Search Results fa_conventions

Overview

The FA_CONVENTIONS table is a core reference table within the Oracle E-Business Suite Fixed Assets (OFA) module. It stores detailed, date-effective rules for prorate conventions, which are critical for calculating the initial depreciation expense of an asset in its first fiscal year. These conventions determine how to allocate depreciation from the asset's date placed in service to the end of the current fiscal year or period. The table's existence allows for flexible, time-dependent definitions of conventions, enabling organizations to comply with changing accounting standards or internal policies over time. Its data directly influences asset cost allocation, financial reporting accuracy, and tax calculations.

Key Information Stored

The table's structure is designed to manage the versioning of prorate convention rules. Its primary key consists of the PRORATE_CONVENTION_CODE and START_DATE, establishing that a given convention code can have multiple effective records. Key columns include the PRORATE_CONVENTION_CODE, which links to the FA_CONVENTION_TYPES table for the basic convention definition (e.g., 'HALF YEAR', 'MONTHLY'), and the START_DATE, which marks the effective date from which that specific detailed rule is applicable. Other columns typically define the prorating method, cutoff rules, and the specific calendar (corporate or tax) to which the convention applies, though these are implied by the table's description rather than explicitly listed in the provided metadata.

Common Use Cases and Queries

This table is primarily referenced during asset addition and depreciation projection processes. A common operational query retrieves the effective convention rule for a given asset based on its date placed in service. For reporting and audit purposes, analysts may query the history of changes to a specific convention. Sample SQL to find the active rule for a convention code as of a specific date is fundamental:

• SELECT * FROM fa_conventions WHERE prorate_convention_code = 'HALFYEAR' AND start_date = (SELECT MAX(start_date) FROM fa_conventions WHERE prorate_convention_code = 'HALFYEAR' AND start_date <= :asset_date);

Implementation or upgrade tasks often involve seeding or modifying convention data via scripts, requiring careful attention to the start dates to avoid gaps or overlaps in effective date ranges.

Related Objects

FA_CONVENTIONS has defined relationships with several key Fixed Assets objects. It is centrally linked to the FA_CONVENTION_TYPES table via a foreign key on PRORATE_CONVENTION_CODE, where the high-level type and name are stored. The conventions are assigned to asset categories in FA_CATEGORIES_B and directly referenced by the FA_BOOKS table for each asset. Depreciation calculation engines within the FA module's PL/SQL packages (e.g., FA_DEPRN_PKG) read from this table to perform prorate calculations. Consequently, any changes to this table's data can have a downstream impact on depreciation runs and financial results.