Search Results alias_name

Overview

The FND_SHORTHAND_FLEX_ALIASES table is a core repository within the Application Object Library (FND) module of Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) versions 12.1.1 and 12.2.2. It serves as a critical data dictionary component for managing shorthand flexfields. Shorthand flexfields allow users to enter a single, concise code that automatically populates multiple segments of a descriptive flexfield or key flexfield. This table stores the mapping definitions, or aliases, that link these shorthand codes to their corresponding full segment value combinations. Its role is to provide the underlying data structure that enables the shorthand entry functionality, thereby improving data entry speed and accuracy across the application.

Key Information Stored

The table's primary purpose is to store alias definitions, which are uniquely identified by a composite primary key. The key columns are APPLICATION_ID, ID_FLEX_CODE, ID_FLEX_NUM, and ALIAS_NAME. APPLICATION_ID and ID_FLEX_CODE identify the specific flexfield, while ID_FLEX_NUM identifies the particular structure of that flexfield. The ALIAS_NAME column stores the shorthand code or alias itself. While the provided metadata does not list all columns, the table would logically contain additional columns to store the full set of segment values that the alias represents, linking the shorthand entry to the complete flexfield combination it stands for.

Common Use Cases and Queries

The primary use case is the resolution of a shorthand alias to its full flexfield value set during data entry or batch processing. For instance, when a user enters an alias in a flexfield-enabled form, the application queries this table to retrieve the pre-defined segment values. Common queries involve finding all aliases for a specific flexfield structure or validating the existence of an alias. A typical reporting query might join this table to FND_ID_FLEX_STRUCTURES to list all shorthand aliases available for a given flexfield.

• Retrieving alias details: SELECT * FROM FND_SHORTHAND_FLEX_ALIASES WHERE APPLICATION_ID = :app_id AND ID_FLEX_CODE = :flex_code AND ALIAS_NAME = :alias;
• Listing aliases for a structure: SELECT ALIAS_NAME FROM FND_SHORTHAND_FLEX_ALIASES WHERE APPLICATION_ID = 101 AND ID_FLEX_CODE = 'GL#' AND ID_FLEX_NUM = 101;

Related Objects

The table has a direct foreign key relationship with FND_ID_FLEX_STRUCTURES, which defines the valid structures for a flexfield. This enforces referential integrity, ensuring that an alias is always associated with an existing flexfield structure. The table is also intrinsically linked to the core flexfield tables, such as FND_DESCRIPTIVE_FLEXS and FND_KEY_FLEXS, via the APPLICATION_ID and ID_FLEX_CODE columns. Programmatically, functionality involving this table is typically accessed through flexfield APIs rather than via direct SQL, to maintain data integrity and leverage business logic.