---
title:  Storing and Retrieving Region Shortcuts and Custom Named Region Attributes
---

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Use these examples to get started with <%=vars.product_name%> region shortcuts.

<a id="region_shortcuts__section_D9E58754D2B0435FA2986DBBF3063D4C"></a>
<%=vars.product_name%> region shortcuts, in `org.apache.geode.cache.RegionShortcut` for peers and servers and `org.apache.geode.cache.client.ClientRegionShortcut` for clients, are available wherever you create a region in the `cache.xml` or through the API. Custom named attributes, stored by you, are available from the moment you store them on.

The region shortcuts are special <%=vars.product_name%> named region attributes, with identifying names. Create custom named region attributes by setting the attributes and storing them with a unique identifier in the region attribute `id`. Retrieve named attributes by providing the shortcut enum value or the name you assigned in the `id` to the region creation:

-   In the API, use the identifier in the region factory creation
-   In the `cache.xml`, use the identifier in the `<region>` or `<region-attribute>` `refid` setting. The `refid` is available in both elements for convenience

## <a id="region_shortcuts__section_8FCBCC4BDCDE4A85A27E5B9B70603F63" class="no-quick-link"></a>Examples

**Example \#1**

This example shows partitioned region creation in the `cache.xml`:

-   The first `region-attributes` declaration starts with the predefined `PARTITION_REDUNDANT` attributes, modifies the `local-max-memory` setting, and stores the resulting attributes in the custom-named `myPartition` attributes.
-   The region declarations use the new stored attributes, but each has its own interest policy, which is specified in the individual region creation.

    ``` pre
    <!-- Retrieving and storing attributes -->
    <region-attributes id="myPartition" refid="PARTITION_REDUNDANT">
        <partition-attributes local-max-memory="512"/>
    </region-attributes>

    <!-- Two partitioned regions, one colocated with the other -->

    <!-- Attributes are retrieved and applied in the first region -->
    <region name="PartitionedRegion1" refid="myPartition"/>

    <!-- Same stored attributes, modification for this region-->
    <region name="PartitionedRegion2" refid="myPartition">
        <region-attributes>
            <partition-attributes colocated-with="PartitionedRegion1" />
        </region-attributes>
    </region>
    ```

**Example \#2**

This example uses the `RegionFactory` API to create a region based on the predefined `PARTITION` region shortcut:

``` pre
final Region diskPortfolios = 
    new RegionFactory("PARTITION").create("Portfolios");
```

This example retrieves an attributes template and passes it to the region creation with a modified pool specification:

``` pre
ClientRegionFactory<String,String> regionFactory =         
    cache.createClientRegionFactory(PROXY);
Region<String, String> region = regionFactory
    .setPoolName("publisher")
    .create("DATA");
```