Attribute dictionary

An attribute dictionary enables you to create a common set of attributes that can be reused in more than one product. By using the attribute dictionary, maintenance for attributes can be reduced for common attributes. Changes to the shared attribute can be made in the dictionary and each catalog entry that uses the changes, sees the changes. By defining attributes in the dictionary, you can simplify the process to keep attribute names and values consistent in your site.
Use the attribute dictionary has the following benefits:

  • Easy attribute management.

  • Reduced data load complexity.

 

Easy attribute management

The introducing of attribute dictionary provides a central place to manage shared attributes, with the following features:

  • The ability to standardize attributes.

  • Easy comparison of attributes shared by products and SKUs.

  • Quick changes by allowing changes to attributes in one place to affect all catalog entries.

The Management Center Catalogs tool displays shared attributes. You cannot use the Catalogs tool to create or update attributes in the attribute dictionary. Use the massload utility to upload shared attribute data into the new catalog attribute database schema.

 

Reduced data load complexity

Traditionally, a product’s attribute schema was unique to that product. This means that every new product had to redefine the list of supported attributes, the sequencing and grouping of those attributes, and their values. In practice, attributes are rarely product-specific, and generally apply to part or all of a given master catalog. If you are using the classic attributes, (those not in the attribute dictionary), each product has it's own attributes, even if the attribute definitions are exactly the same with others.

The attribute dictionary achieves reduced data load by introducing a new, more efficient attribute dictionary database schema. Since attributes can be shared among products, the new schema greatly reduces the amount of data and is mass loaded.

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