ave-cms/help/en/content/directories.md

Dictionaries

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A dictionary is a shared managed list of values for fields. It is not a category, does not create documents, and has no URL, SEO metadata, templates, or publication permissions.

Choosing the right source

Task	Recommended source
A small list used by one field	Field-local values
One list shared by several fields	Dictionary
A related entity with its own page and fields	Category documents

Creating a dictionary

1. Open Categories and fields → Dictionaries.
2. Click Create dictionary.
3. Enter a clear name. The technical code can be generated automatically.
4. Open the dictionary and add values.

Each value has a user-facing label, a stable stored key, a sort order, and an active state. The label may be renamed without rewriting documents. Avoid changing a key after it is used.

Connecting a field

1. Open the category field builder.
2. Select a choice, dropdown, or multiple-choice field.
3. Set Value source to Shared dictionary.
4. Select the dictionary and save the category schema.

The document storage format does not change. Existing public templates therefore continue to work.

A dictionary cannot be deleted while fields use it. Disabled values are removed from new selections but remain readable in documents that already store them.