--- title: Custom Singleton Values (Model Object) description: Custom Singleton Values (CustomSingletonValues) sets your own values in the unknown-member row of a model object, also called the singleton. --- [Skip to content](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/custom-singleton-values-model-object#main-content) [Contact us](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [Go to Customer Portal](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/customer-portal?hsLang=en) [![TRI\_Logo\_biGENIUS\_2020\_RGB\_s](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing/TRI_Logo_biGENIUS_2020_RGB_s.png?width=150&height=42&name=TRI_Logo_biGENIUS_2020_RGB_s.png)](https://www.bigenius-x.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Contact us](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/kb-tickets/new) - [Go to Customer Portal](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/customer-portal) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [biGENIUS-X Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Generators](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en) 3. [Properties](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#properties) # Custom Singleton Values (Model Object) **Applies to** Platform: Microsoft SQL Server · Snowflake · Snowflake dbt · Databricks · Databricks dbt · Fabric Lakehouse · Fabric Warehouse · Oracle Architecture: Data Vault · Dimensional · Data Mart Custom Singleton Values (`CustomSingletonValues`) sets your own values in the unknown-member row of a model object, also called the singleton. Use it to show a value such as `No customer` instead of `Unknown`. After deployment, the unknown-member row carries your values. Available since Generator 2.3 on Entity, Mart Dimension, and the Data Vault types Hub, Link, Same As Link, Hierarchical Link, Driving Key Link, Satellite, Multi-Active Satellite, Link Satellite and their Business Vault counterparts. ### Values In Edit Model Object, group Singleton, choose **Add Term**, select a term and enter its value without quotes. Terms you do not add, and empty values, keep their default. ![Singleton group of Edit Model Object with Custom Singleton Values CUSTOMER set to No customer and CUSTOMER\_SINCE set to 1970-01-01, and the Add Term button](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/hs-fs/hubfs/knowledge_base_screenshots/custom-singleton-values-model-object-singleton-group.png?width=620&height=138&name=custom-singleton-values-model-object-singleton-group.png) - Longer values are cut to the term's length. - On Oracle, enter dates as `YYYYMMDD` and timestamps as `YYYYMMDDHH24MISS`, for example `19700101153000`. biGENIUS-X does not check the value against the term's data type. A value that the platform cannot convert makes the deployment script fail. The surrogate key, hash keys and a stored [BG\_ValidToTimestamp](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_validtotimestamp?hsLang=en) keep their default values; a value entered for them has no effect. ### Defaults - Surrogate key: `-1` - Hash keys: the zero hash, see [How biGENIUS-X builds hash values](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/how-bigenius-x-builds-hash-values?hsLang=en) - Text: `Unknown`; numbers: `0` - Dates and timestamps: [Begin of Universe](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/begin-of-universe-project?hsLang=en) - `BG_ValidToTimestamp`, stored with [Persist Validity](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/persist-validity-project?hsLang=en): [End of Universe](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/end-of-universe-project?hsLang=en) ### Effect on generated output The table script inserts the unknown-member row unless a row with its surrogate key, or in Data Vault its zero hash key, exists. A Fact or Mart Fact row without a matching dimension row gets the surrogate key `-1`, so it shows your values. Keys missing from a Hub or Link are added by the [Embryo Loader](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/embryo-loader?hsLang=en), which never changes the unknown-member row. A Hub's business key is unique, so a source key equal to the unknown member's business key makes the Hub Loader or Embryo Loader fail. The unknown-member row has the business key 0 for numbers and Unknown for text. If a source can deliver that value, set another value with Custom Singleton Values, for example -1. ### Example A Mart Dimension `custom_singleton_values` has `No customer` for `CUSTOMER` and `-99` for the surrogate key `CUSTOMER_SK`. After a load of customers `1` Alice and `2` Bob, the table contains: ``` CUSTOMER_SK CUSTOMER_ID CUSTOMER -1 0 No customer 1 1 Alice 2 2 Bob ``` The surrogate key stays `-1`. The Mart Fact `singleton_fact` then loads customers `1`, `2` and `3` Carol. Customer `3` is not in the dimension: ``` SELECT f.CUSTOMER_NAME, d.CUSTOMER_SK, d.CUSTOMER FROM DM_MF_singleton_fact AS f JOIN DM_MD_custom_singleton_values AS d ON d.CUSTOMER_SK = f.custom_singleton_values_SK; CUSTOMER_NAME CUSTOMER_SK CUSTOMER Alice 1 Alice Bob 2 Bob Carol -1 No customer ``` ### Change values in a deployed solution With [Deployment Options](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/deployment-options-project?hsLang=en) set to `Generate Drop Table Statements`, the default, the deployment recreates the table with the new row; all other rows are deleted. Without drop statements, the existing row keeps its old values. Update the row in the target table yourself, for example with an `UPDATE` on the row whose surrogate key is `-1`, in Data Vault whose hash key is the zero hash. A Mart Dimension with Implementation Type `Cached` writes the row again with each load and has the new values after the next load. ### Failure symptoms and recovery #### Validation reports a value for a missing term Message: `Model object '' of type '' has a custom singleton value configured for term with id '', but no corresponding term could be found on the model object.` Cause: the term was deleted. Fix: remove its value in Edit Model Object. ### Release differences - Generator 2.3: Custom Singleton Values is introduced. - Generator 2.4: Oracle converts timestamp values with `YYYYMMDDHH24MISS` instead of `YYYYMMDD`. ### Related articles - Previous: [Edit a Model Object](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/edit-a-model-object?hsLang=en) - Reference: [Begin of Universe (Project)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/begin-of-universe-project?hsLang=en), [End of Universe (Project)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/end-of-universe-project?hsLang=en), [Deployment Options (Project)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/deployment-options-project?hsLang=en), [Persist Validity (Project)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/persist-validity-project?hsLang=en), [BG\_ValidToTimestamp](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_validtotimestamp?hsLang=en) - See also: [Embryo Loader](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/embryo-loader?hsLang=en), [How biGENIUS-X builds hash values](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/how-bigenius-x-builds-hash-values?hsLang=en), [Mart Dimension](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/create-a-mart-dimension?hsLang=en), [Create an Entity](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/create-an-entity?hsLang=en), [Generators Release - 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