---
title: "Optionality Element (ASSL) | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "03/06/2017"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2016"
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ms.technology: 
  - "analysis-services"
  - "docset-sql-devref"
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ms.topic: "reference"
apiname: 
  - "Optionality Element"
apilocation: 
  - "http://schemas.microsoft.com/analysisservices/2003/engine"
apitype: "Schema"
applies_to: 
  - "SQL Server 2016 Preview"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "Optionality element"
ms.assetid: 6cd2ef0a-6fbe-4462-ab27-4cdfeb33f8ab
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author: "Minewiskan"
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manager: "erikre"
---
# Optionality Element (ASSL)
  Indicates the optionality of the members for an [AttributeRelationship](../../../analysis-services/scripting/objects/attributerelationship-element-assl.md) element.  
  
## Syntax  
  
```xml  
  
<AttributeRelationship>  
   ...  
   <Optionality>...</OPtionality>  
   ...  
</AttributeRelationship>  
```  
  
## Element Characteristics  
  
|Characteristic|Description|  
|--------------------|-----------------|  
|Data type and length|String (enumeration)|  
|Default value|*Mandatory*|  
|Cardinality|0-1: Optional element that can occur once and only once.|  
  
## Element Relationships  
  
|Relationship|Element|  
|------------------|-------------|  
|Parent element|[AttributeRelationship](../../../analysis-services/scripting/objects/attributerelationship-element-assl.md)|  
|Child elements|None|  
  
## Remarks  
 The value of this element is limited to one of the strings listed in the following table.  
  
|Value|Description|  
|-----------|-----------------|  
|*Mandatory*|Each member in the related attribute has to be associated with at least one member in the attribute that owns the **AttributeRelationship** element.|  
|*Optional*|Each member in the related attribute does not have to be associated with at least one member in the attribute that owns the **AttributeRelationship** element.|  
  
 The enumeration that corresponds to the allowed values for **Cardinality** in the Analysis Management Objects (AMO) object model is <xref:Microsoft.AnalysisServices.Optionality>.  
  
## See Also  
 [Attributes and Attribute Hierarchies](../../../analysis-services/multidimensional-models-olap-logical-dimension-objects/attributes-and-attribute-hierarchies.md)   
 [Properties &#40;ASSL&#41;](../../../analysis-services/scripting/properties/properties-assl.md)