Attributes
Hierarchical catalog of sensory attributes: System, Extended catalog, and your own.
What it is
The Sensory attributes manager is the catalog of descriptors you'll use in your tastings, studies, and evaluation sheets. AreaCacao curates the System and Extended catalog attributes for you; you create the custom ones for your workshop.
Pro plan and above. Attributes are part of the Sensory analysis module. On the Starter plan you'll see an invitation to upgrade and you'll return to the hub.
How to get there
- URL:
https://app.areacacao.com/sensory-analysis/attributes - How to reach it: Attributes is not in the sidebar. In the sidebar, under SENSORY ANALYSIS, click the heading or the More in sensory link to open the module hub; inside the hub, under Module areas, open the Attributes card.
Screen sections
Header and counters
Below the Sensory attributes title you'll see a row of counters: Total, System, Extended catalog, and Custom. In total the curated catalog has 79 attributes (see Families, attributes, and sub-attributes).
Filters
- Search field with the placeholder Search by name….
- Level filter: All levels / System / Extended catalog / Custom.
- Category filter (four categories): All · Base · Complementary · Defect · Mouthfeel / Texture.
- Family filter: appears only when you pick Category = Complementary.
- Clear button to reset the filters.
Hierarchical tree
The body of the screen is a single-column collapsible tree that expands the levels: Category → Family → Attribute → Sub-attribute. There is no side detail panel: all the information is shown within the tree itself.
Indicators on each row
Each tree row shows visual cues next to the attribute name:
- Level badge. A short tag indicates where the attribute comes from: System, Extended, or Own. These abbreviated tags are the ones you see in the tree; in the filters and counters the same options appear as System, Extended catalog, and Custom.
- Region badge. If the attribute has a region assigned, you'll see a globe icon with its code (LATAM, EU, ASIA, or AFRICA).
- Operational definition tooltip. If the attribute carries an operational definition, an info icon appears; hovering over it shows the training note.
- Read-only lock. On the System and Extended catalog rows you'll see a lock with the notice Read-only — managed by AreaCacao. On your custom attributes, instead, you'll see the edit and delete buttons.
Actions
- Create custom attribute: button that opens the creation form.
- Each custom attribute of your own has edit and delete actions on its row. System and Extended catalog attributes are read-only.
If the search or filters find nothing, you'll see No attribute matches the current filters. and a Clear filters button. The first time you open the catalog it may take a moment to load; if something fails, the screen warns you with Couldn't load the attribute catalog.
Availability by plan
Pro and above. Starter has no access to the attribute catalog.