Derived dimensions

10 minutes

You can set up a dimension so that the system automatically enters information for other dimensions when you enter that dimension in a document. For example, if you enter cost center 10, the system automatically enters a value of 20 in the department dimension.

To set up derived values on the Financial dimensions page, follow these steps:

Select a dimension and then select the Derived dimensions tab.

The Derived dimensions page includes a grid. The selected dimension segment is the first column in this grid.
Add the segments that you want derived. Each segment appears as a column.

General ledger > Chart of accounts > Dimensions > Financial dimensions
Enter the dimension combinations that you want derived from the dimension in the first column.

For example, to use the cost center as the dimension that the department and location are derived from, enter cost center 10, department 20, and location 30. Then, when you enter cost center 10 in a master record or on a transaction page, the system enters department 20 and location 30 by default.

Override existing values with derived dimensions

By default, the derived dimension process doesn't override existing values for derived dimensions.

For example, if you enter cost center 10, and no other dimension is entered, the system enters department 20 and location 30 by default. However, if you change the cost center, the system doesn't change the already established values. Therefore, you can establish default dimensions on master records, and derived dimensions don't change those dimensions.

You can change the behavior of derived dimensions to override existing values by selecting the Replace existing dimension values with derived values checkbox on the Derived dimensions page.

If you select this option, you can enter a dimension with derived dimension values. Then, those derived dimension values override values that already exist.

Using the previous example, if you enter cost center 10, and no other dimension is entered, the system enters department 20 and location 30 by default. However, if the values were already department 50 and location 60, the system changes the values to department 20 and location 30.

Derived dimensions with this setting don't automatically replace the existing default dimension values. The system only overrides dimension values when you enter a new dimension value on a page and if existing derived values for that dimension are on the page.

Prevent changes with derived dimensions

When you use Add segment on the Derived dimensions page to add a segment as a derived dimension, an option on the Add segment page allows you to prevent changes to that dimension when it's derived on a page.

The default setting is off, so it doesn't prevent users from changing the derived dimension values. Change the setting to Yes if you want to prevent users from changing the dimension after it's derived.

For example, if the value for the Department dimension is derived from the value of the Cost center dimension, users can't change the Department value if the Prevent changes setting is Yes.

The setting doesn't prevent changes if the dimension value is valid, but it doesn't show in the derived dimensions list.

For example, if department 20 is derived from cost center 10, and you enter cost center 10, then you can't edit department 21. However, if you enter cost center 20 and it's not in the list of derived dimensions for cost center, then you can edit the Department value.

In all cases, the system still validates the account value and all dimension values against the account structures after you apply the derived dimension values. If you use derived dimensions and they fail validation when someone uses them on a page, you must change the derived dimension values on the Derived dimensions page before you can use them in transactions.

When you change dimensions on the Financial dimensions FastTab, the dimension that's marked to prevent changes isn't editable. If you're entering an account and dimensions into the segmented entry control on a page, the dimensions are editable.

However, when you move the highlight off the segmented entry control and move to another field or take an action, the system validates the account and dimensions against the derived dimensions list and the account structures to ensure that you enter the appropriate values.