Custom Objects

This page and set of resources will help you learn how to create different object types using Custom Object dashboard

What is Custom Object

OpeBOM model provides you with different predefined Object Types such as Catalogs, BOMs, Orders, Vendors, Purchase Orders, etc. To support a growing requirements of OpenBOM customers for flexible data management, OpenBOM introduces Custom Objects – an easy way to customize OpenBOM data model even more and create your own data types (collections) to manage data.

If you’re using OpenBOM, you are probably familiar with OpenBOM data management, allowing you to define any property based on your needs and add it to Items, BOMs, Orders, and other predefined OpenBOM objects. While it is great, we always wanted to get to the next level and to offer a fully flexible data model for customers allowing them to define custom objects to manage any type of data – e.g… Requirements, Specifications, Products, Quality Documents, etc.

So, new OpenBOM Custom Objects is the way to do so. The coming release of OpenBOM will allow Custom Objects, so the user will be able to define any type of information. The mechanism will be seamless and will remind you of a familiar user-friendly interface with “spreadsheet-like” capabilities. In the screenshot below, here are two examples of custom objects created by me during the testing – Requirements and Projects:

Example- Requirement Custom object:

Example – Project Custom Object

How to Use Create Custom Objects?

A custom object functionality is available for company subscription only and it allows to create a fully customizable data model to manage any type of data using OpenBOM. You’re not limited to predefined types such as Catalogs, BOMs, Orders, PO, Vendors, but you can create your own object types.

To create a new Custom Object, you must be a Company Admin. Custom Object dashboard allows you to add a new custom object using the dashboard menu.

Object Reference [Property]

An important element of Custom Object data management mechanism is a [NEW] Object Reference property. Object Reference is a type of property that allows you to point from a property to another object. Such a generic data management mechanism will allow you to build flexible “links” between different OpenBOM objects. So, you can flexibly create a link from File to Item, from Item to Project, and from Project to Requirements.

Custom Object Functions

Custom object are needed to create a fully flexible data management environment for reach product lifecycle management and digital thread functionality. Each custom object user interface allows you to define object records (object items) with any properties, including images, file attachments and [most important] object reference properties to link between objects

Custom Objects Future Development

OpenBOM Custom Objects are under continues development. The goal is to provide a fully customizable data objects with functions to define data, add properties, define relationships, navigate between objects items and visualize the full structure of objects in OpenBOM Graph Navigator.

We will be brining new functions in OpenBOM releases monthly.