Constrain Changes to Extensible Flexfields

Constrain the changes that your users can make in an extensible flexfield.

For example, use a processing constraint to prevent the Order Entry Specialist from updating an extensible flexfield when Order Management already closed the fulfillment line, or to require you to enter a value in an extensible flexfield at a step of an orchestration process.

Note:

• Use the Manage Constraint Entities page to enable the extensible flexfield so you can use it on the Manage Processing Constraints page.

• Extensible flexfields aren't available on the Attributes menu of the Record Sets tab.

• You must enable an extensible flexfield before you can use it.

• A processing constraint prevents changes to the order line after Order Management closes the line. If you set up an extensible flexfield on the order line, and if you don't constrain the extensible flexfield, then the constraint doesn't prevent you from changing the value in the extensible flexfield.

Summary of the Set Up

1. Enable the extensible flexfield.

2. Create the validation rule set.

3. Create the processing constraint.

4. Test your set up.

You will create this constraint:

• If Order Management already closed the fulfillment line, then don't allow you to change the value in the Subcontractor ID extensible flexfield.

This topic uses example values. You might need different values, depending on your business requirements.

Enable the Extensible Flexfield

Enable the extensible flexfield so the constraint can reference it.

1. Publish and deploy the extensible flexfield.

   For details, see Set Up Extensible Flexfields in Order Management.

2. Go to the Setup and Maintenance work area, then go to the task.

   • Offering: Order Management

   • Functional Area: Orders

   • Task: Manage Constraint Entities

3. On the Manage Constraint Entities page, set the Entity Type attribute to Equals View Entity, then click Search.

4. In the search results, select Order Fulfillment Line.

5. In the Attribute Details area, locate the extensible flexfield that you must enable, make sure the Constraint Enabled attribute contains a check mark, then click Save and Close > Done.

   For this example, enable Subcontractor ID.

Create the Validation Rule Set

1. In the Setup and Maintenance work area, go to the task.

   • Offering: Order Management

   • Functional Area: Orders

   • Task: Manage Processing Constraints

2. On the Manage Processing Constraints page, click Validation Rule Set.

3. Click Actions > Add Row, set the values, then click Save.

   Attribute	Value
   Name	Fulfillment Line Is Closed
   Description	Fulfillment line is closed.
   Short Name	FLCLOSE
   Validation Type	Table
   Entity	Order Fulfillment Line

4. In the Details area, click Actions > Add Row, set the values, then click Save.

   Attribute	Value
   Attribute Name	Open
   Validation Operation	Equal To
   Value String	N

5. Click Generate Packages.

   Order Management activates the validation rule set so you can use it in your constraint.

If you add more than one line in the Details area of a validation rule set, then Order Management evaluates them together.

If you select two context and segment attributes, then the attributes must use the same context value. The context is mutually exclusive. Consider this example.

Context	Segment
Dealer Information	ID
Dealer Information	Location
Warranty Information	ID

You can't simultaneously select segment ID for the Dealer Information context and for the Warranty Information context.

Create the Processing Constraint

1. Click Constraints > Actions > Add Row, set the values, then click Save.

   Attribute	Value
   Name	Constrain Subcontractor ID
   Display Name	Constrain Subcontractor ID
   Constraint Entity	Order Fulfillment Line
   Constrained Operation	Update
   Attribute Name	Subcontractor:ID

2. In the Details area, click Actions > Add Row, set the values, then click Save.

   Attribute	Value
   Group Number	100
   Validation Entity	Order Fulfillment Line
   Validation Rule Set	Fulfillment Line Is Closed
   Scope	Any
   Record Set	Fulfillment Line Default Record Set
   Message	The fulfillment line is closed. You can't modify it.

Test Your Set Up

1. In the Order Management work area, open a sales order you already submitted.

2. Verify that Order Management doesn't allow you to modify Subcontractor ID on a fulfillment line that's closed.