Custom types can be used just like the built-in Documentum types except for the restrictions described earlier. Much of the additional information specified about custom types is stored in the data dictionary.
The data dictionary consists of a set of types whose objects store information about types, such as constraints for properties, default lifecycle, default property values, value assistance, mapping info, and localized text. Since the data dictionary is stored in the repository, it is available to all client applications.
Note
Note that the data dictionary is available for the client applications to use and the Content Server does use the data dictionary for its operation.
The data dictionary information is often cached by applications. In order to refresh this cached information with new changes, the data dictionary can be published. The API method publish_dd can be used to publish the data dictionary.