Defining Key Flexfield Structures
Prerequisites
Use the Value Sets window to define any value sets you need. See: Value Sets.
1. Navigate to the Key Flexfield Segments window.
2. Select the application name and title of the key flexfield you want to define. You cannot create a new flexfield or change the name of an existing flexfield using this window.
You can change the title of an existing flexfield structure by typing in a new title over the old title. You see this name when you choose a flexfield structure and as the window title in your key flexfield (unless the flexfield is used for a specific purpose such as "Consolidation Account", in which case the structure title does not appear in the flexfield window).
4. If you want to generate a database view for this structure, enter a view name. Your view name should begin with a letter and must not contain any characters other than letters, numbers, or underscores ( _ ). Your view name must not contain any spaces. See: Overview of Flexfield Views.
You should enable at least one structure for each key flexfield. If you disable a structure that already contains data, you cannot use that structure to create new combinations or query up your old information.
6. Select the character you want to use to separate your flexfield segment values or descriptions whenever your application forms display concatenated segment values or descriptions.
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, you see the character in your value as a caret (^) so you can differentiate it from the segment separator in your concatenated value fields. 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.
You can freeze rollup groups before or after you define your flexfield structure. See: Segment Values.
You can update this field only if your application flexfield has been built to allow dynamic inserts. Otherwise this field is display only.
10. Choose the Segments button to open the Segments Summary window, and define your flexfield segments. See: Defining Segments.
11. Freeze your flexfield structure by checking the Freeze Flexfield Definition check box.
12. Compile your frozen flexfield by choosing the Compile button. Your changes are saved automatically when you compile.
You must freeze and compile your flexfield definition before you can use your flexfield. If you have more than one flexfield structure, you must freeze, save, and compile each structure separately. If you decide to make changes to your flexfield definition, make sure that you freeze and save your flexfield definition again after making your changes.
Warning: Do not modify a frozen flexfield definition if existing data could be invalidated. An alteration of the flexfield structure once you have any flexfield data can create serious data inconsistencies. Changing your existing structures may also adversely affect the behavior of any cross-validation rules or shorthand aliases you have for your structures, so you should be sure to manually disable or redefine any cross-validation rules and shorthand aliases to reflect your changed structures.
See Also
Key Flexfield Segments Window
Defining Key Flexfields
Defining Segments Window