How to create a new Data Element

Owned by Charlotte Reynolds
Last updated: Jun 24, 2019
2 min read

If you find that a model is being used that lacks a particular Data Element, then you can import one from another Data Model, or alternatively you can create a new Data Element.

Step-By-Step Guide

First make sure you have selected the Data Model from the Dashboard that you want to work with.
Click on the Data Model button on the menu bar at the top of the screen and select New Data Element from the dropdown list. 
Alternatively navigate to Data Elements from the left hand menu and select New Data Type from the top menu OR select the green plus button at the bottom of the list of existing Data Elements.





This should bring up a "Wizard" dialog box in the middle of the screen - simply fill in the details, name and description and the Data Type.



When you come to Data Type, you may choose an existing one from the Data Model (or imported Data Models) via search or you may create a new Data Type.



If you choose to an existing datatype which is not currently in the model, the Data Type will be imported: importing will import a reference to the datatype, this datatype cannot therefore be changed in this model (in fact most imported datatypes will be imported from a finalised and therefore unchanging source dataset, such as XML Schema). However in this example we will create a new Data Type called String.

When you have completed the fields, select Save (or Save and Create Another if you wish to create another element) to finish the creation of your new Data Element.

A successfully created Data Element will look as follows:
 
 


You will notice that in the tag next to the Data Type "String" is labelled in yellow, to indicate that is a Data Type belonging to this DRAFT Data Model. 
 
We have also created a Data Element called Example Element 2, again we want it to be a string DataType, but this time we import the data element from the XML Schema model. It is is being imported from a finalised and therefore fixed model, and this cannot be changed locally.
 

 
You will notice now that in the "imported" Data Type case the tag next to xs:string is labelled in blue, to indicate that is a datatype belonging to this FINALIZED Data Model.