Affiliate ChartFields

You can use Affiliate ChartField values when interunit or intraunit transactions are maintained using the same Account ChartField value among several related entities (such as business units, funds or operating units). For example, each entity within your organization might use account 140000 as the common interunit receivable account and 201000 as the common interunit payable account. However, when using the same accounts for all entities, an Affiliate ChartField value must be assigned to the accounting line or journal line to readily identify the entity with which the receivable or payable is shared.

Affiliate ChartFields cannot be used as standard standalone ChartFields. They must be used in association with another related ChartField. This is because the Affiliate ChartField values are the values of the related ChartField. There is no separate Affiliate ChartField page where you enter Affiliate values as with the stand alone ChartFields, such as Account or Department.

For example, business unit is required as the InterUnit Related ChartField for Affiliate. It provides the values available in the drop down list box for the Affiliate field on the Journal Entry page. PeopleSoft also delivers intraunit affiliate ChartField functionality for the fund and operating unit ChartFields.

While you could assign each entity different accounts to identify entities among the various interunit or intraunit transactions, this probably entail a larger number of interunit or intraunit accounts having to be created and maintained. An advantage in using affiliate ChartFields is that you can have fewer accounts to maintain.