============================= Arches Controlled Lists (App) ============================= **Arches Controlled Lists** is an Arches extension application designed to manage controlled lists and reference data within the Arches platform. It is meant to update, improve upon, and replace the functionality of the :ref:`Reference Data Manager (RDM)` (the RDM is slated for deprecation with the upcoming release of Arches version 9, see the `Arches Roadmap `_). Arches Controlled Lists can be installed as a component of an Arches instance that runs on core Arches version 8 and higher. Arches Controlled Lists Uses ---------------------------- * Arches Controlled Lists provides a set of tools for managing controlled lists within the Arches framework for use as dropdowns in forms and other UI components. * Controlled Lists can be loaded from `Arches Lingo `_ data or any other data authority capable of providing SKOS RDF formatted data. * The Controlled List Manager is included as a UI for creating, editing, and managing controlled lists and their items. * Data can be repeatedly updated via import in order to keep it current and in sync with the source of truth. * Controlled Lists can also be created by an end user for managing simple domain lists locally. * Controlled Lists can be hierarchical allowing for the representation of concept hierarchies or other hierarchical structures. * Controlled list items support localization and alternate labels, as well as notes and images. * Controlled list items are identified by a URI, allowing them to be canonically defined in any external system that provides linked data. * Arches Controlled Lists includes a new data type called the "Reference" data type, which allows for the creation of references to controlled list items within the Arches framework. * Arches Controlled Lists can also be made "searchable", which allows for searching for references in Arches data based on the hierarchical relationships defined in controlled lists. * `Arches Lingo `_ uses the Controlled List Manager and the Reference data type, for example, to manage references to concepts managed externally such as SKOS concepts. * Arches Controlled Lists is a key component in enabling the use of `Arches Lingo `_ data across projects. For example, the `FISH Thesauri `_ can be maintained in one Arches instance and then referenced in any `Arches for HER `_ deployment. Arches Controlled Lists User Interface (UI) ------------------------------------------- The Arches Controlled Lists user interface is accessible to authorized users via the menu icons on the far left. List items are organized in a hierarchy of lists. In the example below, the list item for *grams* is contained in the parent *Dimension Types - Physical Units* list. .. figure:: ../../images/dev/arches-controlled-lists-1.png :width: 100% :align: center Screenshot of the Arches Controlled Lists user interface If one clicks on a given list, the Arches Controlled Lists user interface displays the nodes that make use of the selected list. See the screenshot below. .. figure:: ../../images/dev/arches-controlled-lists-2.png :width: 100% :align: center Nodes that use the *Dimension Types - Physical Units* list **Note**: Additional user interface guidance is forthcoming. Installing Arches Controlled Lists ---------------------------------- The **Arches Controlled Lists** extension application needs to be installed in the Python virtual environment of your Arches instance. Once installed, you will need to edit your Arches instance's ``settings.py`` and other files. The complete installation instructions can be found here: `Arches Controlled Lists (Pypi) `_. The source code repository and issue tracking is available here: `Arches Controlled Lists source code `_