!!User Defined Columns

!Features of User Defined Columns
* [Workflow|WORKFLOW] can access and update this data
* [Date Sensitive|DATE SENSITIVE] changes will carry forward the values
* [Change Audit Logging|DETAILED CHANGE AUDITING] is supported
* Supported by [Object Security|IMOS] and [Form Object Security|IMFOS]
* [Translatable|TRANSLATION] to other languages
* Natively read by report generators like Discoverer
* Faster than [User Defined Fields|USER DEFINED FIELD]

!Steps to Set up a new User Defined Column

The following steps need to be followed to add a new column.   
# Have all users sign out of system 
# Create the new column on the table.   In SQL*Plus as the P2K user: 
#* Add the column to the database\\{{ALTER TABLE P2K_xx_xxxxxx ADD (''COLUMN_NAME  COLUMN_TYPE'');
#** where ''xx_xxxxxx'' is the table name
#** where ''COLUMN_NAME'' is the new column name
#** where ''COLUMN_TYPE'' is the data type of the new column:  DATE, NUMBER, NUMBER(10,4), VARCHAR2(30), etc.\\Sample:\\{{ALTER TABLE P2K_HR_ASSIGNMENT_DETAILS ADD (ANNIVERSARY_MONTH VARCHAR2(16));}}
#*Multiple columns can be added using this script before running and moving onto the next stage of processing.  
#* Run a db_recompile script ({{@db_recompile}})
# Sign into the eP system
# In IMCD form – add the new column with a [column usage|COLUMN_USAGE] of “User Defined Column”.  Ensure that [Data Type|DATA_TYPE], [Domain Name|DOMAIN_NAME] and [Length|VALUE_LENGTH] are all entered at a minimum.  Review other columns for samples, as needed.
# Exit from the eP system
# Rebuild the workflow triggers.  In SQLPlus as P2K user:
#* {{@seed_create_biud.pls}}
#* YOu may now exit SQL*Plus
# In Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM), restart the J2EE Server instance.  This is required because the column definitions are only loaded at start up.
# Sign in to the eP system
# The new column is now available to be used in form definitions ([IMFD]) or workflow ([IMUC]) or for any other purpose