How do you use enums in the Catalog Importer?

What is an enum?

Enums are a way to better support categorical attribute types. This allows you to create child catalog types from a parent catalog type.

{
  "outputs": [
    {
      "name": "Teams",
      "description": "Team in org",
      "type_name": "Custom[\"Teams\"]",
      "source": {
        "name": "goal",
        "external_id": "external_id"
      },
      "attributes": [
        {
          "id": "description",
          "name": "Description",
          "type": "Text",
          "source": "description"
        },
        {
          "id": "email",
          "name": "Email list",
          "source": "emails",
          "array": true,
          "enum": {
            "name": "List of emails",
            "type_name": "Custom[\"ListOfEmails\"]",
            "description": "List of all team members"
          }
        },
        {
          "id": "name",
          "name": "Goal",
          "type": "Text",
          "source": "goal"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

In the sample above a Team catalog type will be created with name, description, and email attributes. The List of emails attribute will be created as a child attribute catalog type from the parent Teams.

Why does this matter?

Having child catalog types for these attributes means workflows know which options that attribute supports. Wherever you use the attribute, you pick from a dropdown instead of typing text.