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SDL Desktop - Using Property Items

This guide is for SDL Desktop users across Zoning, Construction, and Engineering who need to flag properties with important conditions (e.g., Daniel's Law, flood zones, liens, hazardous conditions). Reference it when you want to understand how Property Items trigger warning prompts on linked applications, how to set up a new item's level/type/category, and how to configure deactivation or email notifications tied to it.

Property Items

Property Items have been around for several years. Their general purpose is to show a warning on the info pane or as a user prompt when a condition exists on a property that you want to make other users/departments aware of. When users in Zoning, Construction and Engineering begin a new application and link it to a property with a property item, a User Prompt will display showing all items on that property. This does not stop a user from continuing the new application but is a simple warning that additional actions may be needed before you issue an application. Common uses for this are below but this can be used for any warning you may want to put on a whole property.

  • Daniel’s Law

  • Flood Zone

  • Historic Districts

  • Conflict of Interest properties for construction permits

  • Liens

  • Board Conditions

  • Dangerous Pet

  • Hazardous Condition

  • COAH

  • Septic System

Setting Up a Property Item

Property Items can be accessed from the Tasks menu in any module (look for Property Item on the left side) and from the Property Item Datagrid under General. Permissions and datagrids will be needed.

  1. Open the Property Item screen. From the Tasks menu in any module, click Property Item.
  2. Create a new Property Item. On the Property Item Templates screen, select Create Blank New Property Item, then click OK. This opens the Property Item General screen.
  3. Set the Level to User Prompt. On the Item tab, use the Level dropdown and select User Prompt. Level is a hard coded list that provides basic warning levels, and User Prompt is required for a visual prompt to show. This is what makes the warning pop up whenever someone opens a record tied to that address, instead of only appearing as a flag on the homepage.
  4. Choose a Type and Category. Type and Category are town defined lists used for labeling and organization. For example, Type could be “Flood Zone” and Category could describe what the warning is for.
  5. Enter the warning message. Below the Level, Type, and Category dropdowns there is a text box. Whatever you type here is what appears in the user prompt.
  6. Review the optional items. Optional items are not required but can help organize your items. You can add an image and select an Assigned Department or Assigned User, which controls who the item shows as assigned to. If you leave these alone, it defaults to the person who created it. Also note the Deactivate and Send Email options. Deactivate will remove this item from the info pane and application checks. Send Email is useful if another user would like to be notified when the property is called on from an application. One use is for Daniel’s Law custodians, who can now know an action is taking place on a listed property.
  7. Link the property in the Location tab. Enter the Block and Lot and click Link, the same way you would link a permit. Currently this only works with linked properties, and block and lot values are required. (Screenshot placeholder: Location tab with Block, Lot, and Link button.)
  8. Add a contact if needed. The Contact tab is optional. Use it to list who someone should reach out to about the warning.
  9. Set Show Departments and Warn Departments. On the Departments tab, Show Departments only controls permissions, meaning which departments are allowed to see the item on the property page. Warn Departments is what makes the pop-up appear, and the modules you check here are the ones where the prompt will show. You can choose different modules for each item. (Screenshot placeholder: Departments tab with Show and Warn columns.)
  10. Attach supporting documents. On the Related tab, add any file that goes with the warning, such as a brochure or guide.
  11. Save the Property Item. Click OK to finish.

If a Property Item isn’t popping up as expected, check three things: the Level is set to User Prompt, the correct department is checked under Warn Departments, and the module you’re working in is checked there as well.