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Context Sensitive Descriptive Flexfields

An article on Context Sensitive Descriptive Flexfields, for beginners that follow http://getappstraining.blogspot.com


A training article on Context Sensitive Descriptive flexfields.
IMPORTANT:- You must read Basics Flexfield article . This article is an extension to the work that we did for a simple flexfields.


First some basic Question and answers, and then we will do screenshots detailing how flexfields are configured.


Question: I want these Flex fields to appear in screen only when certain conditions are met. Is it possible?
Answer: Yes, you can. Lets take an Example. You have a "Bank Branch" screen where you enter the Bank names and their branches . There is a field named Branch Type in that screen. You wish to show & capture following new fields:-
a. Banks Country of Origin Field ( regardless of bank branch type, we must show this new field). As we configured in earlier training chapter.
b. If user entered a value of SWIFT in Branch type, then display a new DFF segment "SWIFT Partner field".
c. If Branch type CHIPS is selected by the user, then display a DFF segment "Chip ID" field.


In Order to do this, we will follow the below steps(screenshots will follow) :-
1. Navigate to the DFF Registration screen in Oracle Apps and query on Table AP_BANK_BRANCES. Now click on Reference Field, and ensure that “BANK_BRANCH_TYPE” field can be used as a context switch. In our case we add this field as a reference field.
2. Navigate to DFF Segments screen and query on the Title of the “Bank Branch” and Unfreeze the Flexfield and add segments as in screenshot below. Register the BANK_BRANCH_TYPE field as a reference item.
3. Create the contexts for each possible value of Bank Branch Type field(for which you want conditional display of fields)....

Hmmmm not clear yet, see the the screenshots and you will surely understand......

Find out the table name for Bank Branch screen, this will enable us to find the DFF that is available for Bank Branch Image

The Bank Branch can have one of the following values.
Image

Given that our DFF will be sensitive to what we enter in Bank Branch, we must find out name of the field(not the display name). This can be done by using examine as shown
Image

We can see that internal name of the Branch Type is "BANK_BRANCH_TYPE". We need to ensure that a DFF can be made sensitive to the value in BANK_BRANCH_TYPE
Image

Lets navigate to DFF registration screen, and using the table name, we query DFF for AP_BANK_BRANCHES.
Image

Alternately you can query using DFF title too.
Image


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Now lets add BANK_BRANCH_TYPE as a REFERENCE Field, by clicking on Button Reference
Image

Now we need to define the new fields(segments). This screen is accessed via menu /Descriptive/Segments . In this screen, lets make BANK_BRANCH_TYPE as the context/reference. This means that DFF will become sensitive to values in Branch Type field
Image

IMPORTANT: If your requirement is not to have any conditiional logic, then no need for all the "Reference Field" blaaa. All you need to do is to add your segment to Global Data Elements
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When the user selects Type=SWIFT, we see the relevant SWIFT field appear in Flexfield window
Image

When user selects Type=CHIPS, we see CHIP Id field appearing in Flexfield window.
Image

Here we now see that value entered in DFF field gets stored in the database column,
Image

Comments (37)add
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written by Christopher Joseph , November 01, 2006
Thanks a lot Anil!!
This article was really useful.
Keep on going with http://getappstraining.blogspot.com
Its really one of its kind...
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written by Christopher Joseph , November 01, 2006
Thanks a lot Anil!!
This article was really useful.
Keep on going with http://getappstraining.blogspot.com
Its really one of its kind...
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written by Anil Passi , November 15, 2006
Hey Chris,
Thanks, I will keep working on getappstraining surely..

Cheers
Anil
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written by Anil Passi , November 15, 2006
Hey Chris,
Thanks, I will keep working on getappstraining surely..

Cheers
Anil
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written by Anil Passi , January 11, 2007
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Hi User,
I usually never write about menu path navigation. To access any screen, all you need to do is, when inside a responsibility, on keyboard hit, Control L.

By Control L, all the existing screen name will be and you can search using r;anch%

Thanks,
Anil Passi
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written by User , January 11, 2007
Hi Anil,
The way you explain the things, is very simple and easy to understand. I appreciate your work.
One thing I thought to ask you. You navigated to Bank Branches window in the process of DFF Registration process. Can you please let me know what exactly is the navigation to flow for that Bank Branches? Not only, how can we know the navigation flow in general also. for example transactions, invoices, receipts or sites etc., I think it would be very useful, if u can explain how can we follow the navigation flow, for any particular window.

Thanks!
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written by Anil Passi , January 11, 2007
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.
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Hi User,
I usually never write about menu path navigation. To access any screen, all you need to do is, when inside a responsibility, on keyboard hit, Control L.

By Control L, all the existing screen name will be and you can search using r;anch%

Thanks,
Anil Passi
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written by User , January 11, 2007
Hi Anil,
The way you explain the things, is very simple and easy to understand. I appreciate your work.
One thing I thought to ask you. You navigated to Bank Branches window in the process of DFF Registration process. Can you please let me know what exactly is the navigation to flow for that Bank Branches? Not only, how can we know the navigation flow in general also. for example transactions, invoices, receipts or sites etc., I think it would be very useful, if u can explain how can we follow the navigation flow, for any particular window.

Thanks!
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written by Anil Passi , January 12, 2007
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Hi User,

Ctrl+L is for finding out the screen name[not responsibility, i think you did a typo].

Anyway, the only other way of knowing navigation path is by reading Oracle Manuals/implementation guide.

Thanks,
Anil Passi
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written by User , January 12, 2007
Anil,

I tried following your reply. You made it much simple! Just out of anxiety, is there any other way, other than Ctrl+L in finding the appropriate responsibility and then reaching to the specified path from the menu?

Thank you!
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written by Anil Passi , January 12, 2007
.
.
Hi User,

Ctrl+L is for finding out the screen name[not responsibility, i think you did a typo].

Anyway, the only other way of knowing navigation path is by reading Oracle Manuals/implementation guide.

Thanks,
Anil Passi
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written by User , January 12, 2007
Anil,

I tried following your reply. You made it much simple! Just out of anxiety, is there any other way, other than Ctrl+L in finding the appropriate responsibility and then reaching to the specified path from the menu?

Thank you!
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written by Swen , January 22, 2007
Good article, keep going
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written by Swen , January 22, 2007
Good article, keep going
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written by artur bakhtriger , January 31, 2007
Anil, I am strugled to implement po_requsions_line dff on iProcurement
they a simle global DFF
I enable Flex: (ReqLineDescFlex) and expect to see them but they not displayed on non-catalog request. Any idea what can I check . Thanks a lot.
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written by Anil Passi , February 02, 2007
Hello Artur,

Many thanks for coming back to share your experience.

Regards,
Anil Passi
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written by Anil Passi , February 21, 2007
Hi Sara

Have a look at this article http://oracle.anilpassi.com/sm...ields.html

This outlines a solution to your requirement, whereby you can create a profile option and set that at responsibility level. The context of your DFF will be the profile option itself.

Thanks,
Anil
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written by Sara , February 21, 2007
Hi Anil,

your site is really good and informative.

We have a requirement where we need to restrict descriptive flex field based on organization.

That is we have a custom form in which we have a descriptive flex field to capture some additional information regarding beneficiary tax id.This form has been shared with different payables responsiblity.The requirement is we need this descriptive flex field to populate for certain Oraganization alone and not for the rest.Currently the descriptive flex field is populating for all the responsibility.Please provide some suggestion.
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written by Jaideep Valani , March 20, 2007
hi anil ,i am unable to get what the reference field is for ,i mean why we need to go to reference fields,plz explain i am a beginner
thanks
jai
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written by Anil Passi , March 24, 2007
Hi
reference field is the field on which DFF context is sensitive.

Lets take an example
If your reference field is ORDER_TYPE

then, lets say you have two possible values
DIRECT ORDER, COMMISSION ORDER

In this case, you will define two different codes beneath global data elements, namely
DIRECT ORDER
COMMISSION ORDER

Next you will define the fields/attributes for each of this context

Thanks,
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written by Anil PAssi , April 04, 2007
If you use a bind variable referencing the D2k form field, then such form field will not exist in OA Fwk Screen, hence the message.

You can ignore this provided:-
1. Its just a warning, and it lets you proceed
AND
2. You have no intention to use OA Fwk couterpart of this screen

When you eventually move to OA Fwk for this functionality, then this DFF can be revisited.

Thanks,
Anil Passi
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written by Prasad , April 05, 2007
Never mind .. I got it finally.. it was my mistake.. I had checked the displayed box. smilies/smiley.gif thanks to you again... I got it by following your example again from scratch but this that i didnt use my brain ( act smart) and followed it blindly. smilies/smiley.gif
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written by Rasi , June 05, 2007
Hi,
How do you make the flexfield window pop-up as soon as a user tabs out of type field after typing SHIPs or SWIFT.
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written by Arnab , August 14, 2007
Hi Anil
This is the most lucid and clear description of Context Sensitive DFFs I have seen. Please keep up your amazing contribution to the field of Oracle Apps. Three cheers smilies/smiley.gif
Warm Regards,
Arnab
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written by sujoy , September 25, 2007
how do i find the dff name if the record history is not available for a particular form????
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written by Anil Passi , September 25, 2007
You can use examine to figure that out.
Have a look at the image below


Thanks,
Anil Passi
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Can we get DFF values in FSG Report?
written by Thulasee Ram , December 04, 2007
Hi Anil,

Can we generate the values in FSG Report with DFF Values?
Usually we generate FSG based on the account code combinations in GL(Values given in Key flex field.......). Suppose,there is a DFF at customer information level. From inventory/OM, the sales a/c, COGS A/C etc... will come to GL and based on that we can generate FSG. But at the customer level if there are values given in DFF and those will be related to any particular segment value of the Key flex field (say to a segment - Project)........when we prepare FSG that information can be captured in FSG. If it so could please explain me how that can done?

Thanks and Regards,
Thulasee
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Urgent
written by mmmm , December 07, 2007
Hi Anil
I created a flexfiled in the customer site bill_to so the user can specifier if
the invoice for that customer will be e-mail or mail or not print, but know I like to
and I put those in attribute20 in table Hz_cust_site_uses_all, how can I make the autoinvoice
put that attibute20 in global_attribute20 in ar_customer_trx_all for the same site.
Thank you
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Reference a contextual flex field to the session use?
written by Joel , January 18, 2008
Hi Anil,
I'm trying to define a context sensitive descriptive flexfield and referencing the session user. Would I use in the reference field?

Thanks in advance
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Reference a contextual flex field to the session user?
written by Joel , January 18, 2008
Forget the last message I wrote it wrong.

Hi Anil,
I'm trying to define a context sensitive descriptive flexfield and referencing the session user org id. Would I use $PROFILE$.ORG_ID in the reference field?

Thanks in advance
Joel

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Audit Table for Flexfields
written by Anoop Dangui , March 12, 2008
Hi Anil,

Can you please help me to find the audit table for flex field which keep the record for all the changes done to the flex field vlaues. Does some setup need to be done for this to be implemented.

My requirement: I need to generate an outbound interface for all the delta changes of the fnd_flex_values of the GL flex field. So when i run my program it will fetch me the old and the new values of the flex segment which was changed. Could you please help to identify the table which stores the old value. Will be really helpful if you could provide any import.

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written by Anil Passi , March 12, 2008
Hi Anoop

The tables are
FND_FLEX_VALUES
FND_FLEX_VALUES_TL

You may enable auditing on these tables.

Alternately,create custom triggers, but it is not advisable to create DB triggers in Oracle Apps

Thanks
Anil
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Changing existing programs
written by NM , September 25, 2008
Hi Anil,
I have changed the existing DFF to context sensitive dff and need to change existing programs to accomodate these changes.
What information do I need to include?
Here are the details---


The part of original code is (THIS CODE WAS WRITTEN WHEN ATTRIBUTES WERE NOT CONTEXT SENSITIVE)---

select attribute4, trim(substr(attribute5,10,14)), trim(sustr(attribute5,124,15)),vendor_site_id, vendor_id
into v_team1, v_team2, v_team3, v_vendor_site_id, v_vendor_id
from ap_invoices_all
where invoice_id = r_c_invoice_id;

The DFF details are:

Application: Payables Title: Invoice
Context Prompt: US INV
Segments - Attributes1 to Attributes9

I have FLEX_VALUE_SET_ID for each of the segment in the FND_DESCR_FLEX_COL_USAGE_VL table.
ex: attribute1's flex_value_set_id = 100001



WHAT CHANGES DO I NEED TO MAKE SO THE ABOVE CODE IS NOW REFRENCING TO CONTEXT SENSITIVE DFF?

Thanks,
Nileh


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Existing Values in attribute field
written by Matt N. , December 10, 2008
Anil, I was able to set up a context sensitive flexfield on the hr job form using your examples. The attribute column I used in the per_jobs table already contained many correct values prior to making it context sensitive. Unfortunately they will not display. I can see the correct value by querying the attribute column in the table but within the application the flexfield shows as blank. It will show if I use the value set and pick the same value and save it. Is there a way to make these existing values show without having to re-select them?

Thanks,
Matt

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Issue in restricting multiple DF dispaly in Tab Pages in Oracle Apps forms 6i
written by sudeep , August 27, 2009
Hi,
I need help in resolving an issue in DFF population on Custom Forms in Oracle Apps.

We have Tab pages like Accounts, Orders, Contracts.
On each tab page we have DDF related to each tab page Accounts, Orders, Contracts.
So once i click the Orders DFF its populating the DFF Data properly.But when i move to next tab page and Click Account's DFF, its populating both the DFF one after teh other i.e Accounts's DFF and then Order's DFF.
How do i avoid this situation. My block is based on only one view which calls multiple table for Accounts, Orders and Contracts.
I tried using FND_DESCR_FLEX.UPDATE_DEFINITION to diable the Orders DFF's when Accounts DFF is fired. But it makes the Orders DFf Disabled permanetly.
How to avaiod this situation.
Aapreciate if anyone can guide me.

regards
Sudeep
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Default Value in DFF
written by Ash Manukyan , May 02, 2010
Hi Anil, thanks a lot for all. Im big fun of your blog.
I have a problem with DFF. I want to populate an attribute with a value when user selects a subinventory. When I populate the field (attributeX) and user clicks the DFF, the popup does not upload my value. I tried also to populate Desc_flex field with a value but didn't work.
Any idea?
thanks
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How to define DFF on R12 Customer form by Operating unit
written by Pan , June 23, 2010
How to define DFF on R12 Customer form by Operating units
written by Pan , June 23, 2010
I am having issues in separating DFF's on R12 Customer screen ( HTML) by Operating units . It used to work in Oracle Forms but not working in HTML form .

Need this desperately

Please help

-P
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