Results for “special_info_category”

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

Overview

The PER_SPECIAL_INFO_TYPE_USAGES table is a Human Resources (PER) module object in the HR schema of Oracle E-Business Suite, available across 12.1.1 and 12.2.2. It acts as a control table that limits the usage of special information types to specific windows within the application. Special information types (SITs) are configurable data structures—often referred to as "extra information types" or EITs—that allow organizations to capture additional person-related attributes beyond the standard HR datamodel. This table governs where and when those types may be entered, ensuring that the correct special information categories apply to the correct functional windows or contexts.

From a data-modeling perspective, the metadata classifies this object as satellite-leaning. In Data Vault terms, this suggests the table behaves as a descriptive satellite attached to the core special information type entity (PER_SPECIAL_INFO_TYPES) rather than as an independent hub or a pure link. Its composite primary key reinforces this role: it records the association between a special information type and the category (window) in which it is permitted, functioning as limiting metadata rather than transactional content.

Key Information Stored

The table comprises seven documented columns. The most important are:

• SPECIAL_INFORMATION_TYPE_ID — Foreign key to PER_SPECIAL_INFO_TYPES, identifying the special information type whose usage is being constrained.
• SPECIAL_INFO_CATEGORY — The category or window context that limits where the special information type may be used. This is the column most relevant to the user's search term "special_info_category."
• LAST_UPDATE_DATE, LAST_UPDATED_BY, LAST_UPDATE_LOGIN — Standard WHO (audit) columns capturing the last modification timestamp and user session information.
• CREATED_BY, CREATION_DATE — Auditing columns recording the creation user and timestamp.

The surrogate primary key is defined by PER_SPECIAL_INFO_TYPE_USAG_PK, which spans the composite business-key candidates SPECIAL_INFO_CATEGORY and SPECIAL_INFORMATION_TYPE_ID. Because the unique index and primary key share these columns, they serve dual purposes: uniquely identifying each row and enforcing the uniqueness of each type-to-category mapping.

Common Use Cases and Queries

Typical scenarios include auditing which special information types are enabled for a given window, validating configuration during implementation, and troubleshooting why a particular extra information type does not appear in a given context.

A representative query to list all categories assigned to a special information type:

• SELECT usg.special_info_category, usg.special_information_type_id FROM per_special_info_type_usages usg WHERE usg.special_information_type_id = :type_id;

A join to retrieve descriptive names for reporting:

• SELECT t.name, u.special_info_category FROM per_special_info_types t, per_special_info_type_usages u WHERE t.special_information_type_id = u.special_information_type_id;

Configuration reports commonly count usages per category to detect types that are over- or under-restricted.

Related Objects

The most significant related objects are:

• PER_SPECIAL_INFO_TYPES — Parent table joined via SPECIAL_INFORMATION_TYPE_ID. Defines the special information types whose usage is limited here.
• PER_SPECIAL_INFO_TYPES_TL — Translated names and descriptions for special information types, used to produce readable reports.
• PER_PERSON_ANALYSES and related person extra-info tables — Hold the actual entered special information values, enabling cross-reference to the configured usages.
• PER_SPECIAL_INFO_CONTEXTS — Where present, provides context window definitions that align with SPECIAL_INFO_CATEGORY.
• PER_EXTRA_INFO_TYPES — Related configuration entity for the broader extra information framework.

Together these objects form the configuration and data-capture chain that governs special information types in Oracle HRMS.