Attributes

Attributes allow you to create custom classification schemes for entities in LMI. By defining attribute categories and their values, you can tag customers, resources, vehicles, and other objects with meaningful labels that enable filtering, reporting, and scheduling optimization.

Overview

The Attributes module allows you to:

• Create attribute categories to group related classification values
• Define individual attributes within each category
• Specify which entity types can use each category for direct tagging
• Configure which entity types can use each category in scheduling preference rules
• Search and filter your attribute categories by object type

Understanding Attributes

Attributes in LMI follow a two-level hierarchy:

Attribute Categories

A category is a container that groups related attributes together. For example, you might create categories like:

• Skill Level — to classify resources by experience
• Equipment Certification — to track required certifications
• Service Type — to categorize customer service requirements
• Delivery Preference — to capture customer delivery needs

Each category defines which entity types can use its attributes through two settings:

• Attribute Objects — Entity types where users can directly assign attributes from this category
• Preference Objects — Entity types that can use this category in scheduling preference rules

Attributes

Attributes are the individual values within a category. For a “Skill Level” category, you might define attributes like:

• Entry Level
• Intermediate
• Expert

These values can then be assigned to entities or used in preference rules based on the category’s configuration.

Accessing Attributes

Navigate to Settings → Data Integration → Attributes from the sidebar menu.

Note

Access to Attributes requires the ATTRIBUTES_PAGE role. Contact your administrator if you don’t see this option in the menu.

Attributes List

The attributes list displays all attribute categories configured for your organization.

Table Columns

Column	Description
Category	The category name. Click to open the edit panel.
Attributes	Badge showing the count of attributes in this category. Click to manage attributes.
Attribute Objects	Badges showing which entity types can be tagged with this category’s attributes.
Preference Objects	Badges showing which entity types can use this category in preference rules.

Searching Categories

Use the search field in the header to filter categories by name.

Filtering by Object Type

Use the filter bar to narrow results by Attribute Objects or Preference Objects.

1. Click Add Filter in the filter bar
2. Select Attribute Objects or Preference Objects
3. Choose one or more object types to filter by
4. The list updates to show only matching categories

Creating an Attribute Category

1. Click the dropdown menu (three dots) next to the page title
2. Select Add Attribute
3. Complete the required fields in the form
4. Click Save

Category Fields

Field	Required	Description
Category Name	Yes	A descriptive name for the category (e.g., “Skill Level”, “Equipment Type”).
Attribute Objects	No	Entity types where this category’s attributes can be directly assigned. Select one or more from the available options.
Preference Objects	No	Entity types that can use this category in scheduling preference rules. Select one or more from the available options.

Tip

Consider your scheduling needs when configuring Preference Objects. If you want to match resources to customers based on specific attributes, both entity types should be included in either Attribute Objects or Preference Objects.

Managing Attributes within a Category

After creating a category, you can add individual attributes to it.

Adding Attributes

1. Click the Attributes badge (e.g., “3 Attributes”) in the category row
2. The attribute management panel opens
3. Enter the new attribute name in the input field
4. Click Save
5. Repeat for additional attributes

Editing an Attribute

1. Click the Attributes badge to open the management panel
2. Click on the attribute name you want to edit
3. The attribute name appears in the input field
4. Modify the name
5. Click Save

Deleting an Attribute

1. Click the Attributes badge to open the management panel
2. Click on the attribute name to select it
3. Click the trash icon button
4. The attribute is removed

Caution

Deleting an attribute removes it from all entities where it was assigned. This action cannot be undone. Consider the impact before deleting attributes that may be in use.

Editing a Category

1. Click on the category name in the list to open the edit panel
2. Modify the desired fields
3. Click Save to apply changes

All fields can be modified. Changes to Attribute Objects or Preference Objects affect where the category appears for selection but do not automatically remove existing attribute assignments.

Object Type Reference

The following object types can be configured for Attribute Objects and Preference Objects:

Object Type	Description
Customer	Customer accounts in the system
Event Type	Task and event type definitions
Location	Physical locations and addresses
Product	Products and inventory items
Resource	Drivers, technicians, and other personnel
Resource Group	Groups of resources for scheduling
Ship To	Customer shipping destinations
Tank	Storage tanks and containers
Terminal	Distribution terminals and depots
Vehicle	Trucks, vans, and other vehicles

How Attributes Are Used

Attributes serve two primary purposes in LMI:

Direct Entity Tagging

When a category includes an entity type in its Attribute Objects, users can assign attributes from that category directly to entities of that type. For example:

• A “Skill Level” category with “Resource” in Attribute Objects allows tagging resources with skill levels
• A “Service Type” category with “Customer” in Attribute Objects allows classifying customers by service needs

These assignments appear on entity detail pages and can be used for filtering and reporting.

Scheduling Preferences

When a category includes an entity type in its Preference Objects, that category becomes available when configuring scheduling preference rules. Preferences define constraints for the route optimization engine:

• Hard constraints — Must be satisfied; violations prevent scheduling
• Soft constraints — Preferred but can be overridden with a penalty score

For example, a preference rule might require that a resource with a “Hazmat Certified” attribute be assigned to customers with “Hazmat Delivery” requirements.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                  Attribute Category                      │
│  (e.g., "Equipment Certification")                       │
│                                                          │
│  - Attribute Objects: Resource, Vehicle                  │
│  - Preference Objects: Customer, Ship To                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                           │
           ┌───────────────┴───────────────┐
           │                               │
           ▼                               ▼
┌─────────────────────┐         ┌─────────────────────┐
│     Attributes      │         │  Preference Rules   │
│                     │         │                     │
│  - Hazmat Certified │         │  Match resources    │
│  - Forklift Trained │         │  with customers     │
│  - CDL Required     │         │  based on required  │
│                     │         │  certifications     │
└─────────────────────┘         └─────────────────────┘
           │                               │
           ▼                               ▼
┌─────────────────────┐         ┌─────────────────────┐
│  Assigned to:       │         │  Applied during:    │
│  - Resources        │         │  - Route Planning   │
│  - Vehicles         │         │  - Optimization     │
└─────────────────────┘         └─────────────────────┘

Related Features

• Customers — Assign attributes and configure customer-level preferences
• Resources — Tag resources with skill and certification attributes
• Vehicles — Classify vehicles by equipment and capabilities
• Schedule Preferences — Define matching rules using attributes

Best Practices

1. Plan your category structure — Before creating categories, map out the classification schemes you need. Consider both immediate tagging needs and future scheduling optimization requirements.

2. Use clear, consistent naming — Name categories and attributes descriptively. Use consistent conventions (e.g., always using adjectives for skill levels: “Entry Level” not “Entry”).

3. Configure both object types thoughtfully — If you plan to use attributes for scheduling, ensure both sides of the matching relationship have the category in their respective Attribute Objects or Preference Objects settings.

4. Start with essential categories — Begin with a few well-defined categories rather than creating many. You can always add more categories as your needs evolve.

5. Document your attribute meanings — Maintain internal documentation explaining what each attribute represents and when to use it, especially for attributes that affect scheduling decisions.

Troubleshooting

Category not appearing in entity edit form

Possible Cause	Solution
Entity type not in Attribute Objects	Edit the category and add the entity type to the Attribute Objects field.
Category has no attributes	Add at least one attribute to the category before it will appear for selection.
Page needs refresh	Refresh the page to load the latest category configuration.

Category not available in preference rules

Possible Cause	Solution
Entity type not in Preference Objects	Edit the category and add the entity type to the Preference Objects field.
Category has no attributes	Add at least one attribute to the category.

Attributes not appearing in dropdown

Possible Cause	Solution
Wrong category configured	Verify the correct category has the entity type in its Attribute Objects.
Attributes not yet created	Open the category and add attributes using the attribute management panel.
Browser cache	Clear browser cache or perform a hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R).

Cannot delete an attribute

Possible Cause	Solution
Attribute in use	The system may prevent deletion if the attribute is assigned to entities. Remove assignments first, then delete.
No attribute selected	Click on the attribute name first to select it before clicking the delete button.

Changes not reflected immediately

Possible Cause	Solution
Cache not updated	Attribute category data is cached for performance. Log out and back in, or wait a few minutes for the cache to refresh.
Page not reloaded	Navigate away from the page and return, or refresh the browser.