Add a Content Type

Content types allow you to define the properties of a content item.

Commonly, a content type includes a single binary property (used to hold a content file) as well as a number of non-binary properties, such as Name, Author, etc., used to describe the file. These properties may include any combination of the supported data types, such as date and time, number, text (string), Boolean (true/false), or binary (file). When you create a content type, you also define the legal values for the properties of that content type, including data type and limiting values to a pre-defined list, if desired.

For example, the Content Type for image content may have a number property "width" and a integer property "height," while the Content Type for article content my have a string property "Author", a text property "Summary", a calendar property "Published Date", and a binary property "Article" for a file containing the formatted article.

To add a type:

1. View the Type List Resource tree by selecting Type from the View drop-down list.
2. In the Type List Resource tree, click a repository to get a list of available types.
3. Right-click on the repository.
4. Select Add Type from the pop-up menu.
5. In the pop-up window, enter a name for the content type you are adding to the repository and click OK.
6. Add any properties you want associated with this content type. In the Edit Type tab, click Add Property to view the Add Property page.
7. Define the property you are adding. Use the following table for guidance.

For this Field: | Enter This Information:
Name | The name of the property.
Required | Indicate whether this property value is required.
Read-Only | Marks a property as readonly. If a property is marked as readonly, it's value cannot be edited.
Primary Property | Marks this property as the primary property for this content type. Primary properties can be used within content searches and placeholders to optimize queries. For example, you can retrieve a list of content according to the primary property of it's content type.
Description | Enter a description of the property that you are creating.
Data Type | Indicate which data type to use for the property value.
Choice Type | Indicate whether you want to use a choice list of values for this property. You can choose whether to accept a single value or multiple values. You can also indicate if you want to restrict property values to a list you provide.
Value Choices | Enter the suggested value(s) that you want to provide to the user.
Is Explicit? | The Is Explicit property flag allows you to map this property value directly to a value contained in the content management database where your content is stored. If you mark "Is Explicit?", you must indicate the database column within the CM_Node database table to which you want to derive the property value.

8. Click Create.
9. Add as many properties as you want for this content type, using the above steps.
10. When finished, select the content type within the Resource Tree to view a summary of the created content type.

Related Topics:

- Overview of Content Management
- Copy a Content Type
- Delete a Content Type
- Edit a Content Type
- Rename a Content Type
- Add Properties to a Content Type