16 Joining Detail Sections

This chapter contains the following topics:

16.1 Understanding Subsection Joins

Subsection joins provide you with an alternative to creating new business views when existing business views do not meet your business requirement. You can use subsection joins to join two detail sections, each using a different business view, within a report template. This enables you to present additional data in the report using fields that are not included in a single business view.

The two subsection join sections are referred to as the parent section (generally accessing a master table) and the child section (generally accessing a secondary table). The parent section regulates the processing of the report. After each field in the parent section is processed, all of the corresponding records in the child section are processed.

See Chapter 22, "Understanding Report Processing".

Within a report template in Oracle's JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Report Design Aid (RDA), you can:

  • Create subsection joins.

    Two methods are available for creating subsection joins.

    • Add the second detail section as a subsection join section.

    • Join two existing detail sections within a report template.

  • Modify and sever subsection joins.

    After you create a subsection join, some modification might be required. For example, you can modify section and field properties for subsection join sections. You can also change the fields on which the sections are joined and sever the join between the two sections.

You can create a subsection join between two columnar sections, two group sections, or a columnar and a group section. The subsection join option is not available for tabular sections.

Subsection join reports take longer to process than a report using a joined table business view. For this reason, subsection joins are a great alternative to creating a custom business view when the report is not a frequently processed report.

16.2 Creating Subsection Joins

This section provides an overview of joins, lists the prerequisites, and discusses how to:

  • Create subsection join sections.

  • Modify and sever subsection joins.

  • Join two existing detail sections.

16.2.1 Understanding the Join

The two business views that you use to join two detail sections of a subsection join must share common fields. You must join the two detail sections on at least one common field to establish a link between the two sections.

When selecting business view columns to use in the subsection join, consider which fields are required to ensure that the correct child records are associated with the correct parent records. This might require one field or multiple fields to be selected for the join.

If the records in the two detail sections of the subsection join have a many-to-many relationship, select the Join only on level breaks defined in the parent section option. This option processes the associated child records only after all of the records for the defined level breaks in the parent section have been processed. This action is critical when you are joining tables that have a many-to-many relationship, such as joining a detail file to a transaction file.

For example, you can create a report to review accounts payable and general ledger detail. No business view includes both accounts payable and general ledger information. In a report template, create one detail section using the A/P Detail Reports (V0411G) business view, and in another detail section use the G/L Transaction Detail Report (V0911G) business view. Because both of these business views include the same document type and document number fields, you can establish the subsection join using these fields.

16.2.2 Prerequisites

Before you begin joining detail sections, ensure that you:

  • Create a batch application object.

  • Complete the design of the report template.

16.2.3 Creating Subsection Join Sections

Open a report template in RDA.

  1. Click the section to be used as the parent section.

  2. From the Section menu, select Create, Sub-Section Join, and select one of these options:

    • Group

    • Columnar

  3. On the Business View Selection Option form, select one of these business view options, and click Next:

    • I'd like help finding an appropriate business view.

    • I'll find a business view myself.

  4. Select the required business view, and click Next.

  5. On the Section Layout form, select the business view columns to include in the child section, and click Next.

  6. On the Sub Section Join form, verify that the Join to option under the Parent heading is selected and that the parent section name appears in the field.

    These options are typically already defined by the system.

  7. Select a business view column from the Child columns list that is common with a business view column in the Parent columns and variables list.

    This is typically a common key field such as the address number field.

  8. Select the same business view column from the Parent columns and variables list that you selected from the Child columns list.

  9. Select as many fields from both the Child columns list and the Parent columns and variables list to ensure that the correct records are matched in the report.

  10. Select the Join only at level breaks defined in the parent section option as necessary, and click Finish.

    The child section resides within the parent section and includes a chain-link icon, indicating that it is joined to the parent section.

  11. Define data sequencing for the child section.

  12. Modify the fields in the child section, as necessary, to enhance the appearance of the report.

16.2.4 Modifying and Severing Subsection Joins

Open a report template that includes a subsection join in RDA.

  1. Double-click the child section, or select Section Properties from the Section menu.

  2. Select the Sub Section Join tab, and modify options as necessary.

  3. To sever the join, click the No Join option, and click OK.

    Both detail sections are now independent sections.

16.2.5 Joining Two Existing Detail Sections

Open a report template that includes a subsection join in RDA.

  1. Click the detail section that you want to perform as the child section.

  2. From the Section menu, select Sub-Section Join.

  3. On the Define Sub-Section Join form, under the Parent heading, select the Join To option.

  4. In the Join To field, select the parent section to which you want to join the child.

  5. Select a business view column from the Child columns list that is common with a business view column in the Parent columns and variables list.

    This is typically a common key field such as the address number field.

  6. Select the same business view column from the Parent columns and variables list that you selected from the Child columns list.

  7. Select as many fields from both the Child columns list and the Parent columns and variables list as you need to ensure that the correct records are matched in the report.

  8. Select the Join only at level breaks defined in the parent section option as necessary, and click Finish.

    The child section resides within the parent section and includes a chain-link icon, indicating that it is joined to the parent section.