Defining Element Groups

To define element groups, use the Element Groups (GP_ELEMENT_GROUP) component.

Page Name

Definition Name

Usage

Element Group Name Page

GP_PIN

Name the element group and define its basic parameters.

Element Group Members Page

GP_ELEMENT_GROUP

Insert elements into element groups.

To identify numerous elements, you can define element groups—groups of earnings, deductions, or absence elements. You can use element groups to:

  • Assign the same set of elements to a group of payees.

    For example, you might group earnings into one element group and deductions into another and use only those two element group names to specify earnings and deductions. Or you might create one element group for hourly employees' earning elements and another for salaried employees' earning elements.

  • Identify the sets of elements to process during an off-cycle payroll.

    When processing off-cycle transactions, such as payroll corrections or unscheduled payments, you can use the element group feature to specify which elements to process. You select the element set when you enter off-cycle processing instructions through the Off-Cycle Requests components (GP_OFFCYCLE_SETUP).

    When processing off-cycle transactions, such as payroll corrections or unscheduled payments, you can use the element group feature to filter the elements that are processed. You select the element set when you enter off-cycle processing instructions through the Off-Cycle Requests components (GP_OFFCYCLE_SETUP).

  • Create list sets.

    A list set is a collection of elements and parameters that you can use in any process or report that requires a list of elements. For example, you would use an element group to create a list set for use with a payslip generation process.

Use the Element Group Name page (GP_PIN) to name the element group and define its basic parameters.

Navigation

Set Up HCM > Product Related > Global Payroll & Absence Mgmt > Elements > Element Groups > Element Group Name

You name every element and define its basic parameters on an Element Name page. All element components within Global Payroll share the same first Element Name page (GP_PIN).

Use the Element Group Members page (GP_ELEMENT_GROUP) to insert elements into element groups.

Navigation

Set Up HCM > Product Related > Global Payroll & Absence Mgmt > Elements > Element Groups > Element Groups - Element Group Members

Image: Element Group Members page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Element Group Members page.

Element Group Members page

Use caution when making changes to element groups that are referenced by list sets. Changes to element groups affect related list sets. List sets, their use, and their relationship to element groups are discussed in detail in another topic in this product documentation.

See Understanding Applications and List Sets.

Field or Control

Definition
Element Group Use

Define the way that this element group will be used. This field limits the entry types available in the Element Group Members group box. Values are:

  • All-purpose: Select if this element group can be used for eligibility processing, to define a process set for off-cycle processing, or with list set functionality.

  • Eligibility: This is the default value. Select if this element group is to be used only for eligibility processing.

  • Process Set: Select if this element group identifies a limited set of elements to be processed for a given segment. This type of element group is available for off-cycle processing. The inclusion of an element in this group does not waive eligibility requirements; payees must still be eligible for these elements for the elements to be resolved.

  • Application: Select to use this element group specifically with the list set functionality. Selecting this value will avail the Applications — Static/Dynamic group box and the Application Default Sort Sequence field.

Note: The system requires that the Element Group Use field value be the same for multiple effective-dated rows. Therefore, if you add a second effective-dated row to this page, the system populates the new effective-dated row's Element Group Use field by default to the value on the original or earliest effective-dated row, and makes the Element Group Use fields unavailable for entry on all effective-dated rows. So, as long as there's only one row, you can edit the Element Group Use field value. When you insert more than one row, all rows will have the same Element Group Use field value (the value of the original or earliest effective-dated row) and all rows will have the Element Group Use field unavailable for entry.

Applications - Static/Dynamic

Select whether the element group is a static or dynamic list of elements. Static element groups include a list of elements in the Element Group Members group box. Dynamic element groups include only a SQL Where clause - Dynamic Selection Criteria field - that dynamically determines which elements are included in the group every time the element group is called. The Where clause can also contain an Order By clause to sort the selected elements. This option is only available when Element Group Use is Application.

Element Group Members

Field or Control

Definition
Element Type

Select the type of element that you're adding to the element group. Values are Absence Entitlement, Absence Take, Deduction, Earnings, and Element Group.

Note: When nesting element groups (that is, including element groups within element groups), the member groups must have the same use option as the parent group.
Element Name

Select the element name that corresponds to the entry type selected.
Description

Click to open the element's definition component in a separate browser window.
Eligibility Assignment

Select the method for assigning the selected element to a payee. This field enables you to indicate whether a payee gets the element processed simply by inclusion in the eligibility group or whether you have to assign the element through the payee-level Earnings/Deductions Assignment page or enter positive input. This field is only available when Group Use Type is Eligibility or All-Purpose.

Values are:

By Eligibility Group: For elements that apply to most or all payees who are associated with this element group through an eligibility group. This option is used infrequently, because most earnings and deductions are payee-specific.

By Payee: For payee-level elements. Typically, most earning and deduction elements fall into this category.

This field is hidden when you select Process Set for the element group use. It is also hidden when the entry type is Element Group.

Application Default Sort Sequence

Enter the sequence number used to sort the element. To display multiple elements on the same line, use the same sequence number. For example, you would use the same sequence number to display employer and employee deductions side by side. This field is only available when Group Use Type is Application or All-Purpose.

Changing the Element Group Use Field

When needed, you can change the Element Group Use value after you have created the element group. When the field value is changed, the system conducts the following checks:

  • If the field value is Eligibility or Process Set and the element group is being used in that specific area, the system will only allow a change to All-purpose.

  • If the field value is Eligibility or Process Set and the element group is not being used in that specific area, the system will allow any change.

  • If the field value is All-purpose, the system will only allow a change if it is does not alter any current usage (for example, the system will not allow a change to Eligibility if the Element Group is used to define a process set.