Set derived attributes

Use Set derived attribute to store a business label on the invoice (for example business_line = Line-A), then match that label as a column in your booking-account approval matrix so the right approvers are selected.

Who this is for: Finance and workflow admins who need approval routing that depends on something Cortena does not extract as a fixed field, such as business line, channel, or entity segment, and who already use (or plan to use) an approval matrix spreadsheet.

What this feature does

Set derived attribute is a workflow action step. When an invoice reaches that step, Cortena writes one attribute key and value onto the invoice.

You can set different values on different conditional branches, then join the paths before a booking-account approval step. On that approval step, you select which derived attributes should participate in matrix matching. Cortena looks for matching columns on the matrix spreadsheet and uses the invoice value to narrow which rows, and therefore which approvers, apply.

There is no separate rule engine for business lines. The pattern is always conditional → set derived attribute → approval matrix column.

How it fits the approval matrix

Example: business line before approval

Goal: Invoices for supplier Acme Online should use business line Online; everything else uses Retail. Approvers in the matrix differ by Business Line as well as GL / amount tier.

1. Branch with a Conditional

1. Open Workflow → Invoice workflow.
2. Add a Conditional step before your booking-account Approval.
3. Create two branches (If supplier matches Acme Online / Else).

2. Set the derived attribute on each branch

1. On the If branch, add Set derived attribute.
2. Set Attribute key: business_line and Value: Online.
3. On the Else branch, add another step with the same key and value Retail.
4. Connect both branches so they converge into your Approval step.

Values must match the sheet. Matrix matching is an exact string match after trimming. Keep casing and spelling consistent.

3. Enable the attribute on the Approval node

1. Select the Approval step that uses booking account rules / the matrix.
2. Find Derived attributes for matrix matching.
3. Tick business_line and add a short description (for example Business line: Online, Retail).
4. If the list is empty, add at least one Set derived attribute step in this workflow first.

4. Put the column on the matrix spreadsheet

1. Open the managed approval matrix Google Sheet.
2. Ensure there is a column for the attribute (typically Business Line for key business_line).
3. Fill cells with the same values you set in the workflow. Leave a cell blank when that row should match any business line.
4. Save / refresh the matrix schema if you added a new column.

Attribute key rules

• Must start with a letter, then only lowercase letters, digits, or underscores
• Examples: business_line, channel, cost_pool
• Invalid keys cause the step to fail

Values can be plain text or dollar-brace expressions such as ${invoice_number}. If the resolved value is empty, the step fails.

Tips

• Matrix checkboxes list keys from Set derived attribute steps on this workflow only.
• Empty matrix cell = wildcard for that attribute.
• Running another set step with the same key replaces the previous value.
• Prefer one clear key over many overlapping labels unless the matrix truly needs multiple dimensions.

Quick reference