A data dictionary is a centralized repository of information about the data used within a system, database, or application. It defines the structure, relationships, and properties of the data elements, helping users, developers, and administrators understand how data is organized, stored, and manipulated.
In AdvanceCM data dictionaries are a set of tags that, when placed in a Template, will be replaced with internal AdvanceCM data. In other words, they are placeholder strings that tell AdvanceCM to insert specific data in that location.
To navigate to the data dictionary, go to Settings, select Templates
Next, click on + Add Template, which will open create the template overlay where you can click on the Data Dictionary button.
You can also access the data dictionary from any text editor, by clicking on the Data Dictionary icon.
The Data Dictionary will load pop up with all of the tags available for the following modules:
Guests: contains all guests related fields.
Inquiries: contains all inquiries related fields.
Rentals: contains all rentals related fields.
Devices: contains all smart devices related fields. This will get data for the latest device in manual messages, and in the case of automated messages: for the device for which a code is generated.
Custom: contains all custom Attributes fields that were created under any of the modules. For more details about this, scroll to the end of this help article.
Discount: contains all discounts related fields.
Data Dictionary tags have the format *|GUEST:PHONE|* where GUEST is the data entity and PHONE is the entity attribute.
So for example, if you want to insert the guest phone number automatically into a template when you are about to send the template as a message you will add *|GUEST:PHONE|* into the template in place of the phone number. The web app will replace that placeholder with the guest phone number whenever you load the template on the message screen.
Data dictionary items can only be placed in a template when the template is created in the Template settings section of AdvanceCM. This is because the web app will read the template and replace all data dictionary placeholders when the user selects the template on the message screen.
Some Data Dictionary tags are not self explanatory so lets explore those tags below:
|INQUIRY:SECURITY_DOOR_CODE| This will be applied to Operto Door Codes only. To explore about this integration please visit this help article.
|INQUIRY:SECURITY_SMART_DEVICES| This will get all data for all linked smart devices.
How Custom Attributes works?
You can find a Custom Attributes tab in the detail overlays of all modules. This feature enables property managers to capture various custom details across different modules, allowing flexibility beyond the default fields available in AdvanceCM forms.
Below is an example from the Guest Detail Overlay for Custom Attributes. These fields will appear under the Custom tab in the Data Dictionary section, allowing them to be used within templates to populate data stored in these fields.
Now if you go to Template -> Data Dictionary section -> Custom tab, you can see the fields which are being created under the different modules using the Custom Attributes section.
As always, please contact us with questions any time. We're happy to help.