In this article, let’s see how to configure Extensible Flexfields in Oracle Product Management.

Caution:  Before proceeding with this setup, one must know that this feature is available only for users with Product Hub License.  However Descriptive Flexfields is available to all License types.

Extensible Flexfields (EFFs) are new type of Flexfields that are similar to Descriptive Flex fields. DFFs have limitations 1. They can appear only on the same page 2. The number fields are limited to the attribute columns provided in the table.

With the help of multi-page feature EFF can overcome above limitations. Number of pages that can be created are theoretically unlimited.

Let us use an example to illustrate this.

FlashGate is a multi- national company that manufactures storage devices and computer hardware devices. They want to use Oracle Cloud to maintain their Item Master information. Oracle Product Data Hub uses general item specifications to store item attributes. To store information of a flash disk (say) one can create User defined Attributes (or EFFs).

Step 1:

Capture the requirement and have a high level blue print on how the User attributes should be defined.

Features: capacity in GB, Color

Other Details: Warranty and Date of Manufacturing

Step 2:

Determine the attributes and nature of data

Step 3:

Setup Flexfield

a. Navigation

Define the Extensible Flexfields  by navigating to setup and Maintenance

b. Create Context

Also referred as attribute group. Comprises of segments that makes the grouping meaningful.

c. Create Segment

Segments are individual entities that are present inside a Context. Segments can be any of the four data types provided.

1. Character
2. Number
3. Date
4. Date and Time

d. Create corresponding Value Set

Value sets are predefined group of values that belong to the same type. Value sets could be any of the four types.

Format Only – Text Box

Independent – Used for drop downs

Dependent – list of values derived from independent value of other attribute

Subset – Subset of values of existing independent value set

Table  – Values are derived from a table column using SQL clause

e. Associate Contexts to Category

f. Create Page and associate Contexts

EFFs allow creation of multiple custom pages on a standard page. Here we are creating two pages on standard Item page.

Flexfields created should be associated to Pages. Most times consultants create Flexfields and forget to associate to Pages. In these cases flexfields will not show up on the user interface.

Step 4: Deploy  Flexfield

Step 5: Verify Flexfields

Navigate to Product Information Management and then click on Manage Items. Search for any item and check for specifications. Define values and save the item.  In case the flexfields are not visible, it is always recommended to logout of the application and launch it in a new window.

Hope you liked this article. Watch out this space for more articles.

Naveen Kumar

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