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Using a List of Values

A list of values provides you with a powerful, easy-to-use data entry method that increases your accuracy and productivity. A list of values makes data entry an easy task for novice users, and lets power users enter correct data with a minimum number of keystrokes.

Oracle Applications tells you when a list of acceptable input values is available for a field by illuminating the <List> lamp on the status line and enabling the LOV icon. When you display a list, the values appear in a window with a title that describes the contents.

Note: The list that we describe here differs from the list associated with a poplist field. You identify a poplist field by its special poplist icon. You identify a text field containing a list of values by the <List> lamp that appears on the status line and the enabled LOV icon when your cursor is in that text field.

Note: One of the first list of value windows you encounter when you use Oracle Applications is the Responsibilities window that appears when you sign on if you have more than one responsibility.

Note: This indication is not reliable when in query mode. The LOV lamp and icon may be enabled even though no list is available when you are in query mode. This occurs when an LOV exists for that file, but that LOV is not correct for all the values available in Query Mode.

Basic Business Needs

A list of values provides you with the features you need to satisfy the following basic data entry needs:

Major List Features

AutoSelection

A list of values offers a feature called AutoSelection that lets you choose a valid value from the list with a single keystroke. When you display the list window, you can type the first character of the choice you want in the window. If only one choice begins with the character you enter, AutsoSelection selects the choice, closes the list window, and enters the value in the appropriate field.

AutoReduction

In addition to AutoSelection, you can also use a feature called AutoReduction to help you further simplify and accelerate your data entry. For example, you might want to shorten a list so that you only have to scan a subset of values before choosing a final value. Type in the list window, the first character or characters of the subset you want. If there are several values that match, AutoReduction shortens the list to just those matching values.

To expand a reduced list of choices in a list window, simply press [Backspace]. Just as AutoReduction incrementally reduces a list of values as you enter additional character(s), pressing [Backspace] incrementally expands a list.

Any time you reduce the list to a single entry, AutoSelection selects the entry and enters it into the appropriate field for you.

List Search

You can use AutoReduction to reduce a list when you know the first few characters of your choice. But if you do not know the initial characters of your choice, but do know that your choice contains a certain word or set of characters, you can perform a list search to reduce a list.

In the list window, enter any group of characters as search criterion in the Find field, as shown in Figure 1 - 40 and choose Find. You can use wildcard characters such as percent sign [%], which represents any number of characters, or underline [_], which represents a single character, in your search criterion.

Figure 1 - 40.

For example, to reduce the above list to just those choices containing the phrase "schedule", enter %schedule% in the Find field and choose Find. A reduced list appears, displaying just those choices containing the phrase "schedule".

Figure 1 - 41.

Attention: The phrase you enter for a list search is not case-sensitive.

LongList

If a field has a longlist, that is, it typically has a list of more than 100 values, Oracle Applications displays the following window when you try to display the list of values:

Since it takes less time to display a reduced list than a complete longlist, Oracle Applications prompts you to enter the first few characters that occur in your value of interest to reduce the complete list. The partial value you enter can also include wildcard characters.

If you have to view the entire longlist, you can enter % at the prompt to display all the values.

Attention: To avoid excessive network traffic and reduced performance, try to enter criteria other than just '%' whenever possible.

Power List

Power list provides an even faster method of data entry. If a field displays a <List> lamp and you know the value you want, simply enter the first few characters of the value in the field and press [Tab] to let Power list complete the entry for you. You can also include wildcard characters with the characters you enter. You do not have to display the list window.

If more than one value matches the characters you specify, a list window containing those values appears. If no values match the characters you enter, an error message is displayed on the message line.

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