Item Attribute, Item Defining Attributes, Status Attributes & Item Status

Item attributes are information about an item, such as order cost, lead time, and revision control.
Item Defining Attributes – An item defining attribute identifies the nature of an item. What designates an item as an “engineering item” is the attribute Engineering Item, but what controls the functionality of the item are the collection of
attributes that describe it. You can buy an engineering item if you want to; simply set Engineering Item, Purchased, and Purchasable to Yes.
The following table presents item defining attributes:

When you set an item defining attribute to Yes, the item is automatically assigned to the default category set of the corresponding functional area. For example, if you set Inventory Item to Yes, the item is automatically assigned to the default category set for the inventory functional area.
Item Status attributes are item attributes that enable key functionality for each item.
Status attributes enable and disable the functionality of an item over time. Each status attribute allows you to enable the item for a particular use. For example, if you set the status attribute Purchasable to Yes, you can put the item on a purchase order. The status attributes are related to the item defining attributes. You cannot enable a status attribute if you do not set the corresponding item defining attribute to Yes.
The following table presents status attributes:

An item status Codes is defined by selecting the value check boxes for the status attributes.
Item Status Codes may be used to set or update the default values for certain item attributes.  They can be used to control the functionality of an item.  When you update the values for a status, all items that use that status will be updated also.
The Item Status Code controls certain item attributes designated as status attributes.  Each status attribute has a Status Setting option.   The option determines whether a status attribute value is set by the status code and is not updateable, defaulted and updateable, or not used when you define an item

Pending Status:
You can assign one or more pending statuses for an item, to be implemented on future dates. These statuses become effective on their assigned effective dates. You can also view the history of an item status.
(N) Items—>Master Items (M)—>Tools -> Pending Status

Item Attribute Control determines whether you have centralized (Master level) or decentralized (Organization level) control of item attributes. Both status attributes and item status can be controlled at the item level or organization levels.

You can choose the status setting level of each status attribute in the Item Attribute Controls window. The status setting level determines whether you can update the value of each status attribute within an item status.
Sets Value: The status that you assign to the item loads a non updatable value into the status attribute. You can update the status attribute by changing the status that you assigned to your item.
Defaults Value: The status that you assign to the item loads a default value into the status attribute. You can update the status attribute as you define your item.
Not Used: The status that you assign to the item does not determine the value of the status attribute. You can enable or disable the status attribute as you define your item.
Status Setting Level Consideration: You have the flexibility to change individual status attribute settings. Using meaningful status codes gives you control over item usage.