Settings
The Settings page lets you configure your Metatate instance to match your organization's needs. It covers tenant identity and the custom data type taxonomy used for column classification.
the settings page
Tenant Configuration
The tenant section stores basic information about your organization:
- Company Name -- Displayed in the UI header and included in governance metadata.
- Description -- A brief description of your organization or team.
These values are primarily for identification purposes. In multi-tenant or multi-instance deployments, they help distinguish which Metatate instance you are working with.
the tenant configuration form
Custom Data Type Taxonomy
The taxonomy is the set of data types that Metatate uses when classifying columns in the Catalog. It defines the vocabulary for what kinds of data exist in your organization.
Default Types
Metatate ships with a set of common data types out of the box:
- Email Address
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Phone Number
- Mailing Address
- Date of Birth
- Full Name
- Credit Card Number
- IP Address
These cover the most common PII and sensitive data patterns.
Adding Custom Types
Every organization has domain-specific data. The taxonomy editor lets you add custom types that reflect your industry and data landscape.
the taxonomy editor with custom types
To add a custom type:
- Open Settings and scroll to the Taxonomy section.
- Click Add Type.
- Enter a name and optional description for the new data type.
- Save.
Examples by industry:
| Industry | Custom Types |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | MRN (Medical Record Number), Diagnosis Code, NPI |
| Finance | Account Number, SWIFT Code, CUSIP |
| Retail | Loyalty ID, SKU, Customer Segment |
| Education | Student ID, GPA, Enrollment Status |
How the Taxonomy Is Used
When you run AI-powered classification on a table, Cortex uses your full taxonomy -- both default and custom types -- to match columns to the most appropriate data type. A richer taxonomy produces more accurate classifications.
The taxonomy also appears in the Policy Editor when writing classification instructions. You can reference any type from your taxonomy as a column classification label.
Tips
- Add custom types before running classification on your tables. Cortex will use the expanded taxonomy immediately.
- Use clear, descriptive names. The type name is what appears in governance tables and MCP tool responses.
- You can update or remove custom types at any time. Existing classifications are not retroactively changed -- reclassify affected tables after updating the taxonomy.