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Implementation I:
Introduction and Flexfields
Chapter 3

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 Implementation I: Introduction and Flexfields

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 Overview

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Overview
This lesson introduces the implementation process and explains key and descriptive flexfields,
which configure and extend Oracle applications, and how to set them up in OLM.
OLM provides one key flexfield, the Training Resources key flexfield, which is an essential
feature of the application.

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 The OLM Implementation Process

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The OLM Implementation Process
The OLM implementation process consists of all the steps you must take to tailor the
application to your specific needs: the Training Resources Key Flexfield, for instance, enables
you to mirror precisely your existing or planned resource structures.

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 Flexfields

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Flexfields
A flexfield is a specialized field made up of subfields or segments. Each flexfield appears as a
pop-up window that contains the different segments or subfields and enables you to define the
structure of unique identifiers in your enterprise. Oracle applications use two types of
flexfields:
Key: Use key flexfields to represent the unique structure of your business entities, like
resources such as classrooms and instructors.
Descriptive: Use descriptive flexfields to add your own fields to the standard window
categories, such as offerings, learning objects, and resources. In the Resources window, for
example, you can already enter basic details of resources such as name and type. However, you
may want to record additional details such as resource usage. Descriptive flexfields enable you
to enter such additional details.
The protected flexfields meet the specific legislative and reporting needs of your country.
Oracle HRMS includes two key protected flexfields and three descriptive protected flexfields.
You must not attempt to alter the definitions of these protected flexfields.

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 Key Flexfield Structure

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Key Flexfield Structure
The diagram shows the features of OLM’s key flexfield, the Training Resources key flexfield.
This sample trainer (instructor) structure under the Training Resources key flexfield shows two
segments: name and training center. You can define up to 30 segments for each structure. The
combination of segment values creates a unique key, or signature, for the key flexfield.
For each segment, you can define a value set that includes the prompt, the type of data it can
contain, and the values a user can enter. You can provide a list or range of valid values.
You can define only one key structure for each business group for each key flexfield. The
Training Resources flexfield, for example, cannot contain more than one structure for venue. If
visibility of data is very important, you may consider including additional information in the
structure. For example, your venue structure can be “name-mobile equipment-training center.”
However, if mobile equipment is a value that can change often, you probably do not want to
put it in the unique identifier. You can then consider using the options for additional
information, such as descriptive flexfields or special information types.

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 Training Resources Key Flexfield

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Training Resources Key Flexfield
This flexfield enables you to create a resource type, define its information attributes, and
specify its formatting and validation. When you create a structure for this key flexfield, you
ideally name the structure the same as the name of the resource type. You can manually define
generic resource types, such as overhead projectors, networked PCs, and stationery, by using
other resource types.
Set up segments for the structures to define the attributes of a resource type, such as a free text
Full Name in the Trainer resource type.
For the Venue resource type, you can define the following segments:
• Name
• Capacity
• Seating arrangements
You can also add your own resource types by creating new structures and defining their
segments.
See Key Flexfields in the online help.

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 Practice - Configuring the Training Resource Key Flexfield
Overview
Vision Corporation is one of the leading airline companies, with operations spread across the
globe. The company employs a well-trained and knowledgeable workforce worldwide to manage

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its airline and airport operations.

To keep with the changing technology, Vision Corporation organizes various training programs
to bring the employees up-to-date with the latest trends in technology. The company also focuses
on the all-round development of its employees and delivers training programs to bridge
competency gaps.

Vision Corporation has a separate training department that schedules and organizes the training
programs based on the learning needs in the organization. The company requires a learning
management system that provides a comprehensive solution for all its learning requirements.
Vision Corporation has opted for Oracle Learning Management (OLM) as a solution to meet its
learning requirements.

In this practice, you define resource types by using the training resource key flexfield.

Assumption
• You must have access to an Oracle Application Vision database or comparable training
or test instance at your site on which you want to complete this practice.

• For this practice, log in as hrms/welcome and use the System Administrator
responsibility.

Task
Configuring the Training Resource Key Flexfield

Create the Computers resource type for Vision Corporation using the training key flexfield as
defined below:

1. Define a structure named xxComputers to the training resource key flexfield, where xx
represents your unique identifier, for example your initials.

2. Add two segments Name and Type to the xxComputers structure.

3. Define value sets to validate (restrict) the values that a user can enter for the above two
segments.

Value Set Maximum Size Validation Type

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 xxName 60 Independent

xxType 20 Independent

4. Add values to the xxType value set you defined.

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Values Description

Desktop Computer Desktop Computer

Laptop Laptop

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 Solution - Configuring Training Resource Key Flexfield
Define Training Resource Flexfield Value Sets and Segments

1. Using your System Administrator responsibility, navigate to the Key Flexfield Segments
window:

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• (N) Application > Flexfield > Key > Segments

2. Query the Flexfield Title Training Resources by entering Training Resources in the
Flexfield Title field and Learning Management in the Application Field.

3. Enter the Code as xxComputers, where xx is the identifier.

4. Enter the Title as xxComputers.

5. Click the Segments button to add segments to the xxVenue structure.

6. The Segments Summary window is displayed. Click the selector to enter the segment
details. The Segments window is displayed.

7. Enter the name of the segment as xxName.

8. Enter the segment number as 1.

9. Make sure to select the Enabled, Displayed, and Indexed checkboxes.

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 10. Click the Value Set button once you are on the Value Set field, to define the value set for
this segment. The Value Sets window is displayed.

11. Enter the Value Set Name as xxName.

12. Enter the Maximum Size as 60.

13. Select the Validation Type as Independent to allow the value set to have a valid list of

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values.

14. Save your work and return to the Segments Summary window.

15. Repeat the steps numbered 6 to 13 to define the xxType segment and the xxType value
set for the Trainer key flexfield structure.

16. After creating the second segment return to the Key Flexfield Segments window.

17. Select the Freeze Flexfield Definition checkbox.

18. Select the Allow Dynamic Inserts checkbox to create new resource name combinations in
the Resources window.

19. Click the Compile button to compile and generate the flexfield.

20. Now you will add values to the xxType value set that you defined. Navigate to the
Segment Values window:

• (N) Application > Flexfield > Key > Values

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 21. Select the xxType value set.

22. Enter the values Desktop Computer and Laptop, which will indicate whether the
computer is a desktop or a laptop.

23. Save your work.

The xxComputers structure that you created represents the computer resource type. Add

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xxComputers as a value to the Resource Type lookup. You can then book resources of the
type xxComputers for your classes and sessions.

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 Segment Reuse

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Segment Reuse
You can, for example, include the Training Center segment in the structures for all resource
types so that you can report on all resources held at your training centers.

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 Descriptive Flexfields

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Descriptive Flexfields
The diagram shows the structure of the Class Details page, which displays class information. In
Professional User Interface windows, a descriptive flexfield appears in the window as a single-
character, unnamed field enclosed in brackets; in Oracle Applications Framework pages, a
descriptive flexfield looks just like any other field, as shown in the diagram.
In the example, Additional Class Information is a descriptive flexfield that has the segments
Audience, Objective, and Difficulty Level. You can create one descriptive structure for each
record and up to 30 segments in each structure.
Descriptive Flexfield Segments
You can define the following types of segments:
• Global segments: Appear in all windows
• Context-sensitive segments: Appear only when a defined context exists. You can prompt
the user to provide the context, or you can provide the context automatically from a
reference field in the same block.
See Descriptive Flexfields in the online help.

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