Search Results element_sequence

Overview

The MTL_DESCR_ELEMENT_VALUES_V view is an Oracle E-Business Suite database object owned by the APPS schema and classified under the Inventory (INV) product family. Its documented description is "10SC ONLY," indicating that this view was created to support a specific, restricted implementation scope rather than general-purpose inventory functionality. Despite this narrow designation, the view remains marked as VALID in the ETRM metadata for both 12.1.1 and 12.2.2, meaning it is syntactically correct and accessible for querying if referenced.

Functionally, the view presents joined descriptive element data. Descriptive elements in Oracle Inventory are the flexible, user-defined attributes (sometimes called "flexfields" in a non-key context) that extend item master records with customer-specific information, such as voltage, color, or material grade. The view exposes the values assigned to those elements for each inventory item, along with the element definitions themselves. When users search for element_sequence, they are typically interested in the ordering metadata that determines how descriptive elements are displayed or processed. The view surfaces this through the ELEMENT_SEQUENCE column, making it the likely focal point of such queries.

Because of the "10SC ONLY" restriction, this view should not be assumed to be part of the standard, universally available inventory data model. Reporting and integration efforts should verify its presence in the target environment before relying on it.

Underlying Base Objects

The view is defined over two base objects, both referenced as synonyms in the APPS schema:

• MTL_DESCRIPTIVE_ELEMENTS — aliased as E in the view text, this table holds the descriptive element definitions, including the REQUIRED_ELEMENT_FLAG and ITEM_CATALOG_GROUP_ID attributes.
• MTL_DESCR_ELEMENT_VALUES — aliased as V, this table stores the actual element values assigned to inventory items, along with the DEFAULT_ELEMENT_FLAG, ELEMENT_SEQUENCE, and audit columns.

The join condition is V.ELEMENT_NAME = E.ELEMENT_NAME, a simple equijoin on the element name. This means the view returns one row per element value record, enriched with the corresponding definition-level attributes. The view also exposes the underlying ROWID as ROW_ID, which can assist in identifying the source row during debugging or update operations.

Key Columns

• ROW_ID — The ROWID from MTL_DESCR_ELEMENT_VALUES, used for row identification.
• INVENTORY_ITEM_ID — The item to which the descriptive element value applies.
• ELEMENT_NAME — The descriptive element identifier; also the join key between the two base objects.
• ELEMENT_VALUE — The actual value assigned to the element for the item.
• DEFAULT_ELEMENT_FLAG — Indicates whether the value is a default for the element.
• ELEMENT_SEQUENCE — The ordering position of the element, the column most relevant to searches for "element_sequence."
• REQUIRED_ELEMENT_FLAG — Derived from MTL_DESCRIPTIVE_ELEMENTS, indicating whether the element is mandatory.
• ITEM_CATALOG_GROUP_ID — The catalog group associated with the element definition.
• LAST_UPDATE_DATE, LAST_UPDATED_BY, CREATION_DATE, CREATED_BY, LAST_UPDATE_LOGIN — Standard audit columns inherited from the values table.

Common Use Cases and Queries

A typical use case is retrieving the ordered descriptive element values for a specific inventory item, which is where ELEMENT_SEQUENCE becomes essential. For example:

• List element values in sequence for an item:

  SELECT element_name, element_value, element_sequence, required_element_flag
  FROM   apps.mtl_descr_element_values_v
  WHERE  inventory_item_id = :item_id
  ORDER BY element_sequence;

• Identify required elements:

  SELECT element_name, element_value
  FROM   apps.mtl_descr_element_values_v
  WHERE  required_element_flag = 'Y';

• Filter by catalog group:

  SELECT inventory_item_id, element_name, element_value
  FROM   apps.mtl_descr_element_values_v
  WHERE  item_catalog_group_id = :group_id;

Because the view joins across definitions and values, it is convenient for read-only reporting. However, given the "10SC ONLY" designation, teams should confirm availability in their instance before incorporating it into production integrations.