Search Results estimation_name

Overview

CS_CTR_ESTIMATION_METHODS_V is an APPS-owned database view in the Oracle E-Business Suite Service (CS) module. It exposes the estimation methods used by Oracle Service's counter and usage-based estimation functionality, allowing counter readings to be translated into estimated meter values for billing, warranty, and contract processing. The view is a denormalized, reporting-friendly representation of the estimation method definition, combining the core estimation method record with the descriptive names of its associated counter and counter group.

Unlike the underlying base table, which stores only surrogate identifier values for the counter and counter group, the view resolves those identifiers into human-readable names through outer joins. This makes it suitable for direct use in concurrent programs, Oracle Reports, BI Publisher data templates, custom OAF or Forms pages, and integration extracts where the consumer should not be required to join to the counter master tables themselves. The view is read-only in nature and reflects the current definition of each estimation method, including its active date range and descriptive flexfield attributes.

Underlying Base Objects

The view is defined over three base objects, all referenced through APPS synonyms:

• CS_CTR_ESTIMATION_METHODS — the primary table (aliased A), holding the estimation method definition, its type, average type, fixed value, usage markup, default value, counter references, and descriptive flexfield columns.
• CS_COUNTER_GROUPS — the counter group master (aliased B), joined with an outer join on COUNTER_GROUP_ID to supply COUNTER_GROUP_NAME.
• CS_COUNTERS — the counter master (aliased C), joined with an outer join on COUNTER_ID to supply COUNTER_NAME.

Both joins are outer joins (indicated by the (+) operator), so an estimation method is still returned even when its referenced counter group or counter has been deactivated or is otherwise unavailable. The ROWID of the base estimation method row is exposed as ROW_ID, and OBJECT_VERSION_NUMBER supports optimistic locking semantics consistent with other EBS 12.2.2 entities.

Key Columns

• ESTIMATION_ID — primary identifier of the estimation method.
• ESTIMATION_NAME — user-defined name of the method.
• ESTIMATION_TYPE — the estimation approach, for example fixed-value, usage-based, or counter-based.
• ESTIMATION_AVG_TYPE — the averaging rule applied when the method is usage- or counter-driven.
• FIXED_VALUE — the constant value used when the estimation type is a fixed value; this is the column most relevant to searches for "fixed_value" and is central to methods that do not depend on a counter reading.
• USAGE_MARKUP — markup applied to usage when deriving the estimate.
• DEFAULT_VALUE — fallback value used when no reading or calculation result is available.
• COUNTER_GROUP_ID / COUNTER_GROUP_NAME — the counter group reference and its resolved name.
• COUNTER_ID / COUNTER_NAME / COUNTER_DESCRIPTION — the counter reference, resolved name, and description.
• START_DATE_ACTIVE / END_DATE_ACTIVE — the effective date range of the method.
• ATTRIBUTE1–ATTRIBUTE15, ATTRIBUTE_CATEGORY — descriptive flexfield segments.
• Audit columns — CREATION_DATE, CREATED_BY, LAST_UPDATE_DATE, LAST_UPDATED_BY, LAST_UPDATE_LOGIN, OBJECT_VERSION_NUMBER.

Common Use Cases and Queries

The view is typically queried to list estimation methods with their resolved counter and group names, to identify all fixed-value methods, or to filter methods active as of a given date. A representative query listing active fixed-value methods is:

• SELECT estimation_id, estimation_name, estimation_type, fixed_value, counter_group_name, counter_name, start_date_active, end_date_active FROM apps.cs_ctr_estimation_methods_v WHERE estimation_type = 'FIXED_VALUE' AND TRUNC(SYSDATE) BETWEEN NVL(start_date_active, TRUNC(SYSDATE)) AND NVL(end_date_active, TRUNC(SYSDATE));

Other common patterns include joining the view to contracts or service coverage tables by COUNTER_GROUP_ID or COUNTER_ID to determine which estimation method applies to a service line, and extracting the descriptive flexfield attributes for downstream integration. Because the counter and counter group joins are outer, reports based on this view will not silently drop estimation methods whose referenced counter records are missing, which is important for data-cleansing and audit queries.