Changing the Definition of a Thing

You can change the thing definition (model) specified for a thing.

Alarms and methods in the current and target thing definitions appear as follows:

• those that do not appear in the target thing definition appear in red text

• those that only appear in the target thing definition appear in green text

• those that appear in both the thing definitions appear in black text

Alarms are mismatched if the key, name, or state are different. A state is mismatched if it has a different state name, value, or number of states.

Methods are mismatched if the key, name, or list of notification variables (including white space) are different.

Properties or attributes that are not specified in the target thing definition appear in red text. Properties or attributes that are not specified in the target thing definition appear in green text. Properties or attributes that appear in both thing definitions appear in black text.

Methods and alarms are automatically updated when you change the definition. Depending on the settings in the thing definition, you can choose whether to add missing attributes and properties.

If the target thing definition has Auto defined properties or Auto defined attributes enabled, the Thing Definition Change page shows the Add the missing properties check box and the Add the missing attributes check box in the corresponding sections.

1. On the Things page, click the corresponding View icon of the thing for which you want to change the definition.
2. On the thing page, click the Change definition icon in the Thing definition field.

   

3. In the Change Definition window, select the thing definition you want to change to, and then click Change definition.

   The Thing Definition Change page shows the differences between the current thing definition and target thing definition.

   The name of the current thing definition appears in red text and the target thing definition appears in green text.

   

4. (Optional) In the Properties area, if applicable, select the Add the missing properties check box.

   

   The names of the missing properties change from red to green text to indicate that the missing properties will be added to the thing definition.

   

5. (Optional) In the Attributes area, if applicable, select the Add the missing attributes check box.

   The names of the missing attributes change from red text to green text to indicate that the missing attributes will be added to the thing definition.

6. Review the final changes, and then click Submit.