Add Field - Fields

Show/Hide All

Field Name

Type the name of the user-defined field (UDF). The field name identifies the field for the data dictionaries used by SAP Crystal Reports or other ODBC-compliant applications. The field is automatically set to uppercase with underlines replacing blanks. Field names are automatically prefixed with UDF_.

Example - Prefixing field names

If CONTRACT NO is entered, the following displays:

UDF_CONTRACT_NO

Description

Type a description of the user-defined field (UDF).

Entry Sample

Contract number

Source

In the Source for UDF Data section, select how data is populated into a user-defined field (UDF). Data can be manually entered if the table the field is being added to has an associated data entry window (for example, Account Maintenance). Alternately, it can be sourced from a business object, meaning you can populate the field from the contents of another field into a related table (for example, defaulting the value of a General Journal Detail UDF from a UDF defined in the GL_Account table).

The following types of business objects are listed based on the table selected in User-Defined Field and Table Maintenance:

UPD: These business objects are used for update processes and journals. You can select only the Business Object option for UPD business objects; you cannot manually add user-defined fields to UPD business objects, because there is no data entry panel associated with them. This type of object is available for historical postings (for example, GL Detail Posting) and journal work tables (for example, GL General Journal Work).

RPT: These business objects are used to print reports. You can select only the Business Object option for RPT business objects; you cannot manually add user-defined fields to the RPT business objects. This type of field is available for report work tables (for example, GL Detail Report Work).

BUS: These maintenance business objects are used in data entry windows. You can select the Manual Entry or Business Object option for BUS business objects; however, if there are no data sources, only the Manual Entry option is available. This type of object is available for tables that have an associated data entry window (for example, Account Maintenance).

Select the Manual Entry option to manually specify the properties of a UDF and its functionality. After selecting the Manual Entry option and clicking OK, the AddField/Edit Field window appears, allowing you to set additional properties.

Select the Business Object option to specify the data source and column used to inherit UDF properties from the business object selected in the Business Object field. A business object is used as the source for the UDF.

Business Object

Business objects are defined in the data dictionary and typically have a one-to-one relationship with a table; every table that supports user-defined fields (UDFs) must have at least one defined business object.

In general, there is only one business object defined per table, and that business object is automatically selected by default. If multiple business objects are listed in this field, then a table with a UPD, or update business object was selected in User-Defined Field and Table Maintenance. For example, the GL Daily Posting table is written to during the update process for the General Journal, Allocation Journal, and Recurring Journal. You can map fields from the data entry tables for each of these updates into the GL Detail Posting table.

For information about specific business objects, see the Source field above.

Data Source

Select a data source. Data sources represent fields that are file-validated against another table, and exist in business objects or tables that are used to perform an update or generate a work table for a report or register.

If you are creating a new numeric user-defined field (UDF) for a header business object that has an associated line-detail object, an option that begins with <Total From> appears as the last option in the list. This allows the new header UDF to automatically total a numeric field from the detail table.

Note Data sources vary based on the type of business object selected. If data sources are not available for the selected business object, the Manual Entry option must be selected in the Source area, and the UDF must be entered manually in the data entry window (for example, Account Maintenance).

Column

Select a column. Every column associated with the selected table is listed, including existing user-defined fields (UDFs). The UDF being created inherits properties from the data source and column selected.

Numeric columns from a line-detail object appear in this field if the <Total From> option is selected at the Data Source field.

Ignore If Null / Ignore If Zero

Select this check box if the value from the source column is blank (or zero if the UDF is numeric), and you do not want to clear the existing (destination) UDF value. Clear this check box if you want to clear the existing (destination) UDF value (or set it to zero if the UDF is numeric).

Note This field can be defined only for update business object sources.

Column Information

This field displays column information based on the selection in the Column field, such as the data type, size, and class information. This field can only be viewed.