Posted on August 21st, 2007 by Sanjit Anand |
Print This Post
|
Email This Post
Some one requested last week to provide some information about flex fleld concept. Thought its good to take all into one.Next couple of post will focus on Flex field concept, need and design for custom requirement.
Oracle applications use key flex field to represent intelligent keys with unique ID numbers. ID numbers require only one column while intelligent keys will require multiple columns (one for each section or segment of the code).
Flexfield - A field made up of one or more segments. A segment corresponds to a column in an Oracle table.
Each segment has an assigned name and may have assigned data validation rules (Validation Sets).
Key Flexfield - A Key Flexfield represents an intelligent key that uniquely identifies an application entity. These keys identify accounts, part numbers etc. Each key flexfield has an assigned name and a specified set of valid values.
Examples: in G/L we have the Accounting Flexfield (Chart of Accounts); in Inventory it is the Item Flexfield, in Projects the Job Flexfield.
Descriptive Flexfield - Allows for the capture of additional information not stored in the default application, or strictly for reference when viewed on a screen.
You may create a Flexfield using any of “Attribute(n)†columns. Oracle reserved “Attribute(n)†columns on most of the tables to be setup during installation. These columns are not used by Oracle standard functionality.
You may expand the number of Flexfield values by using “context sensitive†feature.
Flexfield Types /What is the difference between a key flexfield and a descriptive flexfield?
Key Flexfield:
An intelligent key that uniquely identifies an application entity. Each key flexfield segment has a name you assign, and a set of valid values you specify.
Descriptive Flexfield
A field that your organization can extend to capture extra information not otherwise tracked by Oracle Applications. A descriptive flexfield appears in your window as a single character, unnamed field. Your organization can customize this field to capture additional information unique to your business. (Example: capturing state codes on selected journal lines)
Flexfield Key Terms
- Accounting Flexfield : The code you use to identify a general ledger (GL) account in Oracle.
- Segment: A subcomponent of a flexfield. Company and natural account are examples of possible segments in the accounting flexfield.
- Flexfield Qualifiers : Balancing segment, cost center segment, natural account, inter-company segment.
- Segment Values : Numbers or codes attributed to each segment.
Value Set: A list of values for one segment, such as the list of companies, list of accounts, or the list of departments. - Code Combination : One full accounting flexfield with all segment values.
- Dynamic Insertion / Cross-Validation : Automatic creation of account code combination based on rules defined with code combinations.
What is Accounting Flexfield
- Accounting (Key) Flexfield segment one of up to 30 different sections of the accounting flexfield, which together make up a GL account code.
- Accounting Flexfield structure - the combination of key flexfield segments defined to make up the account code combinations. If a segment(s) is added or removed or re-arranged, the result is a different structure.
When to use a KFF
- Used to uniquely identify an application entity with an intelligent key, where the key can be multipart and each part can have meaning.
- Use KFF that Oracle Applications provides to integrate your applications seamlessly with Oracle Applications.
Will take a deep drive for KFF and DFF in next post.