Data Dictionary

You can use the Data Dictionary page to set or clear the Required attribute for data elements. You can also view the descriptions of all data elements which can be used when designing custom reports for your institution.

SQL Data Types

The Data Dictionary is based on Microsoft's SQL Database Management System. When you access the Data Dictionary and drill down to individual data items, the data types listed in the following table are referenced.

SQL Data Types
Type of Data	Base Data Type	Synonyms	Range/Domain	Storage Size
Integer	int	integer	Whole numbers from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647	4 bytes
Integer	smallint		Whole numbers from -32,768 to 32,767	2 bytes
Integer	tinyint		Whole numbers from 0 to 255	1 byte
Packed Decimal (exact numeric)	numeric (p,s) decimal (p,s)	dec	Whole or fractional numbers from -10^38 to 10^38	2-17 bytes, depending on specified precision, p, which can range to 38 digits. On average, 1 byte of storage is required per every 2 digits of precision.
Floating point (approximate numeric)	float (15-digit precision)	float(n), where n is between 8 and 15 Double Precision	Approximations of numbers from -1.79E308 to 1.79E308 Positive range: 2.23E-308 to 1.79E308 Negative range: -2.23E-308 to -1.79E308	8 bytes
Floating point (approximate numeric)	real (7-digit precision)	float(n), where n is between 1 and 7	Approximations of numbers from -3.40E38 to 3.40E38 Positive range: 1.18E-38 to 3.40E38 Negative range: -1.18E-38 to -3.40E38	4 bytes
Character (fixed length)	char(n)	character (n) character (character without a specific size is synonymous to a 1-character field, char(1))	Up to 255 characters, as designated by the n, of the installed character set	1 byte per character n declared, even if partially unused.
Character (variable length)	varchar(n)	character varying (n) Char varying (n)	Up to 255 characters, as designated by the n,of the installed character set	1 byte per character stored. Declared but unused characters do not consume storage.
Monetary	money		Numbers with accuracy to one ten-thousandth of a unit (four decimal places), typically used to store currency values. From -922,337,203,685,477.5808 to 922,337,203,685,477.5807	8 bytes
Monetary	smallmoney		Numbers with accuracy to one ten-thousandth of a unit (four decimal places), typically used to store currency values. From -214,748.3648 to 214,748.3647	4 bytes
Date and Time	datetime		Combined date and time representation. (SQL Server does not have separate DATE and TIME data types.) Date part: 01-JAN-1753 to 31-DEC-9999. Time part: Number of milliseconds since midnight of the given date	8 bytes
Date and Time	smalldatetime		Combined date and time representation. Date part: 01-JAN-1900 to 06-JUN-2079 Time part: Number of minutes since midnight of the given date	4 bytes
Binary (fixed length)	binary(n)		Any binary representation (bit patterns) up to 255 bytes	n bytes, even if n is partially unused.
Binary (variable length)	varbinary(n)	binary varying	Any binary representation (bit patterns) up to 255 bytes	The number of bytes actually stored. No storage for space declared but not used.
Long text/BLOB	text and image		Text: Character data up to 2 gigabytes (GB). Image: Binary data up to 2 GB. The text and image data types are always variable length.	If not null, a 16-byte pointer is used on the data page, plus however many 2-KB pages are required to store the actual length. Text and image pages cannot be shared. A single byte entered in a text or image column requires its own 2-KB page (most being unused).
Boolean	bit		0 or 1	Bit data types share a byte with other bit columns of the same table. Hence, 8-bit columns of the same table use one byte of storage. If the table has only 1-bit columns, it still uses 1 byte, although 7 more such columns could be added "for free."

Custom Labels

The setting of the Use Data Dictionary for Form Labels Choose "Yes" if you want to use the legacy Data Dictionary setup for your form labels. To change these labels, edit them directly in the Data Dictionary through Anthology Student's legacy interface. If you select "No," only internationalization resources (when set up) will be used. For customizing English and Spanish labels, download the PO file, update the label text, and then upload it back to the Anthology Student web app. By default, this option is set to "No." Keep in mind, this setting prevents editing label names within the web app's Data Dictionary; you can only use labels previously updated in the legacy Data Dictionary tables. After adjusting this general setting, give yourself time to review the results and remember to clear the cache. Note: UI labels in the help system are based on those found in the system's default English internationalization file. option under Settings > System > General determines how form labels are populated and customized. Select the Settings tile > expand System > select General.)

Use Data Distionary for Form Labels

If you want to use the label names from the Data Dictionary present in the legacy interface of Anthology Student, set the 'Use Data Dictionary for Form Labels' option to Yes. To customize the labels, go to the Data Dictionary in the legacy interface of Anthology Student and change those label texts.
If you do not want to use the legacy Data Dictionary and have configured the Internationalization feature, set 'Use Data Dictionary for Form Labels' to No . To customize labels and message text, download, modify, and upload the PO file. For more details, refer to Internationalizations. You cannot use the Data Dictionary page to modify label names.

Prerequisites

You must have:

To view the page, System - Settings - Data Dictionary - View authorization
To add or edit, System - Settings - Data Dictionary - Manage authorization

Access Method

Select the Settings tile > expand System > select Data Dictionary.

Procedure to Edit Items

Select a Module Indicates the various categories that pertain to functional areas such as Academic Records and Financial Aid within an institution. If the list contains Common, it includes field names common to different functional areas..

By default, the Common module is selected.
Select an Entity Indicates the name by which the system identifies this entity. It cannot be changed..

By default, the AddressTypeEntity in the Common module is selected.

Select Apply Filters. Anthology Student displays the Data Dictionary grid.

Date Modified The date when the item was changed. On some pages, the date also includes the timestamp.

Display Name Indicates that this name is displayed on the features where this entity is displayed.

Field Name Indicates the format in which data is entered and displayed on features.

Length Indicates the position of the field. This column is visible only when the File Type is set to Fixed Length in the General Export File Definition. The length must be greater than zero.

Modified By The name or user ID of the person who changed the item.

Required Indicates that the data against this check box is required by your institution and is validated before saving. If this check box is selected, you must enter the information for this entity wherever it is displayed in Anthology Student. The rows with a green background indicate that the check box value can be modified and the rows without a green background indicate that the check box value cannot be modified. If you hover over the rows, it displays the Not Allowed icon.

Type Indicates the type of data stored in this entity. It cannot be changed.

Use the Search Display Name field to filter the records in the grid based on a value in the Display Name column.
Select or clear the check box in the Required column to make a field optional or required in the Anthology Student interface.
Select Save to save the changes.