Dictionary Management
Manage the selectable options for dictionary attributes, such as status, color, location, and other presets.
A dictionary is like an "option menu" for item attributes. For example, if you created a "Color" attribute, you would not want to type "Red" manually every time. A dictionary lets you set up these options in advance so you can simply tap to select when logging items.
A dictionary has no top-level entry of its own — it sits below attributes: side menu, Settings group → "Custom Fields" → "Attribute" tab → tap a "Tag" or "Hierarchy" attribute (see Attribute Management), and you land in that attribute's dictionary page; one level further down are the dictionary values.
Relationship Between Dictionaries and Attributes
Dictionaries provide the options for "Tag" and "Hierarchy" attribute types:
- Tag attribute dictionaries: Options are flat — for example, a color dictionary contains "Red", "Blue", "Black" with no hierarchy between them
- Hierarchy attribute dictionaries: Options are layered, like nested folders. For example, a location dictionary has "Wardrobe", and inside that "Shelf 1", "Shelf 2", which can be further subdivided
Dictionary management is tied to attributes. You must first create a "Tag" or "Hierarchy" attribute in Attribute Management before you can access its dictionary settings. Other attribute types (Text Input, Date, Attachment, Barcode) do not require dictionaries.
Accessing Dictionary Management
- Side menu, Settings group → "Custom Fields" → "Attribute" tab
- Tap a "Tag" or "Hierarchy" type attribute (see Attribute Management)
- Enter the dictionary page of that attribute — the list shows its dictionary values
The dictionary page shows a "‹ Attribute" breadcrumb at the top left that takes you back to the attribute list; tapping a dictionary value goes one level deeper, into a sub-dictionary or sub-attribute management.
Page Features Overview
The dictionary page provides the following actions:
- View List: Displays all options in the current dictionary
- Add Option: "+" button in the bottom-right corner
- Edit Option: Tap the edit icon (pencil)
- Delete Option: Tap the delete icon (trash can)
- Drag to Reorder: Drag the handle icon to change the order
- View Items: Tap the stock icon to see the items using this option
- Move Option: Tap the move icon to move an option elsewhere (Hierarchy only)
- Go Deeper: Tap the option name to open its sub-dictionary or attributes
Adding a Dictionary Option
- Tap the add button
Tap the "+" floating button in the bottom-right corner
- Enter the option name
e.g., "In Stock", "Red", "Wardrobe Shelf 1"
- Choose a color
Assign a label color to the option so it is easy to tell apart visually
- Add an image (Hierarchy only)
Hierarchy attributes allow an image per option, used by the Dictionary Marker feature
- Save the option
Tap save to finish adding
Adding images to hierarchy options requires a Membership.
Editing a Dictionary Option
- Tap the edit icon (pencil) to the right of the option
- Modify the option name or color
- Hierarchy options also allow changing the image
- Save changes
Deleting a Dictionary Option
- Tap the delete icon (trash can) to the right of the option
- Confirm deletion
Deleting a dictionary option clears that option's value from every item using it. Please proceed with caution.
Reordering Options
You can adjust the display order of dictionary options:
- Drag the handle icon to the right of an option
- Move it up or down to the position you want
- The new order is saved automatically when you release
Put the options you use most at the top so they are quick to pick when editing items.
Viewing Related Items
Tap the stock icon to the right of an option to see every item that uses it:
- Tap the stock icon (box shape)
- A list of items using this option appears
- Tap an item to open its detail page
Quickly see which items rely on a given option, which makes cleanup and reorganization easier.
Moving a Dictionary Option
You can move a hierarchy dictionary option to another position (the move icon appears only for Hierarchy attributes):
- Tap the move icon (file move) to the right of the option
- Select the target position
- The option is moved
After moving, the option belongs to the new level. Attribute values already filled in on items are not affected.
Going One Level Deeper
Tapping the name of a dictionary option opens its "next level":
- Tag attributes: you land on the sub-attribute page (more attributes can hang under a tag value)
- Hierarchy attributes: you land on the sub-dictionary page, where you can keep adding child options
Say you created a Hierarchy attribute "Location" and added the option "Wardrobe". Tapping "Wardrobe" opens its sub-level page, where you can add "Shelf 1", "Shelf 2", "Drawer". Tapping "Shelf 1" lets you split further into "Left" and "Right" — like opening folders, one level at a time.
Dictionary Marker Images
Hierarchy dictionary options can carry an image that marks where items are kept:
- Add the image while editing a hierarchy option
- When filtering the item list by that option, you can open the marker image
- Mark item positions on the image; tapping a marker jumps to the item
The marker workflow is described in the Dictionary Marker documentation.
Use Case Examples
Status dictionary
Suits a "Tag" attribute, recording item status:
- In Stock, Lent Out, Disposed, Pending, Damaged
- Each status can have its own color for easy distinction
Color dictionary
Suits a "Tag" attribute, recording item color:
- Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Black, White, Gray, Pink
- Pick option colors close to the real ones
Location dictionary
Suits a "Hierarchy" attribute, recording where items are kept. The advantage is that each level can be subdivided:
- Level 1 (broad spots): Wardrobe, Bookshelf, Storage spot, Fridge
- Level 2 (detail): Wardrobe → Shelf 1, Shelf 2, Drawer
- Level 3 (finer): Shelf 1 → Left, Right
- Each spot can carry a photo, used with the Dictionary Marker feature to annotate item positions
When looking for something, hierarchy filtering narrows things down fast: pick "Wardrobe" to see everything in it, then "Shelf 2" to narrow further. Compared with flattening all locations into tags, Hierarchy fits deeper space hierarchies.
Category dictionary
Suits a "Tag" attribute, item categories:
- Household, Electronics, Food, Beverages, Cosmetics
- Figures, Models, Books, Stationery, Tools
Material dictionary
Suits a "Tag" attribute, recording item material:
- Cotton, Linen, Silk, Polyester, Wool, Leather
- Plastic, Metal, Wood, Glass, Ceramic
Purchase channel dictionary
Suits a "Tag" attribute, recording where items were bought:
- Official site, online marketplaces, physical stores, purchasing agent
- Makes it easy to review spending by channel
Keep dictionary options short and clear — too many options make choosing painful. Set up what you actually need instead of creating everything at once.
FAQ
The move icon appears only in the dictionary of a "Hierarchy" attribute, because hierarchy options have levels and you may want to move one from a level to another (for example, moving "Shelf 3" from "Wardrobe" to "Bookshelf"). Tag options are all at the same level, so there is nothing to move.
It is a visual marker. Once set, the option shows with that color label in item lists and on the detail page, so you can tell them apart at a glance — for example green for "In Stock" and orange for "Lent Out".
It depends on the attribute type: for a "Tag" attribute you go to sub-attribute management (more attributes can hang under the tag value); for a "Hierarchy" attribute you go to the sub-dictionary, where you keep adding child options, like opening another folder.
While editing a hierarchy option you can add an image. The image is used by the dictionary marker feature, where item positions are annotated on it. This requires a Membership.