# Property Set Designer

Use the Property Set Designer to edit User Profile, Session, Request, Events, and Catalog Structure properties.

## Understanding Property Sets

A property set is a file in which you create properties (name-value pairs). A property set's filename serves as a namespace, letting you create properties with the same name in different files. Each type serves a different purpose, but each is defined the same way. The properties you define provide information that lets you:

- Target users with personalized content, e-mails, or discounts
- Dynamically assign access to specific portal content and resources
- Dynamically assign delegated administration rights to administrators

User Profile - The User Profile designer lets you create groups of properties (fields) for entering personal information about users. For example, you could create a property set called "human resources" that contains properties such as "gender," "hire date," and "social security number."

Session - The Session Property Set designer lets you create properties to capture and use specific HTTP session information.

Request - The Request Property Set designer lets you create properties to capture and use specific types HTTP requests.

Event - The Event Property Set designer lets you register a custom event you have developed. When you register an event by creating a property set for it, that event can be used to trigger personalization and track user behavior in your Portals.

Catalog Structure - The Catalog Structure Property Set designer lets you create fields for labeling the items in your catalog, such as "SKU," "Description," and "Price."

Following are the key elements of the Property Set designer window.

## Palette Window

The Palette window allows you to create properties. With the appropriate property editor open, drag the type of property you want to create into the property designer. Following are descriptions of the types of properties you can create:

Single Unrestricted | A single unrestricted property can have only one value, but you can enter any value; for example, "Last Name" or "Age" properties.
Single Restricted | A single restricted property can have only one value, and you are restricted to selecting that value from predefined list; for example, a "Browser" property with possible values of "Internet Explorer," "Netscape," "Opera," or "Mozilla."
Multiple Unrestricted | A multiple unrestricted property can have multiple values, and you can enter any values; for example, an "E-mail" property where users can enter one or more e-mail addresses.
Multiple Restricted | A multiple restricted property can have multiple values, and you are restricted to selecting any or all values from a predefined list. For example, a "Forms" property from which users can select documents, such as "1040EZ," "1040A," and "1040."

You can change a property's type after you drag it into the designer. For example, you can turn a singe unrestricted property to a multiple restricted property by modifying its values in the Property designer window.

## Property Designer Window

The Property designer window is where you set the names, descriptions, and values of the property set or property selected in the Document Structure window.

### Property Sets

When you select the name of the property set in the Document Structure window, the following fields appear in the Property designer window:

Name | The name of the property set is displayed. The name shown is the filename without the file extension. You cannot edit this field.
Type | The type of property set or the type of file you are working with. You cannot edit this field.
Description | Click the ellipsis icon [...] next to this field to enter a description for the property set.

### Properties

When a property is selected (either in the designer or in the Document Structure window), the following fields appear in the Property designer window:

Property Name | Enter the official name for the property.
Description | Click the ellipsis icon [...] next to this field to enter a description for the property.
Data Type | Select the type of value the property will contain: Text, Numeric, Float (decimal), Boolean (true/false), or Date/Time. Your selection determines the dialog box you see when you edit the Values field. Properties with a Boolean data type are automatically set to "single restricted." A Date/Time property must be of type java.sql.Timestamp. Any change to Data Type removes anything previously entered in the Values field, because the types of values change.
Selection Mode | This field will already be populated, based on the type of property you dragged from the Palette window; but you can switch back and forth between Single and Multiple. Any change to Selection Mode removes anything previously entered in the Values field, because the number of allowed values changes.
Value Range | This field will already be populated, based on the type of property you dragged from the Palette window; but you can switch back and forth between Restricted and Unrestricted. Any change to Value Range removes anything previously entered in the Values field, because the types of allowed values change.
Values | Click the ellipsis icon [...] next to this field. A different dialog box appears depending on your settings in the Data Type, Selection Mode, and Value Range fields. Set the appropriate values and default values. Any values you enter in this field will be removed if you change the Data Type, Selection Mode, or Value Range.

As you modify the values in the Property designer window, the values are updated in the designer window.

Related Topics

Creating User Profile Properties

Creating Session Properties

Creating Request Properties

Registering a Custom Event

Creating Catalog Structure Properties