Glossary
Attachment
An attachment is a file associated with a card. Attachment management supports file versioning with automatic numbering
See also: Card
Activity
An activity is a workflow step. It can be interactive (operator interaction) or automatic (script executing operations via API). A process instance is a single process activated automatically by the application or manually by an operator
See also: Process
Attribute
An attribute belongs to a CMDBuild class (e.g. in the Supplier class: name, address, phone number). CMDBuild allows you to create or edit attributes in classes and domains. In the database, each attribute maps to a column of the table implementing the class and corresponds — in the Data Management Module — to a data entry field on the related card
See also: Class, Domain, Report, Superclass
Attribute Type
Each attribute has a data type defining its format and management rules. Attribute types are defined in the Administration Module
Types include: Boolean, Date, Decimal, Double, File, Formula, Inet, Integer, Link, Lookup, Multi‑value Lookup, Reference, String, Text, Timestamp
See also: Attribute
BIM
BIM (Building Information Modeling) supports the entire lifecycle of a building — from construction through use and maintenance to possible demolition. BIM is supported by various tools that interoperate via the open IFC standard (Industry Foundation Classes). CMDBuild includes a connector to synchronize selected CI information and an interactive 3D viewer for IFC models
Card
A card is a record stored in a class, representing a single managed object (e.g. an asset, a company or a service). Each card contains values for the attributes defined by its class and can include relations to other cards, attachments and history of changes. Cards are created, viewed and updated in the Data Management Module, while their physical storage corresponds to a row in the database table associated with the class.
See also: Class, Attribute, Relation, Attachment
CI
A CI (Configuration Item) is any item that provides IT service to users and is described with sufficient detail for technical management. In CMDBuild, the term refers more broadly to any asset managed in the CMDB
See also: Configuration, ITIL
Class
A class is a complex data type defined by a set of attributes describing that kind of data. Classes represent objects managed in the CMDB (e.g. company, building, asset, service). Classes are defined by administrators in the Administration Module and are stored in dedicated database tables. Each class corresponds to a card type in the Data Management Module
CMDB
CMDB (Configuration Management Database) is a concept introduced by ITIL for storing Configuration Items. CMDBuild extends the concept to general Asset Management
Configuration
Configuration Management keeps CI information, their relations and history updated and available to other processes. CMDBuild applies this concept to generic Asset Management contexts
Dashboard
A dashboard is an application page containing one or more graphic views (KPI, charts) for monitoring Asset Management aspects
See also: Report
Data Filter
A data filter restricts the list of elements in a class using boolean conditions (equals, contains, begins with, etc.). Filters may be created ad hoc, saved by operators or configured by administrators
Database
A database is a structured collection of information hosted on a server, together with utilities for initialization, allocation, optimization and backup. CMDBuild relies on PostgreSQL, taking advantage of its advanced features. The database implementing CMDBuild logic is also referred to as CMDB
Domain
A domain defines a relation between two classes. It includes names, descriptions, referenced classes, cardinality and optional attributes. Administrators configure domains through the Administration Module
GIS
A GIS manages and analyzes spatial data by associating geographic features with alphanumeric descriptions. CMDBuild extends classes with geometric attributes to represent assets on maps and plans
See also: BIM
GUI Framework
The GUI Framework supports custom user interfaces for non‑technical users and can be embedded in portals. It interacts with CMDBuild via REST webservices and is based on jQuery libraries
See also: Mobile, Webservice
ITIL
A set of best practices defining a de facto standard for IT service management, based on a process-oriented model. CMDBuild adopts selected ITIL concepts within a generic Asset Management context
See also: Configuration
Lookup
A Lookup is a (Code, Description) pair defined in the Administration Module. Lookups provide preset values for picklists used in forms. Administrators can create Lookup tables as needed
See also: Attribute
Mobile
A mobile interface for smartphones and tablets, implemented as a multiplatform app (iOS, Android). It interacts with CMDBuild through REST webservices
See also: Webservice
Process
A process (workflow) is a sequence of steps that execute an action. Each new instance is started when a workflow procedure must be followed. CMDBuild workflows are described in XPDL (XML Process Definition Language)
See also: Activity
Relation
A relation is a link between two cards — an instance of a domain. A relation includes two card identifiers, a domain and optional attributes. Relations are managed in the Data Management Module
Report
A report is a document (PDF or CSV) with information extracted from classes and domains. Reports are configured in the Administration Module using XML layouts from JasperReports
See also: Class, Domain, Database
Superclass
A superclass is an abstract class containing attributes shared across subclasses. Subclasses inherit superclass attributes and may define additional ones
Example: Company → Customers, Suppliers
Tenant
A tenant is a partition of the CMDB associated with a specific suborganization (site, division, company). In multitenant mode, each user accesses only data belonging to their tenant and shared data
View
A view groups cards based on filters applied to one or more classes. A view may derive from a filtered class or from an SQL function returning attributes from related classes
Webservice
A webservice defines methods accessible over a network. CMDBuild exposes REST webservices for reading/writing CMDB data and executing operations programmatically
Widget
A widget is a GUI component — typically shown as a button — used for interacting with cards or processes. Standard widgets are provided, and custom widgets can be implemented