Attribute Library

The Attribute Library in Nected is a feature designed to enforce consistent naming conventions and predefined values across rules and workflows. It helps eliminate manual errors and ensures standardization, making it a critical tool for creating reliable and maintainable configurations.

For example, if you’re creating a loan approval rule where you need to return the status as a result (e.g., "Approved", "Not Approved", or "Need Manual Check"), manually setting these values for each condition can be error-prone. Someone might mistakenly write "NA" instead of "Not Approved," potentially causing downstream errors. The Attribute Library resolves such issues by allowing you to define "Status" as a key and assign its permissible values. When someone uses "Status," they can select from these predefined options rather than writing custom values. This approach reduces errors, enforces consistency, and simplifies maintenance.

The Library can be used in:

You can use the Attribute Library in the following areas:

• Rules:

  • Custom Inputs: Access attributes as predefined variables.

  • Result Tab: Define outputs using the attributes from your library.

• Workflows:

  • Trigger Node: Use attributes to define triggers dynamically.

  • ~~Set Variable Node: Update or assign values to attributes.~~

  • Response Node: Pass attributes as part of your workflow responses.

Creating Attribute Library:

To create an Attribute Library, follow these detailed steps:

1. Access the Attribute Library: Navigate to the Attribute Library section from the main menu on the Nected platform dashboard.

2. Create a New Group:

   • Click on the +Create Group button located at the top-right corner of the Attribute Library page.

   • A dialog box will appear prompting you to name the group. Enter a unique and descriptive name for the group (e.g., "OrderAttributes" or "UserPreferences").

     
3. Add Attributes to the Group:

   • After creating the group, select it from the list to open the group’s detailed view.

   • Click the +Add Attribute button to define a new attribute. This will open a side drawer like this:

     

     Here you can add your attribute names and data types by clicking the:

     • Attribute Name: Provide a clear, descriptive name (e.g., "OrderID", "IsPremiumUser"). Ensure the name adheres to any naming conventions in your organization.

     • Data Type: Choose the data type for the attribute from the dropdown menu (e.g., String, Number, Boolean). This ensures the attribute behaves as expected when used. Currently you can choose among these data types:

       • String

       • Numeric

       • Date

       • DateTime

       • Boolean

     • Predefined Value: Inside Predefined Values you can enter multiple values for a single attribute and then you can use them in your rule or workflow, like this:

       

       You can use both raw and pretty format to add values, and the values are stored as a list.

       • Usage: This option is used as a condition for the attribute, i.e. if you're using the attribute in your rule or workflow, then you can set either the attribute as Mandatory or as Optional. These two works as below:

         • Mandatory: It simply means that if the user is using that attribute on any rule or workflow, then for that attribute, the user can only use the predefined values and can't use any custom values. For example, if I've created an Attribute named "Company_Name" and added the values Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and then while using this attribute in any rule or workflow, the attribute can have only these 3 values. Anything else will return

         • Optional: Optional is totally opposite of Mandatory. It simply means that user can use custom values along with the predefined values for the attribute, while using it in any rule or workflow. Taking the same example, now while using the Company_Name attribute, I can use custom values like Nected from my rule editor or workflow editor. Remember one thing: Don't keep the values field blank for Mandatory, as then it will always pass null value, while using it.

4. Save Changes: Once all attributes are defined, click Save from the bottom of the same drawer. Your Attribute Library group and its attributes are now ready for use.

5. Edit or Delete Attributes:

   

   • To modify an attribute, click on the attribute from the list, and it will open the drawer again as shown in the GIF. The you can just click on Values and update the values for the attribute. Make sure that once you've created an attribute, you can only change its value and usage (i.e. Mandatory or, Optional), you can't change the name or the datatype once you create the attribute.

   • To delete an attribute there are two ways:

     1. From the attribute list, you can click the 3 dot button, and from the given options click on "Delete"

     2. Or else, open that attribute drawer and simply click the Delete button. Now, if you're using an attribute in any rule or workflow, then you can't remove/delete it as it will affect that entity.In that case, you'll see an error like this:

        

        To avoid this error, before deleting the attribute, make sure that no other entity (i.e. rule or workflow) is using this attribute.

6. Organize Attributes Using Groups:

   Repeat the process to create additional groups for logical organization. For example, you might create separate groups for "User Details", "Order Information", and "System Configurations".

Connecting Attribute Library with other Entity:

Connecting the attributes from the Attribute Library is pretty simple. You can connect the attributes in two ways:

1. From Individual Entities:

Inside the rules and workflows, you can directly connect the attribute library, by following the below steps(assuming you’ve already created the attribute library).

If you’ve not created the attribute library yet, and you want to add the attribute library to your rule or workflow, then you’ll see a popup like this:

Clicking on the Link will send you to the Attribute library page, where you’ve to create the library first and then you can follow the below steps to use them in your entities:

In Rules:

So in rules, you can use the attribute library as Input attribute or as Results. Here is how you can connect your attributes from Attribute Library:

Input Attributes:

Follow these steps to add the attributes inside the Custom Input fields:

1. Open the desired rule from the Rules page.

2. Click on the Add Input Attribute button, to open the Input Attribute page:

   • Once you'll click on +Add Field button, it will give you two options:

     • Custom Attribute

     • From Attribute Library

3. Select From Attribute Library and then it will open a modal like this:

   
4. Select the desired attribute(s) from desired library(s) and click on Import to input Attributes. And then simply save it. Once you've added the attributes inside your input attributes, you can use them in your conditions. Now, here you've to keep one thing in mind, that is the usage. Depending on what you've selected in your "usage", you can create the condition accordingly. For example, if you've selected Mandatory, then in condition, you can't change use your own custom value to verify the condition for that attribute.

Result tab:

Follow these steps to add the attributes inside the Result tab:

1. Click on the +Add Result icon It will give you two options:

   

   • Custom Attribute

   • From Attribute Library

2. Select From Attribute Library, and then it will open this modal:

   
3. Select the desired attribute from desired library and click on Import to input Attributes. And then simply save it.

4. Once you've added the attributes inside the Results, now you can assign values to them like this:

   

   Just select the textbox, and it will open a popup. Here you'll get two options from the popup:

   1. You can use custom tokens

   2. You can use Predefined values.

If you’ve selected “Mandatory” for the predefined value of the attribute from the Attribute library, then you’ve to use the predefined value only, and you can’t use custom or token value for that attribute.

In Workflows:

So, in workflow you can use the attribute library as input attribute in Trigger Node or as in SetVariable Node or as in Response Node. Here is how you can connect:

Trigger Node:

Open the Workflow editor, and follow these steps:

1. Open the Trigger Node, and click on +Add Field button, once you do that, it will give you two options:

• Custom Attribute

• From Attribute Library

1. Select From Attribute Library and then it will open a modal like this:

   
2. Then select the required attribute(s) from desired attribute library(s) and click on Import to Input Attribute button.

3. After that, you can set test values to the respective attributes from their predefined values (if the usage is set to Mandatory) like this:

   

   or using custom values (if the usage is set to optional), like this:

   
4. After importing, click on Test to test the trigger node, and the Save to save the node.

Response Node:

Same as trigger node, for Response node, just go to the node, and then follow the same steps, i.e. :

1. Open the Response Node, and click on the +Add Field button, once you do that, it will give you two options:

• Custom Attribute

• From Attribute Library

1. Select From Attribute Library and then it will open a modal like this:

   
2. Then select the required attribute(s) from desired attribute library(s) and click on Import to Input Attribute button.

3. Once you've added the attribute, you can add the value for the attribute from the value field, by clicking on it. If the attribute's usage type is Mandatory, then you’re assigned value must match the predefined value. By the way you can only select value from token or predefined values, like this:

   
4. Once done, click save button to save the attributes with their respective values.

2. From Workspace settings:

Use this option only if you want to make the attribute library mandatory for your entire workspace. If this option is turned on, you’ll no longer be able to use “Custom Attributes” inside a rule or workflow.

However, if you’re already using any custom attribute inside any rule or workflow, then that attribute(s) will still work perfectly. Just if you delete anyone after enabling this option, then you can’t revive that.

To use the attributes in individual rules and workflows, follow these steps:

Go to your Workspace settings page. You’ll see a toggle option called “Make Attribute Library Mandatory”. I just turned that on,

Next, to use the attribute library inside your rule or workflow, follow the steps from the previous section. The steps are the same. Just for this case, you’ll not get the option of Custom Attribute.

Conclusion

The Attribute Library in Nected is a powerful tool for managing reusable variables across workflows and rules. Organizing attributes into groups simplifies complex configurations, enhances reusability, and improves collaboration across teams. Following best practices and understanding the constraints ensures the library remains a valuable asset for your automation needs. With the Attribute Library, managing dynamic and scalable workflows becomes more streamlined and efficient.