Product Type
Product types are high-level classifications that help organize and manage assets effectively. Every asset purchased by a firm can be categorized into specific product types and sub-product types (child levels).
For example,
- Adobe Photoshop or Macromedia Flash can be grouped under the product type Software.
- HP Inkjet Printer would fall under the product type Printer.
Categorization of assets allows you to track asset-related expenditures and provides insight into how many assets of each type are currently available within the organization.
Classifications
Asset Type: A classification that groups assets into Assets, Consumables, or Components.
Category: A classification that applies to both Assets and Consumables, defining the nature of the asset: IT (e.g., laptops, software) and Non-IT (e.g., projectors, scanners)
Product Type: The classification used to group similar assets. For example, Workstation is a product type that includes various workstation models.
Consider Adobe Photoshop & HP Inkjet Printer:
Assets | Product Type | Asset Type | Category |
Adobe Photoshop | Software Licenses | Components | IT |
HP Inkjet Printer | Printer | Asset | IT |
Asset Hierarchy
Under Setup > Customization > Asset Management, product types are organized in a parent-child hierarchy. Up to five levels of hierarchy is supported.
In AssetExplorer, All Assets is the parent product type for assets (IT and non-IT) and components. The layout customized for the parent product type will be available for all child product types.
Create Product Types
- Go to Admin > Customization > Asset Management > Product Type, and click New.
- On the Add New Product Type form, provide the following information under the Details tab.
- Enter a unique display name and display plural name for the product type. For example, Printer.
The API name and API plural name will be populated automatically in snake_case. You can modify them, if needed.- Select a category to classify the product type: Asset or Consumable.
- If you choose Asset, select the asset type from the drop-down: Asset, Component, or Consumable.
- If you choose Consumable, select the asset category: IT or Non-IT.
- Briefly describe the product type under Description.
- Select an icon for the product type from the available icons, or upload a new icon.
- After configuring the details, click Save. The form reloads, and a new Fields tab appears, allowing you to customize the layout of the product type.
Customize Product Type Layout
Under the Fields tab, you can customize the layout of the product type form by including the necessary fields. When an asset is added under this product type, the fields configured here will be displayed for the asset.
Parent product type fields are populated by default and displayed at the top of the page. You cannot edit the layout of the parent attribute. You can view the parent fields by clicking Parent Attribute.
The Fields tab comprises a canvas and a list of fields on the left pane. You can add fields specific to the child product type from the left pane.
- The Available Fields tab on the left pane contains additional fields configured under Admin > Customization > Additional Fields > Asset that are not used in the canvas. Drag any field to the layout.
- To add multiple fields to the layout at once, click View All. In the slider, select the fields and click Associate.
- Click the
icon on the left pane to create new additional fields. The New Field section displays various field types that you can use to create additional fields. Drag the field type to the layout and configure its details as required. Refer here to know more about the different field types.
- Hover over a section and click
to modify section properties. You can provide a name for the section, add help text, adjust the column and label orientation, and customize the font style and background color.
- To delete a field or section, hover over it and click
.
- Click Save to apply the changes.
- A maximum of 300 product types can be created.
- Up to 1,500 additional fields are allowed across product types with a maximum of 50 fields per type.
- Removing a field from the product type layout does not delete the associated data. The data will reappear if the field is added back into the layout. Data is permanently deleted only when the field is removed from Asset Additional Fields.
List View Actions
- Edit or Delete Product Type: Click
against the product type you wish to edit or delete and choose the respective action.
- Expand Product Types: Click Expand all in the toolbar to view all product types on the page.
- Create Child Product Type: Create a child product type by clicking
> Create Child Product Type against the parent product type.
You cannot delete a product type if there are products added under it.
Related Articles
Modify Product Type
Modify Product Type To modify the product type of an asset, Go to the assets list view and select the required assets. Click Actions > Modify Type. Select the required product type from the drop-down. Choose the product. Click Save. Modifying the ...Modify Device Type
Update the device type of assets based on their specifications and functionality. Role Required: SDAdmin, SDSiteAdmin, Technicians with Add/Edit Assets permissions. In the Assets tab, select your preferred asset classification - IT Asset, Virtual ...Software Type
Software Type classifies software applications that are owned and managed within AssetExplorer. The default software types available are as follows: Software Type Explanation Freeware Software provided without charge Shareware Free software ...Contract Type
The contract type is a classification used to categorize contacts into different types, such as maintenance, support, or warranty. You can configure new contract types and configure them with contracts as required. Create New Contract Type Go to ...Create CI Type
Create CI Type You can define new CI types to match your business needs. On the configuration item type list view, click New. Provide the following information under the Details tab on the New CI Type form. Enter a unique display name and display ...