---
title: "How do I create a custom data model?"
slug: "how-do-i-create-a-custom-data-model"
updated: 2025-12-03T09:46:09Z
published: 2025-12-03T09:46:09Z
canonical: "support.lusid.com/how-do-i-create-a-custom-data-model"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.lusid.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How do I create a custom data model?

You can create a custom data model (CDM) for a supported entity type to control the behaviour of entities of that type (all of them or a subset).

A CDM can be standalone, or part of a hierarchy with parents and children of its own. [Work through a tutorial](/v1/docs/creating-custom-data-models-for-entities).

With a CDM in place, you can [create entities](/v1/docs/how-do-i-create-entities-under-a-custom-data-model) under (that is, in the context of) the CDM in order to enforce the requirements. If you have existing entities created separately, you can optionally [induct them](/v1/docs/managing-membership-of-custom-data-models) in order to enforce the requirements going forward.

## Methods

LUSID web appLUSID APILuminesce

Call the [CreateCustomDataModel](https://www.lusid.com/docs/api/lusid/endpoints/custom-data-models/CreateCustomDataModel/) API and specify a supported entity type as a parameter in the URL, for example:

```json
curl -X POST 'https://<your-domain>.lusid.com/api/api/datamodel/Instrument'
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json-patch+json' 
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer <your-API-access-token>'
  -d '{
  "id": {
    "scope": "CDMs",
    "code": "Equity"
  },
  "displayName": "Equity instruments",
  "description": "CDM controlling the behaviour of equities",
  "parentDataModel": {
    "scope": "CDMs",
    "code": "All"
  },
  "conditions": "InstrumentDefinition.InstrumentType eq 'Equity'",
  "properties": [
    {
      "propertyKey": "Instrument/MyProperties/ExchangeCode",
      "required": true
    }
  ],
  "identifierTypes": [
    {
      "identifierKey": "Instrument/default/Isin",
      "required": true
    }
  ],
  "attributeAliases": [
    {
      "attributeName": "Instrument/MyProperties/ExchangeCode",
      "attributeAlias": "Exchange"
    }
  ],
  "recommendedSortBy": [
    {
      "attributeName": "Name",
      "sortOrder": "ASC"
    }
  ],
  "supplementalPropertyKeys": ["Portfolio/MyProperties/ManagerName"]
}'
```

Navigate to **Data Management > Custom Data Models** and select a supported entity type:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/d575ad81-c0ed-4980-bbd1-d59ac5c3de82/Images/Documentation/image-ZLGH9TFM.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-09T06%3A42%3A08Z&se=2026-11-09T07%3A42%3A08Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=CTqUXS69Zd0ems31XSAeULqi1%2FyEDPntKfoZBcqtU28%3D)

Right-click the chosen widget and select **Add child**:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/d575ad81-c0ed-4980-bbd1-d59ac5c3de82/Images/Documentation/image-3WVKBMSY.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-09T06%3A42%3A08Z&se=2026-11-09T07%3A42%3A08Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=CTqUXS69Zd0ems31XSAeULqi1%2FyEDPntKfoZBcqtU28%3D)

Complete the **New data model** dialog:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/d575ad81-c0ed-4980-bbd1-d59ac5c3de82/Images/Documentation/image-IJ65IH93.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-09T06%3A42%3A08Z&se=2026-11-09T07%3A42%3A08Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=CTqUXS69Zd0ems31XSAeULqi1%2FyEDPntKfoZBcqtU28%3D)

***Coming soon***

## Request fields

This section supplements the [API documentation](https://www.lusid.com/docs/api/lusid/endpoints/custom-data-models/CreateCustomDataModel/) and on-screen help text in the LUSID web app.

A CDM:

- Must have a `scope` and a `code` that together uniquely identify it.
- Must have a `displayName` and can have a `description`.
- Can have a `parentDataModel`, identified by its scope and code. Note a CDM inherits every attribute of its parent (all the following points), so there is no need to specify these again.
- Can have `conditions` that use [LUSID filter syntax](/v1/docs/filtering-information-retrieved-from-lusid) to restrict applicability to a subset of entities.
- Can specify a set of allowed `identifierTypes` for entities that support market or user-defined [identifiers](/v1/docs/what-is-an-identifier) (such as `Instrument`), and optionally make values `required`. No other identifiers can be added to entities.
- Can specify a set of allowed `properties`, and optionally make values `required`. No other properties can be added to entities. Note you can use a wildcard expression to match multiple properties, for example `Instrument/MyProperties/*` (though these cannot be made `required`, so users are not forced to enter values).
- Can specify a set of `attributeAliases` to give fields, identifiers and properties more intuitive names in LUSID web app dashboards.
- Can specify an ordered set of fields, identifiers and properties to `recommendedSortBy` in LUSID web app dashboards.
- Can specify a set of `supplementalPropertyKeys`. These are automatically returned in LUSID web app dashboards, to reduce the need for dashboard configuration.

## Subsequent updates

You can call the [UpdateCustomDataModel](https://www.lusid.com/docs/api/lusid/endpoints/custom-data-models/UpdateCustomDataModel) to update any aspect of an existing CDM. Note any fields omitted in the request are removed; there is no patch facility. To delete a CDM, call the [DeleteCustomDataModel](https://www.lusid.com/docs/api/lusid/endpoints/custom-data-models/DeleteCustomDataModel) API.