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While Archives are like labeled and organized file folders and filing cabinet drawers, Index Fields are like the document storage labels. These Fields are created in the Field Catalog and then are available be used or reused in any of the Archives created in a database. Only members of the SSAdmin group or a database administrator for that database can access the Field Catalog. Prior to creating the first Archive, one or more Fields must be created. There are three types of Fields available: regular Fields (to store identifying information about a document, such as vendor names); Field Lists (to quickly choose indexing information from a preconfigured list of values); and Table Fields (used to group multiple Index Fields together, effectively creating a spreadsheet-like table).

Once a Field is created, the Field Catalog shows the complete list of Fields available to any Archive, with the name of the Field, data type, size limit, and Field ID. The Field ID is useful when performing data updates into GlobalSearch from other data sources.

To create, edit, or delete Fields, Table Fields, or Field Lists, on the GlobalSearch toolbar's Administration menu, select Administration. In the vertical Administration menu, select Field Catalog. A list of the Fields for the select database will appear.


Tip
titlePlan and Document Field Design

While you want to have as many Fields as necessary, always be sure you need a new Field before creating it; see if you can repurpose an existing Field. The most efficient way to set up Archives is to first plan the Fields ahead of time, create them, create Archives, and then assign Fields to the Archives. This approach allows a single Index Field to be shared across multiple Archives, simplifying the Archive creation process and reducing the chance of human error when setting up the same Field on multiple Archives.

For example, do you have one Field called AP Date, and use it for AP POs, AP Invoices, and AP Packing Slips, or do you have a different date Field for each type of document? All the Fields are available to be assigned to any Archive in the database. With planning, you can avoid conflicts and redundancies.

While you can create Field Lists “on the fly” as you’re creating an Index Field, it is more efficient and less error-prone to create Lists before creating Index Fields.

Documenting your plan helps you formulate a “to do” list of Fields to create. It helps you clarify your Field and Archive naming conventions. Documenting is also useful for gathering user feedback before creating the Fields and finding that you must change them later.

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Tip
titleName Fields Thoughtfully

Consider how Field names will appear to end users. The name should clearly indicate the Field’s purpose. Consider how “Date” could be more confusing than “Document Date,” “Date Document Signed,” or “Date Received.”

Research shows that users prefer spaces in a name to no spaces or underscores. However, if you’re going to be integrating with an external program, it might be a technically valid decision to avoid spaces. In that case, users prefer underscores rather than no spacing at all. Also, research shows that users prefer a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters to separate words, such as using proper case, where the first letter of each word in uppercase.

The Field Catalog is sorted alphabetically, which is something to keep in mind when naming a Field in order to more easily find it in the list.


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