The Manage Types window allows you to augment the PTC FlexPLM out-of-the-box object types without changing the object model and writing code. You can further define object types within the system. You can create a hierarchy of subtypes within a specific object type, as well as define characteristics specific to each type.

The Manage Types window automatically displays when the Type and Attribute Management utility is launched by clicking the Type and Attribute Management link under Administrative on the home page. To access the Manage Types window if you have navigated elsewhere within the utility, click Manage Types in the navigation pane on the left of the Type and Attribute Management utility. The PTC FlexPLM out-of-the-box types display as top-level nodes in the navigation pane of the Manage Types window. New types created through the Manage Types window are added as subtypes of the parent type. You can create subtypes of the object types installed with your solution. In addition, you can add new attributes to and set attribute constraints on the parent types or newly created subtypes. Some subtypes are defined by PTC during development and are included in your PTC FlexPLM installation. For a list of PTC FlexPLM out-of-the-box types, see Types in PTC FlexPLM.

The navigation pane on the left of the Manage Types window shows a tree representation of the current types, which can be expanded and collapsed. When you right-click on a type in the navigation pane, you can choose from the available actions for that type. Possible actions include:

The Type and Attribute Management utility supports inheritance; therefore the newly created subtype inherits the attributes of the parent type, and can inherit certain property values as well. For more information, see Property Value Inheritance. Subtypes also initially inherit attribute layouts from their parent types. For more information, see Layouts Tab.