Duplicating custom entity and link types

When you are using i2 Analyst's Notebook aligned with an i2 Analyze schema, you can duplicate custom entity and link types.

About this task

You might want to create new custom entities and links that share a number of properties with types you have already created. The custom type duplication feature means you can use existing custom types to create new types, as part of the import process. For example, you create a custom type of "Sports Utility Vehicle" and add properties for "Make", "Model", "Color", "Engine Size", "License Plate", and "Chassis Number". You want to import data for a custom type of "Truck" that includes the same properties as those you selected for your "Sports Utility Vehicle", and you might want to add more that are specific to trucks. Duplication is a useful way to save the time and effort of creating similar types from scratch. You can also duplicate custom types that you, or other analysts, have created and saved in import specifications. System types, that is the entities and links defined in your schema, cannot be duplicated.

Note:

Records of custom types cannot be uploaded to the Information Store or used as seeds for External Searches in i2 Connect.

Procedure

To duplicate a custom entity type:
1. In the import design small chart, click Add New Entity or choose an existing entity that has a label of (no type selected). You cannot duplicate an entity that has already been assigned a type from your palette, unless it is a custom entity type.
2. In the panel next to the import design, scroll down the list of available item types and select the custom type that you want to duplicate.
  The new entity name and icon become the same as the type you chose, and the custom properties are displayed.
3. With the new entity selected, click the glyph that represents the Duplicate Type option, next to the custom type label.
  The Duplicate Entity Type dialog box opens and the Name field is blank.
4. Type a name for your custom type in the Name field. You cannot use the name of an existing type. From the Choose Icon box, select a suitable icon for your custom type. You do not have to choose a different icon, however you will not be able to change the icon once you click OK. You can add your own custom icons to the folder. For more information, see Custom icons.
5. Add more custom properties if required.
6. Click OK.
To duplicate a custom link type:
1. In the import design small chart, click a link that has a label of (no type selected) or Add New Link.
2. In the panel next to the import design, scroll down the list of available item types and select the custom type that you want to duplicate.
  The new link name becomes the same as the type you chose, and the custom properties are displayed.
3. With the new link selected, click the glyph that represents the Duplicate Type option, next to the custom type label.
  The Duplicate Link Type dialog box opens and the Name field is blank.
4. Type a name for your new custom link type in the Name field. You cannot use the name of an existing type.
5. Select the default summarization for your custom link from the options Single, Directed or Multiple.
  If you select link summarization of Single, the link label is the number of link records of the same type, and is displayed as <record count> in the import design. If you create custom properties on the link type and choose to include the properties in the label, the label is visible in the record inspector after you run the import.
6. Add more custom properties if required.