Results for “ff_database_items”

AI-generated from documented ETRM metadata — verify critical details on the linked pages.

Overview

The FF_DATABASE_ITEMS table is a core metadata repository within the Oracle E-Business Suite FastFormula (FF) module. Owned by the HR schema, it stores the definition of "basic items of data in the application database" that FastFormula can bind to and evaluate at runtime. In effect, this table acts as the catalog of database-level items available to formula authors, describing each item's data type, textual definition, and null-handling semantics so the FastFormula parser and compiler can validate and execute formulas consistently across the EBS instance.

Because FastFormula is embedded throughout HRMS payroll, benefits, absence management, and time-and-labor, this table is consulted whenever a formula references a database item. Its role is therefore both descriptive (metadata definition) and functional (runtime resolution of item values). The table is documented as VALID in both EBS 12.1.1 and 12.2.2, preserving the same structure across releases.

Applying a Data Vault–style heuristic to the documented foreign key structure—a single inbound reference to FF_USER_ENTITIES with no dependent child tables—the object is best modeled as satellite-leaning. It carries descriptive attributes qualified by a business key rather than acting as an independent hub or a resolving link.

Key Information Stored

The table holds 11 documented columns. The most significant are:

• USER_NAME — Part of the composite primary key; identifies the database item by its user-facing name as referenced in formulas.
• USER_ENTITY_ID — The second component of the primary key and a foreign key to FF_USER_ENTITIES, tying the item to the user entity that owns or defines it.
• DATA_TYPE — Declares the item's data type (for example, number, text, or date), which governs formula validation and conversion behavior.
• DEFINITION_TEXT — The textual definition or expression that describes how the item is derived or resolved.
• NULL_ALLOWED_FLAG — Indicates whether the item may return a null value, affecting formula error handling.
• DESCRIPTION — Human-readable description of the item for developer and administrator reference.
• LAST_UPDATE_DATE, LAST_UPDATED_BY, LAST_UPDATE_LOGIN — Standard EBS audit columns capturing who last modified the row and when.
• CREATED_BY, CREATION_DATE — Standard EBS audit columns recording row creation.

The surrogate/primary key is defined by the unique index FF_DATABASE_ITEMS_PK on the composite business key (USER_NAME, USER_ENTITY_ID). There is no separate single-column surrogate identifier; the natural business key itself serves as the primary key.

Common Use Cases and Queries

Typical scenarios include auditing which database items are exposed to formulas, diagnosing formula compilation errors caused by missing or mistyped items, and documenting item catalogs for HRMS implementations.

• Listing all items for a given user entity: SELECT USER_NAME, DATA_TYPE, NULL_ALLOWED_FLAG FROM FF_DATABASE_ITEMS WHERE USER_ENTITY_ID = :id;
• Finding items by type for migration or impact analysis: SELECT USER_NAME, DESCRIPTION FROM FF_DATABASE_ITEMS WHERE DATA_TYPE = 'N';
• Auditing recent metadata changes: SELECT USER_NAME, LAST_UPDATED_BY, LAST_UPDATE_DATE FROM FF_DATABASE_ITEMS ORDER BY LAST_UPDATE_DATE DESC;

These queries support formula troubleshooting, release-to-release comparison, and security or configuration reviews.

Related Objects

• FF_USER_ENTITIES — The parent entity table referenced by FF_DATABASE_ITEMS.USER_ENTITY_ID, grouping database items by user entity.
• FF_FORMULAS — Stores formula definitions that consume database items.
• FF_FORMULA_CONTEXTS — Defines the context in which formulas and their items are evaluated.
• FF_DATABASE_ITEMS_PK — The unique index enforcing the composite business key.
• FastFormula compilation APIs — Runtime services that read this table when validating and executing formulas referencing database items.