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General

 

 What are user-defined fields (UDFs)?

User-defined fields (UDFs) allow you to include additional information about your customers, vendors, and other data that is not provided by the standard Sage 100 panels. The Customizer module can be used to define UDFs and add them to customized panels. After the UDF information is entered, the data can be displayed and can be added to reports. UDFs can also be added to customized forms that use the SAP Crystal Reports engine. For information about creating and using UDFs, see Create a User-Defined Field (UDF), Add a User-Defined Field (UDF) to a Panel, and Add a User-Defined Field (UDF) to a SAP Crystal Report.

 

 How do I copy user-defined fields (UDFs) from one system to another?

User-defined fields defined on one system can be copied to another system using Customizer Export Wizard and Customizer Import Wizard.

 

Can initial default values be defined for any control on any window?

No. In some cases, the software controls the default values, especially when the default values are being read from a file. The software also implements common programming standards, including data validation on key fields. Therefore, if you attempt to assign default values to key fields, the software may be programmatically controlling that field and setting an appropriate value (blank or another value depending on circumstances), overriding values specified in the Customizer module.

 

 What date format do I enter in the Default Value field in the Add Field and Edit Field windows?

For date data type user-defined fields (UDFs), the date format entered in the Default Value field in the Add Field and Edit Field windows must be in the YYYYMMDD format.

 

 How do I add the telephone number field from the Accounts Receivable Customer Master table to the Sales Order form?

Instead of adding the table to your Crystal report, add the field from the Accounts Receivable Customer Master table to the Sales Order work table. For more information, see Add a Field from Accounts Receivable to a Sales Order Form.

 

 What field settings can I customize for standard fields?

Note This information applies to modules other than Job Cost, Payroll, Material Requirements Planning, Work Order, and TimeCard.

The Advanced Field Settings window allows you to maintain settings for both standard fields and user-defined fields (UDFs). You can maintain the uppercase and required attributes, and define validation options such as a range of entry values, a list of values, or validation against a user-defined table (UDT).

You can customize standard fields for all users and companies, or for specific users and/or companies. For UDFs, this window allows you to define advanced settings only for specific users and/or companies. You can define UDF settings for all users and all companies in User-Defined Fields.

There are limitations on the settings that can be modified. You cannot create advanced settings for primary key fields or read-only fields. In addition, some fields are shipped with predefined default settings, default field entry values, and/or existing validations against another table that cannot be modified. Some settings can be modified only for all users or all companies. For more information about the requirements for customizing fields, see Customizing Advanced Field Settings.

A lock button appearing next to a field indicates that the setting cannot be modified based on the restrictions of the field, user, or company selected. Click this button to view information about the restrictions for that field attribute.

 

 How do I hide the Delete button?

Warning  Do not hide required program controls. The delete button is a required control and problems may occur when using the Customizer module to hide or disable a required control. A required control is a control on a panel that must be accessible to perform a function that is required for data integrity.

 

When should I perform the update process?

You must always update the customized panels after installing a new version of a module. You can update the customized panels by selecting Custom Office Utilities menu > Update Customized Panels to Current Level.

• Always perform the update process when you install a new version of a customized module.

• If you do not know what panels have been customized on your system, use the Customizer Summary Report to obtain a list of customized panels by module.

• Update all customized panels for a module at the same time to avoid missing a customized panel.

• After the update process completes, check each customized panel by running the program with the proper user and company settings.

• If you cannot run a program properly after updating, you may need to delete the customized panel to reset the program to the default settings. Print the Customizer Detail Report with the detailed property information first so that you can recustomize the panel.

 

Entities

 

 What is an Entity?

Note The information in this topic applies only to Job Cost, Payroll, Material Requirements Planning, Work Order, and TimeCard.

Before defining a user-defined field (UDF), the entity with which the field is associated must first be determined. An entity is a file such as the Work Order Header file. An entity can also represent a document, such as a work order. Specifying the entity also specifies the physical file used to store the UDF information. A single UDF file exists for each entity for each company. The supported entities are predefined and cannot be changed.

Each entity is assigned a unique identifier. For example, the Work Order Header entity uses the work order number as the identifier.

 

What is a Linked Entity?

Note The information in this topic applies only to Job Cost, Payroll, Material Requirements Planning, Work Order, and TimeCard.

When one entity is linked to another, a UDF can be defined for both entities, which can then be used to inherit default information to the target entity on certain panels. The UDF name, type, and length must be defined identically for both entities.

For example, assume that a Contract UDF from the routing header entity is placed on the Routing Maintenance panel, and 03May123 is entered in this field for routing number 0100017. Then assume that the Contract UDF from the routing header entity is added on the Work Order Entry Header tab. When a bill number is entered for item BOARD-33-04230, the Contract field on the routing will automatically display 03May123, and this data will be "linked to" and "carried around" with the work order.

The following table lists the entities that link to other entities. The entities in the right column inherit data from the entities in the left column.

Linked Entity Table

This entity links to...	...this entity
J/C Header	JCI Job Cost Billing
J/C Estimate	J/C Header
W/O Routing Header	W/O Header
W/O Work Center	W/O Operation Code
W/O Operation Code	W/O Work Center

 

 What is a UDF Entity?

A UDF entity represents a file or document for a module for which UDFs can be defined. The Vendor files are examples of file entities. Invoices and sales orders are examples of document entities. UDFs can be defined for both file entities and document entities. One or more UDF entities have been predefined for each module. Each entity represents a physical file that stores the UDF information, and a key that uniquely identifies a record in the file with the record in the associated file.

Supported UDF Entities

UDFs on a panel can have display only or read/write access. Certain UDFs can inherit information from another UDF if the entities for which they are defined are linked. When adding a UDF to a panel, the UDF is related to the entity for which it is defined, not the area on the panel to which it is added.

In the following tables, in the Panel columns, when referring to All panels, you cannot add a UDF to a dialog box.

Accounts Payable

You can add UDFs, as well as standard fields, to most panels in Accounts Payable. All panels that have a business object (for example, most maintenance and data entry panels) allow you to add fields.

 

Accounts Receivable

You can add UDFs, as well as standard fields, to most panels in Accounts Receivable. All panels that have a business object (for example, most maintenance and data entry panels) allow you to add fields.

 

Bill of Materials

You can add UDFs, as well as standard fields, to most panels in Bill of Materials. All panels that have a business object (for example, most maintenance and data entry panels) allow you to add fields.

 

Customer Relationship Management

You cannot add UDFs to Customer Relationship Management panels.

 

General Ledger

You can add UDFs, as well as standard fields, to most panels in General Ledger. All panels that have a business object (for example, most maintenance and data entry panels) allow you to add fields.

 

Inventory Management

You can add UDFs, as well as standard fields, to most panels in Inventory Management. All panels that have a business object (for example, most maintenance and data entry panels) allow you to add fields.

 

Job Cost

Task	Panel	Entity	Attributes
JC Job Master file Maintenance	All All	J/C Detail J/C Header	Read/Write Read/Write
JC Job Master file Inquiry	All	J/C Header	Display Only
JC Job Billing Data Entry	All	J/C Job Cost Billing	Read/Write
JC Job Estimate Maintenance	All	J/C Estimate	Read/Write
JC Estimate Update to Jobs	All	J/C Header J/C Estimate*	Read/Write N/A

* UDF information for the J/C Header entity is inherited from the J/C Estimate entity when an entry is made in the Estimate No. field.

 

Payroll

Task	Panel	Entity	Attributes
PR Employee Maintenance	All	P/R Employee	Read/Write
PR Payroll Data Entry	All	P/R Employee	Display Only

 

Purchase Order

You can add UDFs, as well as standard fields, to most panels in Purchase Order. All panels that have a business object (for example, most maintenance and data entry panels) allow you to add fields.

 

Return Merchandise Authorization

You can add UDFs, as well as standard fields, to most panels in Return Merchandise Authorization. All panels that have a business object (for example, most maintenance and data entry panels) allow you to add fields.

 

Sales Order

You can add UDFs, as well as standard fields, to most panels in Sales Order. All panels that have a business object (for example, most maintenance and data entry panels) allow you to add fields.

 

Work Order

Task	Panel	Entity	Attributes
WO Entry	All All All PNL_OPER PNL_OPER	B/M Header W/O Header W/O Routing Header W/O Work Center W/O Operation Code	Display Only Read/Write Display Only Display Only Display Only
WO Routing Maintenance	All All All	W/O Routing Header W/O Routing Lines W/O Work Center	Read/Write Read/Write Display Only
W/O Work Center Maintenance	All	W/O Work Center	Read/Write
W/O Operation Code Maintenance	All	W/O Operation Code	Read/Write

 

Troubleshooting

 

 Why do some user-defined fields (UDFs) appear disabled, or do not appear at all?

Each panel has user-defined field attributes that control how, and if, they can be displayed on a panel. For more information, see the What is a UDF Entity? FAQ above.

 

 User-Defined Fields (UDFs) do not appear on customized panels after they were defined in User-Defined Field and Table Maintenance and then added to the panel.

The UDF that is not appearing was placed on a panel customized for a specific user and company that is not selected. Verify that you selected the correct user ID and company code when accessing the customized panel. For more information, see Select a Panel.

 

I received the following message: The maximum space allowed for list box and drop box items has been exceeded. The list has automatically been truncated to 900 bytes. Can I change the maximum space allowed?

No. If the List option is selected on the Add/Edit Field Validation tab, the list is limited to 900 bytes and is automatically truncated to this size if the limit is exceeded. Each line of text separated by a dash (-) represents a separate valid value. The values established in this field determine the valid values for drop box and list box type fields.

 

 I changed the tab sequence of my user-defined field using Tab Definitions, but it is not working correctly. How do I fix it?

There are required elements on each panel under program control that may override tab settings specified in the Customizer module.

 Example

1. Select Sales Order Main menu > Sales Order Entry.

2. Click Defaults.

3. In the Default Values for Sales Order Entry window, click Tabs. The Maintain Tab Settings window appears.

In this example, the selections made in the Maintain Tab Settings window override any customizations made in the Customizer module, including tab sequences; however, there are no standard rules that can be applied for determining which tab settings can be modified.