---
title: "Enable an Entity for Explicit Hierarchies and Collections (Master Data Services) | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "03/06/2017"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2014"
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.technology: "master-data-services"
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "entities [Master Data Services], enabling for collections"
  - "entities [Master Data Services], enabling for explicit hierarchies"
ms.assetid: 380e77e5-ad60-43d4-9605-34a84525f5dd
author: lrtoyou1223
ms.author: lle
manager: craigg
---
# Enable an Entity for Explicit Hierarchies and Collections (Master Data Services)
  In [!INCLUDE[ssMDSshort](../includes/ssmdsshort-md.md)], enable an entity for explicit hierarchies and collections so that you can create explicit hierarchies and collections for the entity.  
  
## Prerequisites  
 To perform this procedure:  
  
-   You must have permission to access the **System Administration** functional area.  
  
-   You must be a model administrator. For more information, see [Administrators (Master Data Services)](administrators-master-data-services.md).  
  
-   An entity must exist. For more information, see [Create an Entity (Master Data Services)](../../2014/master-data-services/create-an-entity-master-data-services.md).  
  
### To enable an entity for explicit hierarchies and collections  
  
1.  In [!INCLUDE[ssMDSmdm](../includes/ssmdsmdm-md.md)], click **System Administration**.  
  
2.  On the **Model View** page, from the menu bar, point to **Manage** and click **Entities**.  
  
3.  On the **Entity Maintenance** page, from the **Model** list, select a model.  
  
4.  Select the row for the entity that you want to update.  
  
5.  Click **Edit selected entity**.  
  
6.  From the **Enable explicit hierarchies and collections** list, select **Yes**.  
  
7.  In the **Explicit hierarchy name** box, type a name for an explicit hierarchy.  
  
8.  Optionally, clear the **Mandatory hierarchy** check box to create the hierarchy as a non-mandatory hierarchy.  
  
9. Click **Save entity**.  
  
## Next Steps  
  
-   [Create an Explicit Hierarchy (Master Data Services)](../../2014/master-data-services/create-an-explicit-hierarchy-master-data-services.md)  
  
-   [Create a Collection (Master Data Services)](../../2014/master-data-services/create-a-collection-master-data-services.md)  
  
## See Also  
 [Entities (Master Data Services)](../../2014/master-data-services/entities-master-data-services.md)   
 [Explicit Hierarchies (Master Data Services)](../../2014/master-data-services/explicit-hierarchies-master-data-services.md)   
 [Collections (Master Data Services)](../../2014/master-data-services/collections-master-data-services.md)