Journal Template Creation

A journal template consists of the following:

• Headers

  • Header dimensions, which are fixed, constant dimensions for all journals in a model.

    The header dimensions set in a journal template become page keys for journal entries based on that template. The template header must always include one dimension. Model dimensions that are not part of the header become detail dimensions for which users add line items when creating a journal entry.

  • Additional header items containing clarifying information that are saved with the journal entry. These items are free text entry fields (limited to 60 characters) or lists of entries from which users make a selection. Alternatively, an additional header can be defined as a Date.

    Adding additional header items is not required when creating a template, and if they exist in a template, users are not required to complete them. The maximum length of an additional header item is 20 characters.

  • Detail dimensions, which are the remaining dimensions that are required to change the model data via the journal entry. The Account and Flow dimensions are always included in the detail section of a template.

    Detail dimensions are in columns, so each row under the dimension name becomes a detail line. You fill in members for each of the dimensions and the debit or credit amount for that detail line. The maximum number of detail lines is determined when you create the journal entry.

    Two additional options are available for detail header dimensions:

    • Balanced by Entity: If you select this option, for each entity in the journal entry, credits must be equal to debits.

    • Balanced by Currency: If you select this option, for each currency in the journal entry, credits must be equal to debits. There can be multiple reporting currencies in a journal entry.

  Note

  If you have already created a journal template, creating a new template that changes the structure of the journal entries deletes the old template and all journal entries associated with that template. This removes your audit trail, even though changes made to the model data (InfoProvider data) through posted journal entries are maintained. If you recreate the journal template, all transaction data is deleted. However, if you add or remove one or more dimensions from a model, the corresponding journal template is automatically updated and the journal entries are maintained. If you recreate the journal template, but do not change the structure of the template keeping all header and detail dimensions the same, you have the option to keep the existing journal entries.

• Reopen Rules

  Define translation information for the dimensions used in the reopen tasks. For more information, see Journal Reopen Rules.

To create a journal template for a model, perform these steps:

1. Go to Administration and under the Features section, choose Journals.

2. Select the row containing the model for which you want to create the journal template, then click New in the toolbar.

3. Select header dimensions and modify the order of the header and detail dimensions if desired.

4. Add additional header items if necessary.

   To create extra header text fields in a template and to change the header text fields to selection boxes, define sub-items for one of the additional header items.

5. Define reopen rules.

6. Save and close.