Work with attribute metadata

Applies To: Dynamics 365 (online), Dynamics 365 (on-premises), Dynamics CRM 2016, Dynamics CRM Online

This topic uses code snippets from the Sample: Work with attribute metadata to show how to perform common tasks when working with attributes.

In This Topic

Create attributes

Retrieve an attribute

Update an attribute

Create a lookup attribute

Create a customer lookup attribute

Update a state value

Create a picklist that uses a global option set

Insert a new status value

Insert a new option in a local option set

Change the order of options in a local option set

Delete an attribute

Create attributes

You create attributes by defining one of the AttributeMetadata types and then passing it to the CreateAttributeRequest message.

The following sample defines the AttributeMetadata for a number of different types of attributes and adds them to a List<AttributeMetadata>. At the end of the code the attribute definitions are passed to an instance of the CreateAttributeRequest class and the attribute is created using the Execute method.

The following sample assumes that the current customization prefix is ‘new’ because that is the default customization prefix for the organization solution publisher. You should use the customization prefix for the solution publisher that makes sense for your solution context.

// Create storage for new attributes being created
addedAttributes = new List<AttributeMetadata>();

// Create a boolean attribute
BooleanAttributeMetadata boolAttribute = new BooleanAttributeMetadata
{
    // Set base properties
    SchemaName = "new_boolean",
    DisplayName = new Label("Sample Boolean", _languageCode),
    RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
    Description = new Label("Boolean Attribute", _languageCode),
    // Set extended properties
    OptionSet = new BooleanOptionSetMetadata(
        new OptionMetadata(new Label("True", _languageCode), 1),
        new OptionMetadata(new Label("False", _languageCode), 0)
        )
};

// Add to list
addedAttributes.Add(boolAttribute);

// Create a date time attribute
DateTimeAttributeMetadata dtAttribute = new DateTimeAttributeMetadata
{
    // Set base properties
    SchemaName = "new_datetime",
    DisplayName = new Label("Sample DateTime", _languageCode),
    RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
    Description = new Label("DateTime Attribute", _languageCode),
    // Set extended properties
    Format = DateTimeFormat.DateOnly,
    ImeMode = ImeMode.Disabled
};

// Add to list
addedAttributes.Add(dtAttribute);

// Create a decimal attribute   
DecimalAttributeMetadata decimalAttribute = new DecimalAttributeMetadata
{
    // Set base properties
    SchemaName = "new_decimal",
    DisplayName = new Label("Sample Decimal", _languageCode),
    RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
    Description = new Label("Decimal Attribute", _languageCode),
    // Set extended properties
    MaxValue = 100,
    MinValue = 0,
    Precision = 1
};

// Add to list
addedAttributes.Add(decimalAttribute);

// Create a integer attribute   
IntegerAttributeMetadata integerAttribute = new IntegerAttributeMetadata
{
    // Set base properties
    SchemaName = "new_integer",
    DisplayName = new Label("Sample Integer", _languageCode),
    RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
    Description = new Label("Integer Attribute", _languageCode),
    // Set extended properties
    Format = IntegerFormat.None,
    MaxValue = 100,
    MinValue = 0
};

// Add to list
addedAttributes.Add(integerAttribute);

// Create a memo attribute 
MemoAttributeMetadata memoAttribute = new MemoAttributeMetadata
{
    // Set base properties
    SchemaName = "new_memo",
    DisplayName = new Label("Sample Memo", _languageCode),
    RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
    Description = new Label("Memo Attribute", _languageCode),
    // Set extended properties
    Format = StringFormat.TextArea,
    ImeMode = ImeMode.Disabled,
    MaxLength = 500
};

// Add to list
addedAttributes.Add(memoAttribute);

// Create a money attribute 
MoneyAttributeMetadata moneyAttribute = new MoneyAttributeMetadata
{
    // Set base properties
    SchemaName = "new_money",
    DisplayName = new Label("Money Picklist", _languageCode),
    RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
    Description = new Label("Money Attribue", _languageCode),
    // Set extended properties
    MaxValue = 1000.00,
    MinValue = 0.00,
    Precision = 1,
    PrecisionSource = 1,
    ImeMode = ImeMode.Disabled
};

// Add to list
addedAttributes.Add(moneyAttribute);

// Create a picklist attribute  
PicklistAttributeMetadata pickListAttribute =
    new PicklistAttributeMetadata
{
    // Set base properties
    SchemaName = "new_picklist",
    DisplayName = new Label("Sample Picklist", _languageCode),
    RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
    Description = new Label("Picklist Attribute", _languageCode),
    // Set extended properties
    // Build local picklist options
    OptionSet = new OptionSetMetadata
        {
            IsGlobal = false,
            OptionSetType = OptionSetType.Picklist,
            Options = 
        {
            new OptionMetadata(
                new Label("Created", _languageCode), null),
            new OptionMetadata(
                new Label("Updated", _languageCode), null),
            new OptionMetadata(
                new Label("Deleted", _languageCode), null)
        }
        }
};

// Add to list
addedAttributes.Add(pickListAttribute);

// Create a string attribute
StringAttributeMetadata stringAttribute = new StringAttributeMetadata
{
    // Set base properties
    SchemaName = "new_string",
    DisplayName = new Label("Sample String", _languageCode),
    RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
    Description = new Label("String Attribute", _languageCode),
    // Set extended properties
    MaxLength = 100
};

// Add to list
addedAttributes.Add(stringAttribute);

// NOTE: LookupAttributeMetadata cannot be created outside the context of a relationship.
// Refer to the WorkWithRelationships.cs reference SDK sample for an example of this attribute type.

// NOTE: StateAttributeMetadata and StatusAttributeMetadata cannot be created via the SDK.

foreach (AttributeMetadata anAttribute in addedAttributes)
{
    // Create the request.
    CreateAttributeRequest createAttributeRequest = new CreateAttributeRequest
    {
        EntityName = Contact.EntityLogicalName,
        Attribute = anAttribute
    };

    // Execute the request.
    _serviceProxy.Execute(createAttributeRequest);

    Console.WriteLine("Created the attribute {0}.", anAttribute.SchemaName);
}

Retrieve an attribute

This sample shows how to retrieve the AttributeMetadata for an attribute using the RetrieveAttributeRequest. This sample retrieves the metadata for a custom StringAttributeMetadata attribute called ‘new_string’ from the Contact entity that was created in Create attributes.

// Create the request
RetrieveAttributeRequest attributeRequest = new RetrieveAttributeRequest
{
    EntityLogicalName = Contact.EntityLogicalName,
    LogicalName = "new_string",
    RetrieveAsIfPublished = true
};

// Execute the request
RetrieveAttributeResponse attributeResponse =
    (RetrieveAttributeResponse)_serviceProxy.Execute(attributeRequest);

Console.WriteLine("Retrieved the attribute {0}.",
    attributeResponse.AttributeMetadata.SchemaName);

Update an attribute

This sample shows how to update an attribute. This sample uses the UpdateAttributeRequest to change the AttributeMetadata.DisplayName property of a previously retrieved custom attribute for the Contact entity.

// Modify the retrieved attribute
AttributeMetadata retrievedAttributeMetadata =
    attributeResponse.AttributeMetadata;
retrievedAttributeMetadata.DisplayName =
    new Label("Update String Attribute", _languageCode);

// Update an attribute retrieved via RetrieveAttributeRequest
UpdateAttributeRequest updateRequest = new UpdateAttributeRequest
{
    Attribute = retrievedAttributeMetadata,
    EntityName = Contact.EntityLogicalName,
    MergeLabels = false
};

// Execute the request
_serviceProxy.Execute(updateRequest);

Console.WriteLine("Updated the attribute {0}.",
    retrievedAttributeMetadata.SchemaName);

Create a lookup attribute

A lookup attribute is created by using the CreateOneToManyRequest.

This sample code shows how to create a lookup attribute. For the complete sample, see Sample: Create and update entity metadata

CreateOneToManyRequest req = new CreateOneToManyRequest()
{
    Lookup = new LookupAttributeMetadata()
    {
        Description = new Label("The referral (lead) from the bank account owner", 1033),
        DisplayName = new Label("Referral", 1033),
        LogicalName = "new_parent_leadid",
        SchemaName = "New_Parent_leadId",
        RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.Recommended)
    },
    OneToManyRelationship = new OneToManyRelationshipMetadata()
    {
        AssociatedMenuConfiguration = new AssociatedMenuConfiguration()
        {
            Behavior = AssociatedMenuBehavior.UseCollectionName,
            Group = AssociatedMenuGroup.Details,
            Label = new Label("Bank Accounts", 1033),
            Order = 10000
        },
        CascadeConfiguration = new CascadeConfiguration()
        {
            Assign = CascadeType.Cascade,
            Delete = CascadeType.Cascade,
            Merge = CascadeType.Cascade,
            Reparent = CascadeType.Cascade,
            Share = CascadeType.Cascade,
            Unshare = CascadeType.Cascade
        },
        ReferencedEntity = "lead",
        ReferencedAttribute = "leadid",
        ReferencingEntity = _customEntityName,
        SchemaName = "new_lead_new_bankaccount"
    }
};
_serviceProxy.Execute(req);

Create a customer lookup attribute

Unlike a lookup attribute, a customer lookup attribute is created using the CreateCustomerRelationshipsRequest message, which adds two relationships to the lookup attribute: one to the Account entity and the other one to the Contact entity. You cannot add relationship to any other entity except for Account and Contact entities for a customer lookup attribute.

This sample code shows how to create a customer lookup attribute. For the complete sample, see Sample: Create and update entity metadata

CreateCustomerRelationshipsRequest createCustomerReq = new CreateCustomerRelationshipsRequest
{
    Lookup = new LookupAttributeMetadata
    {
        Description = new Label("The owner of the bank account", 1033),
        DisplayName = new Label("Account owner", 1033),
        RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.ApplicationRequired),
        SchemaName = "new_customerid"
    },
    OneToManyRelationships = new OneToManyRelationshipMetadata[]
    {
        new OneToManyRelationshipMetadata()
        {
            ReferencedEntity = "account",
            ReferencingEntity = _customEntityName,
            SchemaName = "new_bankaccount_customer_account",
        },
        new OneToManyRelationshipMetadata()
        {
            ReferencedEntity = "contact",
            ReferencingEntity = _customEntityName,
            SchemaName = "new_bankaccount_customer_contact",
        }
    },
};
_serviceProxy.Execute(createCustomerReq);

Create a picklist that uses a global option set

This sample shows how to create a PicklistAttributeMetadata attribute that is associated with a global option set.

The following sample uses CreateAttributeRequest to set the options for a PicklistAttributeMetadata attribute to use a global option set with a name represented by the string variable _globalOptionSetName. More information: Customize global option sets

// Create a Picklist linked to the option set.
// Specify which entity will own the picklist, and create it.
CreateAttributeRequest createRequest = new CreateAttributeRequest
{
    EntityName = Contact.EntityLogicalName,
    Attribute = new PicklistAttributeMetadata
    {
        SchemaName = "sample_examplepicklist",
        LogicalName = "sample_examplepicklist",
        DisplayName = new Label("Example Picklist", _languageCode),
        RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),

        // In order to relate the picklist to the global option set, be sure
        // to specify the two attributes below appropriately.
        // Failing to do so will lead to errors.
        OptionSet = new OptionSetMetadata
        {
            IsGlobal = true,
            Name = _globalOptionSetName
        }
    }
};

_serviceProxy.Execute(createRequest);

Insert a new status value

This sample shows how to insert a new Status Reason option for StatusAttributeMetadata attribute.

The following sample uses the InsertStatusValueRequest to specify a new option for the Contact entity Contact.StatusCode attribute that is valid when the Contact.StateCode is 0 (Active). The IOrganizationService.Execute method processes the request.

The following sample allows two valid Status Reason options for active contacts: Active and Dormant.

// Use InsertStatusValueRequest message to insert a new status 
// in an existing status attribute. 
// Create the request.
InsertStatusValueRequest insertStatusValueRequest =
    new InsertStatusValueRequest
{
    AttributeLogicalName = "statuscode",
    EntityLogicalName = Contact.EntityLogicalName,
    Label = new Label("Dormant", _languageCode),
    StateCode = 0
};

// Execute the request and store newly inserted value 
// for cleanup, used later part of this sample. 
_insertedStatusValue = ((InsertStatusValueResponse)_serviceProxy.Execute(
    insertStatusValueRequest)).NewOptionValue;

Console.WriteLine("Created {0} with the value of {1}.",
    insertStatusValueRequest.Label.LocalizedLabels[0].Label,
    _insertedStatusValue);

Update a state value

This sample shows how to change the label for an option in a StateAttributeMetadata attribute.

The following sample uses UpdateStateValueRequest to change the Contact.StateCode option label from Active to Open.

// Modify the state value label from Active to Open.
// Create the request.
UpdateStateValueRequest updateStateValue = new UpdateStateValueRequest
{
    AttributeLogicalName = "statecode",
    EntityLogicalName = Contact.EntityLogicalName,
    Value = 1,
    Label = new Label("Open", _languageCode)
};

// Execute the request.
_serviceProxy.Execute(updateStateValue);

Console.WriteLine(
    "Updated {0} state attribute of {1} entity from 'Active' to '{2}'.",
    updateStateValue.AttributeLogicalName,
    updateStateValue.EntityLogicalName,
    updateStateValue.Label.LocalizedLabels[0].Label
    );

You cannot add or remove StateCode options, but you can change the labels for the options.

Insert a new option in a local option set

This sample shows how to add a new option to a local option set. The following sampleuses InsertOptionValueRequest to add a new option to a custom PicklistAttributeMetadata attribute for the Contact entity.

// Create a request.
InsertOptionValueRequest insertOptionValueRequest =
    new InsertOptionValueRequest
{
    AttributeLogicalName = "new_picklist",
    EntityLogicalName = Contact.EntityLogicalName,
    Label = new Label("New Picklist Label", _languageCode)
};

// Execute the request.
int insertOptionValue = ((InsertOptionValueResponse)_serviceProxy.Execute(
    insertOptionValueRequest)).NewOptionValue;

Console.WriteLine("Created {0} with the value of {1}.",
    insertOptionValueRequest.Label.LocalizedLabels[0].Label,
    insertOptionValue);

Change the order of options in a local option set

This sample shows how to change the order of options in a local option set. The following sampleretrieves a custom PicklistAttributeMetadata attribute and changes the order of the original options using the OrderByLINQ function to sort items in ascending order by the label text. Then it uses OrderOptionRequest to set the new order of the options for the attribute.

Use the OrderByDecending linq function to order the items in descending order.

// Use the RetrieveAttributeRequest message to retrieve  
// a attribute by it's logical name.
RetrieveAttributeRequest retrieveAttributeRequest =
    new RetrieveAttributeRequest
{
    EntityLogicalName = Contact.EntityLogicalName,
    LogicalName = "new_picklist",
    RetrieveAsIfPublished = true
};

// Execute the request.
RetrieveAttributeResponse retrieveAttributeResponse =
    (RetrieveAttributeResponse)_serviceProxy.Execute(
    retrieveAttributeRequest);

// Access the retrieved attribute.
PicklistAttributeMetadata retrievedPicklistAttributeMetadata =
    (PicklistAttributeMetadata)
    retrieveAttributeResponse.AttributeMetadata;

// Get the current options list for the retrieved attribute.
OptionMetadata[] optionList =
    retrievedPicklistAttributeMetadata.OptionSet.Options.ToArray();

// Change the order of the original option's list.
// Use the OrderBy (OrderByDescending) linq function to sort options in  
// ascending (descending) order according to label text.
// For ascending order use this:
var updateOptionList =
    optionList.OrderBy(x => x.Label.LocalizedLabels[0].Label).ToList();

// For descending order use this:
// var updateOptionList =
//      optionList.OrderByDescending(
//      x => x.Label.LocalizedLabels[0].Label).ToList();

// Create the request.
OrderOptionRequest orderOptionRequest = new OrderOptionRequest
{
    // Set the properties for the request.
    AttributeLogicalName = "new_picklist",
    EntityLogicalName = Contact.EntityLogicalName,
    // Set the changed order using Select linq function 
    // to get only values in an array from the changed option list.
    Values = updateOptionList.Select(x => x.Value.Value).ToArray()
};

// Execute the request
_serviceProxy.Execute(orderOptionRequest);

Console.WriteLine("Option Set option order changed");

Delete an attribute

This sample shows how to delete attributes stored in a List<AttributeMetadata> that were created for the Contact entity in Create attributes. For each AttributeMetadata the DeleteAttributeRequest prepares the request that is processed using IOrganizationService.Execute.

// Delete all attributes created for this sample.
foreach (AttributeMetadata anAttribute in addedAttributes)
{
    // Create the request object
    DeleteAttributeRequest deleteAttribute = new DeleteAttributeRequest
    {
        // Set the request properties 
        EntityLogicalName = Contact.EntityLogicalName,
        LogicalName = anAttribute.SchemaName
    };
    // Execute the request
    _serviceProxy.Execute(deleteAttribute);
}

See Also

Customize entity attribute metadata
Entity attribute metadata messages
Sample: Work with attribute metadata
Customize entity and attribute mappings

Microsoft Dynamics 365

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