INV Category Upload creates and updates item category codes from Excel, the way the Categories window does: description, inactive date, the iProcurement and supplier flags and the descriptive flexfield. It downloads the categories of a flex structure for editing, saves each row with the same checks as the window, and returns a result report with the outcome of every row.
When to use it
- Set up the category codes of a new item category structure in one step.
- Change the descriptions of many categories at once.
- Give categories an Inactive On date.
- Enable categories for iProcurement, or make purchasing categories not viewable by suppliers.
- Maintain the descriptive flexfield of categories.
Before you start
- You are signed in to a responsibility with access to the upload in Blitz Report.
- The item category flex structure exists, and the segment values of new categories are in the value sets of its segments.
Choose a template
The default template is Default.
| Template | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Default (default) | Category codes with all columns of the Categories window, without the descriptive flexfield. |
| Create Categories | An empty sheet for new category codes. Upload Mode is locked to Create and the download filters are hidden. |
| Flexfields | Category codes including the descriptive flexfield attributes. |
Step 1 – Set the parameters
Open INV Category Upload in Blitz Report, choose the template and set the parameters. They decide which categories are downloaded.
| Parameter | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Upload Mode | Create gives you an empty sheet. Create, Update (default) also downloads the existing categories. |
| Structure Name | Restricts the download to the categories of the item category flex structure. Also the structure of new rows. |
| Category Set | Restricts the download to the valid categories of the category set. |
| Category | Restricts the download to the category. |
Step 2 – Run to download the Excel file
Click Run. With Create, Update, the file has one row per category. Structure Name and Category are read-only on downloaded rows. With Create, the sheet is empty.
Step 3 – Enter the categories
Change the downloaded rows, or add rows for new categories.
- Structure Name – the item category flex structure.
- Category – the concatenated segments, separated by the segment delimiter of the structure, for example COMPUTER.MONITOR. Each segment of a new category is validated against its value set.
- Description.
- Inactive On – today or a later date. The default category of a category set cannot be made inactive.
- Enabled For Iprocurement – Yes makes the category available in iProcurement.
- Viewable By Supplier – Yes for a new category. Only categories of the purchasing category structure can be made not viewable by suppliers.
- Flexfield Context and the attribute columns of the Flexfields template. Their column headers show the segment prompts of your flexfield setup.
Step 4 – Validate and Save
Click Validate and Save. This checks for missing required values and for values that are not in their lists, marks the rows Valid and saves the file. Correct any rows it flags before uploading.
Step 5 – Upload the file
In Blitz Report click Upload and select the saved file. The upload request processes the rows in order. Each row is saved or rejected on its own, so a rejected row does not affect the other rows.
Step 6 – Review the result report
When the request completes, a result report opens listing every uploaded row with its status and a message, for example Category created., Category updated. or No change., or the reason the row was rejected. The result report shows the values as they were saved in Oracle.
What’s produced
- Category codes, saved as the Categories window saves them.
- A row that fails does not affect the other rows.
- A result report listing every row with a status (success or error) and a message.
Common questions
Can I delete a category or change its segments?
No. As in the Categories window, a category cannot be deleted and the segments of an existing category cannot be changed. Enter an Inactive On date instead.
How do I add new categories to the valid categories of a category set?
Use the INV Category Set Upload.
How do I assign items to categories?
Use the INV Item Upload with its Item Category Set Assignment template.
How do I enter descriptive flexfield values?
Use the Flexfields template. Its attribute columns show the segment prompts of your flexfield setup.
Troubleshooting
| Message | Cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Missing values for required field/s: … | Structure Name or Category is blank. | Fill in the columns named. |
| Value … for the flexfield segment … does not exist in the value set … | A segment of a new category is not a value of the segment’s value set. | Correct the Category, separating the segments with the delimiter of the structure, or add the value to the value set. |
| Value … is longer than its maximum length of … characters. | A segment of a new category is longer than its value set allows. | Shorten the segment value. |
| Disable date must be greater than or equal to current date | Inactive On was changed to a date in the past. | Use today or a later date. |
| Cannot disable the default category for a mandatory category set | Inactive On was entered for a category that is the default category of a category set. | Choose another default category for the category set first. |
| Only purchasing categories can be made non-viewable by Supplier. | Viewable By Supplier was cleared for a category that is not in the purchasing category structure. | Set Viewable By Supplier to Yes. |