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Product Type Configuration

Product types categorize data products within a space (e.g., "Table", "Dashboard", "API", "Report"). Beyond simple labeling, product types participate in workflow resolution — each type can define a default workflow that applies to all products of that type, creating a domain-level governance layer.

Managing Product Types​

Navigate to Administration → Product Types within your space to access the Product Type Manager.

Creating a Product Type​

Click Add Product Type and provide:

  • Name — The type label (e.g., "Dashboard", "ML Model"). Must be unique within the space.
  • Description (optional) — Explains when this type should be used.
  • Default — Mark one type as the default for new products.

Editing and Deleting​

Each product type can be edited or deleted from the manager. Deleting a type does not remove the type label from existing products — it only removes the configuration entry.

Workflow Resolution Cascade​

When a request (access, change, or recertification) is submitted for a product, Qarion resolves the appropriate workflow using a priority cascade:

Product → Product Type → Space → Global Default
PrioritySourceDescription
1 (Highest)ProductWorkflow set directly on the individual product
2Product TypeDefault workflow defined on the product's type
3SpaceDefault request workflow configured in Space Governance Settings
4 (Lowest)GlobalPlatform-wide default (manual approval if nothing is configured)

The first non-empty workflow in the cascade is used. If no workflow is configured at any level, the request follows the default manual approval path.

Example​

A space has the following configuration:

  • Space default workflow: "Standard Approval"
  • Product type "Dashboard" default workflow: "Light Review"
  • Product "Revenue Dashboard" has no product-level workflow

When a user requests access to "Revenue Dashboard", the system checks:

  1. Product level — No workflow set → continue
  2. Product Type level — "Dashboard" type has "Light Review" → use this workflow

If the product type also had no workflow, it would fall through to the space-level "Standard Approval".

Configuring Space-Level Defaults​

Space governance settings allow you to set two default workflows:

Governance Workflow​

Controls the approval flow for use case registrations (governance requests). Navigate to Space Settings → Governance and select a workflow from the "Governance Workflow" dropdown.

Default Request Workflow​

Controls the approval flow for access, change, and recertification requests. In the same Governance settings, select a workflow from the "Default Request Workflow" dropdown.

These space-level defaults act as the fallback when neither the product nor its product type specifies a workflow.

Best Practices​

Standardize Types Across the Organization​

Define a consistent set of product types that map to your data architecture. Common types include Table, View, Dashboard, Report, API, ML Model, and Data Pipeline.

Use Type-Level Workflows for Domain Governance​

If all dashboards should follow a lighter approval process than database tables, set the default workflow on the "Dashboard" product type rather than configuring each dashboard individually.

Reserve Product-Level Overrides for Exceptions​

Only set a workflow directly on a product when it needs special handling that differs from its type's default. This keeps governance configuration maintainable as your catalog grows.

Learn More​