to be classified. Entities are in this respect the first classification principle in your application. 

Content that falls into a certain entity will have the same characteristics and distinct attributes. You can think of an entity being a template. The entities and their related attributes then allow comparing content of the same type, filtering for it, displaying it in the modules, and managing global permissions.

ITONICS offers the full flexibility to design your own entities and, thus, reflect your organization's vocabulary and processes in your application. The definition of entities and attributes is done via the Entity Configuration (EC). 

How does it work?

The structure of the Entity Configuration

To access the entity configuration, go to the settings wheel in the top right corner: Settings > Entity Configuration > Entity Configuration. The entity configuration includes the following configuration options:

• Entity Manager - Configure the structure, attributes and rating criteria, create and view look, specific permissions, and modules for any entity
• Field Manager - Configure and see all attributes/fields that have been created across all system entities.
• Segment Fields - To create hierarchical attributes, you need to create them globally, and not on a specific entity. This can be done via the tab segment fields.
• Button Fields - While related action buttons along a workflow can be configured via the workflow configuration, single independent action buttons can be designed on button fields. 
• Permission Configuration - Configure the global permission scheme.
• Role Configuration - Design the roles by giving them names for being able to provide distinct permissions 

The Entity Manager: Adding, editing, disabling, and deleting entities 

There are three important aspects to note for starting work with the entity manager.

1. Configure / Add a new Entity Type Button: Add a new Entity Type to your platform by clicking on the Add Entity Type Button (1). Learn more about adding a new Entity Type to your platform here.
2. Configuration options for a specific entity: Each line in the entity manager represents one entity. Next to the name of the entity, you will see when it was created, and you will find the available configuration action buttons. Entities, which are marked red, are currently disabled (2).
3. Dragzone: The order in that entities appear in your system (e.g., under the create button or the explorer) is determined by the order in the entity manager. If you want to change the order, you can use drag and drop to put an entity in the desired position (3).

The options to configure an entity 

You can perform different actions which are indicated by the icons in the right column. The availability of the icons depends on which modules and features are activated. 

• Enter the Entity Configuration of an Entity by clicking on the Edit icon. (4)
• Enable or disable an Entity by clicking on the Check or Cross icon. (5)
• Delete an Entity by clicking on the Trash icon. (6)
• Access the Field Configuration by clicking on the Manage Field icon. (7)
• Open the Group Field Configuration by clicking on the Manage Group Field icon. (8)
• Configure the permissions of an Entity by clicking on the Lock icon. (9)
• The Rating Configuration opens up by clicking on the Rating icon. (10)
• Enter the Radar Configuration by clicking on the Radar icon. (11)
• Configure the Matrix feature by clicking on the Portfolio icon. (12)
• Access the Kanban Board Configuration by using the Kanban Board icon. (13)
• Configure Milestones by clicking on the Flag icon. (14)

Important to know 

1. Changes have immediate effects on your ITONICS platform:
   Keep in mind that all changes in the Entity Configuration have an impact on your ITONICS platform and are sometimes not reversible. If you have any questions, contact your responsible Customer Innovation Success Manager for advice.
   
   
2. Consider the order of editing:
   Take into account that the Entity Configuration dynamically adapts to the activated modules and visualizations, therefore the order of changes to the Entity Configuration matters. For example, you have to add fields (via the Field Configuration) before you can add them to a group field (via the Group Field Configuration).
   
   
3. The options displayed depend on module activation:
   Some further configuration options only appear on an entity if the respective module is activated in the Entity Configuration of an Entity. For instance, if the module radar is activated from the entity configuration of a specific entity, a new tab for its configuration will appear.
   
   
4. The options displayed depend on your license:
   The configuration options in the Entity Configuration dynamically adapt to the activated modules and visualizations (which depend on your license) - meaning that activated modules impact the scope of the EC. Some further parts of the EC are unlocked if more modules are activated, such as the Radar Configuration or the Table Configuration.
   
   
5. Acknowledge the dependencies between attribute, form and view configuration, and permissions:
   Always make sure to configure the Field-, View-, Form- and Permission Configuration. This basically means that it is not enough to only create an attribute for an entity. It also needs to be placed in the create/edit mask and the view form. Plus, you should make sure that the right roles have the right permissions for an entity.
   
   
6. See an example of how to configure an entity:
   If you now feel ready to get started, read on: Learn more about adding a new Entity Type to your platform here.