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Prerequisites

   Use the Value Sets window to define any value sets you need. See: Value Sets.

   To define a descriptive flexfield:

1. Navigate to the Descriptive Flexfield Segments window.

2. Select the title and application name of the descriptive flexfield you want to define. You cannot create a new flexfield using this window. See: Identifying Descriptive Flexfields in Oracle Applications.

3. You can change the flexfield title by typing in a new name over the old name. You see this name whenever you select a descriptive flexfield and as the window title whenever a user enters your descriptive flexfield.

Do not freeze your flexfield if you want to define new structures, set up or modify your flexfield segments, or change the appearance of your descriptive flexfield window. You cannot make most changes while the flexfield is frozen.

Freeze your flexfield after you set it up. Then save your changes. When you do, this window automatically compiles your flexfield. You must freeze and compile your flexfield definition before you can use your flexfield. If you decide to make changes to your flexfield definition, make sure that you freeze and save your flexfield definition again once you have made your changes.

Warning: Do not modify a frozen flexfield definition if existing data could be invalidated. An alteration of the flexfield structure can create data inconsistencies.

4. Enter the character you want to use to separate your segments in a concatenated description field.

You should choose your separator character carefully so that it does not conflict with your flexfield data. For example, if your data frequently contains periods ( . ) in monetary or numeric values, you should not use a period as your segment separator. If you enter a segment value that contains the segment separator character, your flexfield displays the character in your value as a caret (^) in your concatenated value fields to differentiate it from the segment separator. This change is for concatenated display purposes only and does not affect your value. To avoid confusion, you should never use a caret (^) as your segment separator.

Warning: Some Oracle Applications tables store the segment separator as part of your flexfield values. Changing your separator once you have data in such tables may invalidate that data and cause application errors.

The context field automatically displays any existing context window prompt for this flexfield. You can change this prompt by typing a new prompt over the current prompt. Your flexfield displays this prompt in a flexfield window if you can choose the context-sensitive flexfield structure you want to see when you enter the flexfield (that is, if you have permitted Override).

When you choose a prompt, you should keep in mind that the context field in the flexfield window appears as just a normal field or segment to a user. For example, if you have a Client Type descriptive flexfield with two different segment structures called Customer (for external clients) and Employee (for internal clients), you might define your prompt as "Client Type".

5. Enter a default context field value for your flexfield to use to determine which descriptive flexfield structure to display. You must define the default context field value as a structure in the Context Field Values zone before you can compile your flexfield. Your flexfield automatically uses this default context field value if you do not define a reference field.

If you do not have any context-sensitive segments, or you want the context field to remain blank unless filled in by a reference field, you should leave this field blank.

6. Indicate whether a context field value is required. If a context field value is required, your flexfield does not allow you to leave the flexfield window without entering a valid value. Otherwise, you do not have to choose a value for your context field. In this case, you leave the flexfield window without seeing any context-dependent structures.

7. Enter the name of the reference field from which your flexfield can automatically derive the context field value. You can select from a list of potential reference fields that have been predefined. Some descriptive flexfields may not have any reference fields predefined. See: Reference Fields.

8. Indicate whether you can override the context field value that your flexfield derives from a reference field or obtains as a default value. If you can change the value, your flexfield displays your context window prompt in the flexfield window.

You should always allow overrides if you do not specify either a default value or a reference field, unless you have only global segments. Without allowing override, your flexfield must determine its value from the reference field or your default value.

Suggestion: You should specify No only if the context field value derives from a reference field or a default value that you specify using this zone. If you do derive your context field value from a reference field, however, we recommend that you do not allow your user to override that value.

See Also

Defining Segments

Context Field Values