Search Results select_process

Overview

FND_FLEX_WORKFLOW is a PL/SQL package owned by the APPS schema that integrates Oracle E-Business Suite Key Flexfield (KFF) functionality with the Oracle Workflow engine. Its core business purpose is to allow Key Flexfield combinations to be created, validated, and managed as part of a Workflow-driven process. Rather than requiring a user to manually enter a complete, valid combination in a form, this package enables a function activity within a Workflow process to generate the concatenated segment string array (the "key flex" structure), resolve it against the code combination table, and return the resulting CODE_COMBINATION_ID (CCID) along with concatenated segments, IDs, and descriptions. This is essential for scenarios such as self-service requisitions, iProcurement checkout, or any application flow where account, item, or category flexfields must be derived dynamically and validated mid-process.

Key Procedures and Functions

The package exposes a small set of documented functions and utilities:

• GET_KEY_FLEX — Populates the key_flex_type record (application short name, ID flex code, structure number, and segment count) for a given workflow item type and item key, so downstream activities know the flexfield context.
• SELECT_PROCESS — Determines and returns the appropriate Workflow process for the given application, flexfield code, structure number, and item type.
• INITIALIZE — Performs setup for the flexfield/workflow combination prior to generation, returning a status/result value.
• GENERATE — The principal routine. Two overloads are documented: one baseline version and one that also accepts an insert_if_new flag. Both take the item type and item key, and return the CCID, concatenated segments string, concatenated segment IDs, concatenated descriptions, and an error message. The second overload additionally reports whether a new combination was created. It returns a BOOLEAN success indicator.
• GENERATE_PARTIAL — Two overloads that generate a combination using only a subprocess/block activity portion of the flexfield, again with the second overload offering an insert_if_new option.
• LOAD_CONCATENATED_SEGMENTS — Loads and returns the concatenated segment representation for a combination.
• PURGE — Cleans up workflow-associated flexfield data (for example, item key and process records) after a process completes.
• DEBUG_ON / DEBUG_OFF — Enable and disable diagnostic logging, useful when diagnosing flexfield generation failures within a Workflow.

In total, 11 documented callable units are listed for this package.

Tables Accessed

All tables are accessed through APPS synonyms. The package reads FND_APPLICATION and FND_ID_FLEXS and FND_ID_FLEX_STRUCTURES and FND_ID_FLEX_SEGMENTS to resolve the flexfield definition, its structure, and segment metadata. It writes to and reads FND_FLEX_WORKFLOW_ITEMKEY_S to track the item key context and FND_FLEX_WORKFLOW_PROCESSES to store process associations; PURGE removes rows from these workflow-specific tables. DBMS_UTILITY and DUAL are used for general utility operations.

Usage Notes

FND_FLEX_WORKFLOW is typically invoked from Workflow function activities rather than directly by end users. It is referenced by 22 other packages across EBS, indicating it is a foundational integration point between Key Flexfields and Workflow. It is invoked when a business flow must derive a valid flexfield combination—such as generating an accounting combination during an approval—and validate or create it on the fly. Because GENERATE returns the CCID and error message by reference, calling code must check the BOOLEAN result and handle the error message. DEBUG_ON should be used sparingly in production, as it generates diagnostic output. Customizations should call the documented public API rather than modify the package, and callers should ensure the item type and item key map to an active Workflow process to avoid SELECT_PROCESS failures.