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Posted September 01, 2026

Attribute Module is the type of record that an attribute can be attached to. An attribute is one mechanism reused across the system rather than a feature of any single record, so the same category and attribute definitions, the same data types, and the same way of recording a value apply whether the attribute sits on a student, a household, a donation or an action.

Every module works the same way. An administrator defines a Category and then the Attributes inside it, each with a Data Type of Text, Integer, Date, Boolean or Hyperlink, and optionally a Lookup Type so the value is chosen from a list. A user then records a value on an individual record. Please review Attribute, Attribute Category, Creating Attribute and Recording Attribute - Individual for the shared steps.

The order fields appear in follows the category order first and the attribute order inside it, both set with the Reorder buttons on the setup page.

Where attributes are defined

ModuleSetup pageRole
StudentsAdministrator > Maintenance > Student AttributesAdmin Full
Student ActionsAdministrator > Maintenance > Student Action AttributesAdmin Full
HouseholdsAdministrator > Maintenance > Household AttributesAdmin Full
StaffAdministrator > Maintenance > Staff AttributesAdmin Full
Dorm RoomsAdministrator > Maintenance > Dorm Room AttributesDBA Full
ContactsDevelopment > Maintenance > Contact AttributesDevelopment Full
DonationsDevelopment > Maintenance > Donation AttributesDevelopment Full
AsksDevelopment > Maintenance > Ask AttributesDevelopment Full
ProductsFinance > Maintenance > Product AttributesFinance Full
Product CategoriesFinance > Maintenance > Product Category AttributesFinance Full
Fixed AssetsFinance > Maintenance > Fixed Asset AttributesFinance Full
Vendor InvoicesFinance > Maintenance > Vendor Invoice AttributesFinance Full

Note: attributes for inquiries, inquiry actions and event categories are defined from Admissions, Administrative Settings.

Where attributes are recorded

ModuleRecorded on
StudentsStudents > Details > Attributes
Student ActionsStudents > Details > Actions, then Attributes on the action row
HouseholdsHouseholds > Details > Attributes
StaffStaff > Details > Attributes
Dorm RoomsDorm Rooms > Attributes
ContactsDevelopment > Donor Details > Attributes
DonationsDevelopment > Giving > Attributes
AsksDevelopment > Ask Details > Attributes
Fixed AssetsFinance > Fixed Asset Details > Attributes
Event CategoriesAdmissions > Administrative Settings > Event Category > Attributes

Attributes on an action

An action is a record in its own right, so it carries attributes the same way a student does. The difference is what the value describes: an attribute on a student describes the student and holds one value at a time, while an attribute on an action describes that one event, so a student may hold as many values as there are actions. A school recording community service enters the activity, the hours and a description on each action rather than on the student. Please review Student Action for the fields an action carries, and CMS Widget - Actions for collecting the values through a portal page.

Note: attributes are defined for the school as a whole and are offered on every action. A portal page limits which of them a student sees through the widget settings.

Update

Back with the ATLIS Community

1 min read · Updated May 04, 2026

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