This chapter contains the following topics:
Oracle's JD Edwards EnterpriseOne enables you to attach informational text to records in the database. Users can add text attachments to records from JD Edwards EnterpriseOne interactive applications. An example of a text attachment is a resume that is attached to the address book record of an employee. A popular use of text attachments is a brief description of items that are purchased and entered into the Oracle's JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Accounts Payable application.
This section provides an overview of text attachments in reports, lists the prerequisites, and discusses how to add text attachments.
You can design reports to display the text attachments that are attached to records. This enables you to present in a report the same text attachments that are available in the interactive applications. These text attachments are also considered media objects.
JD Edwards EnterpriseOne uses media object data structures to associate records with their text attachments. You can use Oracle's JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Object Management Workbench to view a list of all media object data structures (object type GT). Media object data structures are called in event rules using system functions. After you select a media object system function, you must define these parameters:
Action
Select the <Get Text> action for a media object text attachment.
Text
Select the name of the field that you inserted into the report section to display the text attachment.
Associated fields
Map null, literal values or fields from the report template with the data items that are included in the data structure. These fields are required to ensure that the correct text attachment appears with the correct record in the report section.
Before you add text attachments to reports, ensure that:
Text attachments exist for the records that are required for the report.
An existing report includes the records that have text attached, or create a new report that includes the required records.
You can identify the name of the media object data structure that the interactive application uses to associate text attachments with records.
Open a report template that fetches the appropriate records in Oracle's JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Report Design Aid (RDA).
Select the detail section to which you want to add text attachments.
From the Insert menu, select Alpha Variable.
Position the variable in the detail section.
If the section is columnar, double-click the alpha variable column heading and on the General tab of the properties form, enter a descriptive column name.
If the section is columnar, double-click the column variable; if the section is group, double-click the alpha variable field.
On the Description tab of the properties form, change the name of the variable by entering a new name in the Variable Name field.
Change the name to something meaningful that is easy to recognize in Event Rules Design (for example, Attachments).
This field should relate to the column heading name if the section is columnar.
Select the Display tab, modify the Display Length field to a length that accommodates the text attachment, and click OK.
If the text is longer than the display length, the text wraps.
Click the detail section of the report, and select Event Rules from the Edit menu.
On the Event Rules Design form, select the Do Section event from the pull-down events list box.
From the Insert menu, select System Function.
To include text attachments for specific records, establish If/While criteria. If no text attachment for the record exists or if the record is excluded by the If/While logic, no text prints in the report section.
On the System Functions form, expand the Media Objects folder on the Function Selection tab.
Select the media object data structure that is attached to the associated interactive application.
Select the Parameter Mapping tab.
The Action and Text parameters typically appear on this screen. The remaining parameters vary depending on the data structure that you select.
Define the data structure parameters, and click OK.
The system displays a media object call on the Event Rules Design form. This call varies, depending on the parameters that you mapped.
On the Event Rules Design form, click the check mark to save the event rules and return to RDA.
Preview the report.
For any record that has generic text attached, the text prints in the alpha variable that you placed on the report.