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Data Dictionary

User Guide — Your Master List of Business Attributes​

|  Last updated: September 2026

Contents​

  1. Overview
  2. Finding Your Way Around
  3. Searching for an Attribute
  4. Reading the Grid
  5. Adding a Business Attribute
  6. Editing an Attribute
  7. Deleting an Attribute
  8. Quick Reference

1. Overview​

The Data Dictionary is the master list of business attributes in OnCoor — one row for every piece of data the system manages. Each entry ties a business-friendly name to the physical column behind it and records that column's technical details, so everyone shares the same definition of what a field is and how it behaves.

Think of it as the single place that answers "what does this field mean, what column is it, and what are its rules?" Other parts of OnCoor read from this list, which makes it the shared vocabulary behind your data.

What you can do here

  • Search the full list of business attributes by name, column, or description.
  • Read each attribute's definition and technical details in one grid.
  • Add a new business attribute.
  • Edit an attribute directly in the grid.
  • Delete an attribute you no longer need.

WHERE TO FIND IT — Open Management → Data Dictionary.

WHAT YOU CAN DO DEPENDS ON YOUR ACCESS — Access to this screen comes at two levels: read-only (search and view) and administrator (add, edit, and delete). If you only have read-only access, the Add button, in-grid editing, and the Delete icons won't appear — you'll still be able to look everything up.

2. Finding Your Way Around​

Open Management → Data Dictionary. The screen has two parts:

  • A search bar across the top, with a Search button and a Clear button.
  • A grid filling the rest of the screen — one row per business attribute, with a column for each detail.

When the screen first opens it lists every attribute. From there you search to narrow the list, and (with the right access) add, edit, or remove entries.

3. Searching for an Attribute​

Use the search bar at the top to find an attribute quickly.

Steps

  1. Type what you're looking for in the Search box. It matches on attribute name, column name, or description, so any of the three works.
  2. Click Search (or press Enter).
  3. The grid narrows to the matching attributes.
  4. Click Clear to empty the box and bring back the full list.

ONE BOX, THREE FIELDS — You don't have to pick what you're searching by. Whatever you type is checked against the attribute name, the column name, and the description all at once.

4. Reading the Grid​

Each row is one business attribute. The columns describe it from its business name through to its technical settings.

ColumnWhat it shows
Attrib NameThe business-friendly name of the attribute.
DescriptionA plain-language note explaining what the attribute is.
Column NameThe name of the physical column that holds this data.
TypeThe column's data type (for example, Text, Number, Date), chosen from a standard list.
LengthThe length of the column, where the type uses one.
PrecisionFor numeric types — the total number of digits. Only applies to numeric data types.
ScaleFor numeric types — how many of those digits sit after the decimal point. Only applies to numeric data types.
NullableWhether the column is allowed to be empty.
Id ColWhether this column is the record's identity (its unique identifier).
CDEWhether this is a Critical Data Element — a piece of data that matters most to the business.
Ref.Whether this is a reference attribute (used as a lookup / reference value).
DimensionWhether this attribute is treated as a custom dimension.
SystemWhether this is a system attribute (maintained by OnCoor rather than entered by hand).
DefaultThe default value the column takes when none is supplied.
TreatmentHow the column is treated during processing.
Updated ByWho last changed the entry. Read-only.
Updated DateWhen the entry was last changed. Read-only.

CDE CONNECTS TO DATA QUALITY — The CDE flag marks your most important data. Those same critical data elements get their own rolled-up view in the Quality module — see the CDE View in the Scorecard.

5. Adding a Business Attribute​

Steps

  1. Click the round + (Add) button in the bottom corner of the screen. The Add Business Attribute dialog opens.
  2. Fill in the fields (see below). Four are required.
  3. Click Save. The new attribute appears in the grid. Choose Cancel to close without saving.
FieldRequired?What it means
Attribute NameYesThe business-friendly name of the attribute.
DescriptionYesA plain-language note explaining what it is.
Column NameYesThe physical column that will hold the data.
Data TypeYesThe column's data type, chosen from the list.
LengthNoThe column length, where the type uses one.
PrecisionNoTotal digits — enabled only for numeric types.
ScaleNoDecimal places — enabled only for numeric types.
Nullable—Whether the column may be left empty.
Id Col—Whether it's the record's identity.
CDE—Whether it's a Critical Data Element.
Reference—Whether it's a reference attribute.
Dimension—Whether it's a custom dimension.
System—Whether it's a system attribute.
Default ValueNoThe value used when none is supplied.
TreatmentNoHow the column is treated during processing.

PRECISION AND SCALE ARE FOR NUMBERS — These two fields only come to life when you pick a numeric data type. For text, date, and other non-numeric types they stay switched off, and you can ignore them.

6. Editing an Attribute​

You edit an attribute right in the grid — there's no separate edit screen.

Steps

  1. Click the cell you want to change.
  2. Type the new value, or pick from the list for fields like Type and the Yes/No settings.
  3. Your change saves automatically — there's no Save button to press.

A few things to know:

  • Precision and Scale only become editable when the attribute's Type is numeric. Change the type to a non-numeric one and they clear and switch off.
  • Updated By and Updated Date are read-only — OnCoor fills them in for you each time you make a change.

CHANGES SAVE AS YOU GO — Because edits save on their own, there's nothing to submit. Just move to the next cell when you're done — your last change is already stored.

7. Deleting an Attribute​

Steps

  1. Find the attribute's row and click the Delete icon in the Action column.
  2. A confirmation prompt appears.
  3. Choose Yes to remove the attribute, or No to keep it.

DELETING IS PERMANENT — Removing an attribute takes it out of the dictionary for good. Because other parts of OnCoor rely on these definitions, only delete an entry you're sure is no longer needed. If you just want it out of the way, consider whether editing it is the safer choice.

8. Quick Reference​

A fast lookup for the most common actions.

I want to…Do this
Open the Data DictionaryManagement → Data Dictionary
Find an attributeType a name, column, or description in Search → Search
See the whole list againClick Clear
Add a new attributeClick the + button → fill the required fields → Save
Change an attributeClick the cell in the grid and edit it — it saves automatically
Mark data as business-criticalSet its CDE setting to Yes
Set decimal places on a numberFill Precision and Scale (numeric types only)
Remove an attributeClick the Delete icon on its row → Yes

Source: OnCoor Management module product documentation, written for end users. For the latest screens and options, always refer to the in-app interface.