Search Results ego_cat_grp_templates




The EGO_CAT_GRP_TEMPLATES table in Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) 12.1.1 or 12.2.2 is a critical data structure within the Oracle Product Information Management (PIM) module, specifically tied to the Product Development and Catalog Management functionalities. This table stores metadata definitions for catalog group templates, which are reusable frameworks for organizing and categorizing items in product catalogs. Below is a detailed technical breakdown of its purpose, structure, and integration within Oracle EBS.

Purpose and Functional Overview

The EGO_CAT_GRP_TEMPLATES table serves as a repository for catalog group templates, which define hierarchical structures for grouping items (e.g., products, categories) in Oracle PIM. These templates standardize catalog organization, ensuring consistency across product hierarchies. Key use cases include:
  • Catalog Hierarchy Management: Defines reusable templates for grouping items (e.g., "Electronics > Mobile Phones > Accessories").
  • Attribute Inheritance: Facilitates inheritance of attributes (e.g., specifications, pricing) from parent to child groups.
  • Multi-Org Support: Enables template sharing across operating units or restricts them to specific organizations.

Table Structure and Key Columns

The table's schema includes columns critical for template definition and governance:
  • TEMPLATE_ID: Primary key, uniquely identifying each template.
  • TEMPLATE_NAME: User-defined name for the template (e.g., "Consumer Electronics Template").
  • DESCRIPTION: Optional details about the template's purpose.
  • START_DATE_ACTIVE and END_DATE_ACTIVE: Controls template availability via date ranges.
  • ENABLED_FLAG: Boolean ('Y'/'N') to activate/deactivate templates.
  • ORG_ID: Links templates to specific inventory organizations (NULL implies global scope).
  • CREATION_DATE, CREATED_BY, LAST_UPDATE_DATE, LAST_UPDATED_BY: Standard Oracle audit columns.

Integration with Other Modules

The table interacts with several Oracle EBS components:
  1. EGO_CAT_GROUPS: Stores actual catalog groups instantiated from templates.
  2. EGO_ITEM_CATALOGS: Maps templates to catalogs where they are applied.
  3. FND_LOOKUP_VALUES: May reference lookup values for template attributes (e.g., group types).
  4. Workflow Engine: Triggers approval workflows when templates are modified.

Technical Considerations

  • Indexes: Typically includes indexes on TEMPLATE_ID, ORG_ID, and ENABLED_FLAG for performance.
  • APIs: Managed via PL/SQL APIs in the EGO_TEMPLATES_PVT package (e.g., CREATE_TEMPLATE, UPDATE_TEMPLATE).
  • Security: Access controlled via Oracle Function Security (e.g., "Manage Catalog Templates" responsibility).
  • Data Retention: Templates are rarely purged; END_DATE_ACTIVE soft-deactivates them.

Customization and Extensions

Common extensions include:
  • Adding custom columns via descriptive flexfields (DFFs) for industry-specific metadata.
  • Integrating with Oracle Content Manager for template documentation.
  • Building custom UIs using Oracle ADF to simplify template management.

Conclusion

The EGO_CAT_GRP_TEMPLATES table is foundational for scalable catalog management in Oracle EBS. Its design supports multi-org deployments, hierarchical flexibility, and attribute inheritance—key requirements for complex product taxonomies. Administrators should leverage its APIs for maintenance to ensure metadata integrity across the PIM ecosystem.