Demystifying Sub-Ledger

Accounting (SLA) in the Oracle

R12 Financials Solution
 Oracle R12

- Multi-Org Access Control (MOAC)

- Trading Community Architecture (TCA)
- eBTax
- Banking Model
- Payment Model
- General Ledger (Ledgers)
Why SLA and What does it do?
 Why SLA and what does it do?
Oracle Sub Ledger accounting (SLA) is an
accounting hub in Oracle Application Release 12
(R12).
It is used to derive all attributes required to account
a transaction
Derive basic & complex accounting attributes:
Code Combination ID
After deriving these accounting attributes the
transactions are then interfaced to GL from SLA.
No sub ledgers (AP, PO...) interfaces the transactions
directly to GL
 Why SLA and what does it do?
SLA gives the flexibility to manage the entire
accounting rule at one place, which acts as a
single source of truth for GL.
There is no separate responsibility to access
SLA setup or view the transactions generated
by SLA. Rather we can access SLA setup and
review accounted transactions with extended
menus attached to each sub ledger module
 SLA *Did you know*
FYI
Over 2,100 objects have been added to the E-
Business Suite due to SLA

Select object_type, count(*)

from dba_objects
Where object_name like %XLA%
Group by object_type;
How SLA creates accounting
lines
 How SLA creates accounting lines
After registering the event in SLA, we can create accounting
entries by running executable XDODTEXE. This executable is
provided by SLA and is used by all the sub ledgers with different
concurrent program names. Around 160 concurrent programs
use the same executable for example in Projects it is used with
name PRC: Create Accounting. This executable does the
following:
Gathers information from base tables in sub ledgers.
Derive the accounting attributes based on the data fetched from
sub ledgers.
Derive code combination id based on the business rules.
Create journal lines based on the seeded Journal definition.
Create lines in XLA_AE_HEADERS and XLA_AE_LINES.
How SLA creates accounting lines
How SLA creates accounting lines
There are cases where SLA can alter or massage the
CCID (code combination) that is generated in a
Subledger before transferring to the General Leger.
For example, payables module generates a charge
account segment combination for an invoice
distribution line as A.B.C.D. If SLA module is NOT
configured, then SLA is simply a pass through.

Payables A.B.C.D

Subledger
A.B.C.D
Accounting

General
Ledger
 If SLA module is configured, then the A.B.C.D code combination
of Payables can be passed to General Ledger via the SLA as
A.B1.C1.D instead.
If SLA was configured to pass account C as 7450 for a
qualifying transaction (A.B1.7450.D)

Payables A.B.C.D

Subledger
A.B1.C1.D
Accounting

General
Ledger
 The most important application however of the SLA is its ability to create shadow
journals that contain different values or differing credit/debit entries for the transactions.
This is the main reason why SLA module was created/designed.
For company "COMPANY UK", it might have operations in France, which is "COMPANY
France". With UK being the parent company, the French company has to do accounting
journals in formats that can be reported as per French legislation and also as per UK
legislation.
In France an inventory item is accounted as expense, whereas in UK the inventory item
is accounted as an asset.
A.B.C.D is never passed to the GL. Instead to GL A.B1.C1.D is passed to the France
Ledger and A2.B2.C.D is passed to the UK Ledger.

A.B.C.D-FR
Payables
A.B.C.D-UK

Subledger A.B1.C1.D- FR
Accounting A.B2.C2.D -UK

General
Ledger
 How SLA creates accounting lines
During development and testing you can use
SLA Diagnostics to help you review source
values and review issues related to generation
of subledger journal entries.
Administrator set profile SLA: Enable diagnostics =
Yes
Users enter transactions
Run Create Accounting
Run Request: Transaction Object Diagnostics
Event Model
 Entities, Event Classes and
Event Types
SLA KEY Event Model is the Event Entity: Highest level, often 1
ATTRIBUTES definition of sub ledger
per sub ledger application (AP,
AR)
EVENT transaction types and
there life cycle
MODEL Event Class: classifies transaction
types for accounting rule
purposes (Invoice, Receipt)

Event Type: for each transaction

type, defines possible actions with
accounting significance.
(Adjusted, Cancelled, Validated)
 How does SLA work?
Register Subledger transactions in SLA
 How does SLA work?
Register Subledger transactions in SLA
After validating / approving / costing the transaction in
the respective module, the sub ledger calls SLA API to
create a reference of the validated transaction in SLA.
This reference is known as EVENT. Events are created
by calling the public API
xla_events_pub_pkg.create_events provided by SLA.
It is up to the sub ledgers on how to call the API.
For example Oracle Projects calls this API from concurrent
program PRC: Generate Cost Accounting Events and
Oracle Payables calls this API with Create Account (on the
form from Actions or concurrent program)
 How does SLA work?
Register Subledger transactions in SLA
While calling xla_events_pub_pkg.create_events,
oracle passes a unique id and event class
Unique ID can be an invoice id, a po_distribution id
or an expenditure_item_id etc.
As soon as the sub ledger generates the event in
SLA, SLA returns unique event_id. This event_id will
then act as a reference to all the accounting entries
generated by SLA.
 How does SLA work?
Register Subledger transactions in SLA
Taking the example of Oracle Projects in 11i where after
costing the transaction user need to run the PRC:
Interface Cost to General Ledger followed by Journal
Import followed by PRC: Tieback process.
In R12 user only need to run PRC: Generate Cost
Accounting Events which will register events in SLA and
thereafter SLA will take care of accounting the
transaction and interfacing it to GL.
There is no tieback process in R12, as there is one to
one reference of event id between SLA and sub ledger
tables.
 How does SLA work?
How does SLA understand whether unique id
is invoice id or a po_distribution id
 How does SLA work?
How does SLA understand whether unique id is invoice id or a po_distribution id

While creating the event we also need to

pass event class.
This event class is used to distinguish
between the types of transaction passed for
processing.
 How does SLA work?
Projects> Setup> Subledger Accounting >
Accounting Methods Builder > Events>
Events Model
 How does SLA work?
Projects> Setup> Subledger Accounting >
Accounting Methods Builder > Events>
Events Model
 How does SLA work?
Projects> Setup> Subledger Accounting >
Accounting Methods Builder > Events>
Events Model
How does SLA work?
How does SLA work?
 Identifiers are the unique ID that is passed to SLA from sub
ledgers.
Per the screenshot Oracle is passing expenditure_Item_id for
entity EXPENDITURE. Identifier Column field under Identifier
window tells what column in SLA table should store
expenditure_item_id.
The identifier columns that can be used are SOURCE_ID_INT_1
to 4, SOURCE_ID_DATE_1 to 4, SOURCE_ID_CHAR_1 to 4
these values and columns are present in table
XLA_TRANSACTION_ENTITIES.
How does SLA work?
 This screen shows the hierarchical structure of different
transactions that can be interfaced to SLA.
Because the screen shot is from Oracle Projects
responsibility thus it shows only the projects related
transactions.
In the entity screen we see only those transactions that
can be interfaced to the GL, thats why we do not see
Invoice as one of the entity as Invoices are not directly
interfaced to GL from PA but they are routed thru AR.
 Event Class window displays the different kind of expenditure
transactions that can be interfaced to GL.
This level of hierarchy is known as Event class, which is further
classified into Event Types.
View Subledger Accounting
 View Subledger Accounting
Responsibility (Payables)> Accounting>
Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
View Subledger Accounting
Inquiring Minds
want to know
 SLA *Question*
Do you see upgrade issues
going from R11i to R12 that
involve data base and
applications performance?
No database and application
performance issues after the
upgrade, except Oracle
recommend 20% more CPU
and Memory should be
added than R11i
SLA *Question*
Are there any patching
requirements?
Our DBAs have not seen
any specific patch for SLA
in an upgrade
Consider how much data
history you need access
to in XLA tables. Log an
SR to receive patch
information
 SLA *Question*
Do you see any installation
issues?
None. The configuration
after the upgrade is still an
open itemTalk to
Accounting and ask how
many manual journals they
perform because the CCID
is not created properly.
 SLA *Question*
Is there a partitioning SLA
tables or other data base
configuration requirement?
None. Upgrade took care of
SLA table creation and
configuration
Setup
 Decides the triggering event in modules
Application Accounting Definition to generate accounting.
Example: Invoice Validation or Invoice
Payment (Payables)

Constructs the Journal Header and

Journal Line
Journal Header
Assignments Journal Line Definitions

Account
Journal Entry Journal Line
Derivation
Descriptions Types
Rules
 Overall Setup Flow
When you create new definitions in SLA, you can follow the bottom up model.
The parallel flow on top, as shown in image below is to ensure both a Credit and Debit line
gets created for a Journal.

Create Journal Line Type for Create Journal Line Type for
CREDIT line DEBIT line

Create Account Derivation Rule Create Account Derivation Rule

for CREDIT line for DEBIT line

Generates Credit Line Journal Generates Debit Line Journal

Create Journal Line Definition for Event Class and Event Type using
JLT, ADR (The How)

Create Application Create Subledger

Accounting Definition Accounting Method
(The When) (The Where)
Event Model
 EVENT MODEL
Payables> Setup> Accounting Setups> Subledger
Accounting Setup> Accounting Methods Builder>
Events> Event Model
 EVENT MODEL
Payables> Setup> Accounting Setups> Subledger
Accounting Setup> Accounting Methods Builder>
Events> Event Model
 EVENT MODEL
Payables> Setup> Accounting Setups> Subledger
Accounting Setup> Accounting Methods Builder>
Events> Event Model
 EVENT MODEL
Payables> Setup> Accounting Setups> Subledger
Accounting Setup> Events> Event Model
 EVENT MODEL
Payables> Setup> Accounting Setups> Subledger
Accounting Setup> Events> Event Model
 For each and every application there is a combination of event
class and event type. Depending upon the combination of event
class and event type the accounting gets triggered. The
standard SLA out of the box from Oracle meets your
requirement by 80%.
For example you can fetch the standard accounting from payables
or receivables options. However where these standard seeded
accounting do not suffice, you can go and modify SLA to meet your
business needs.
There is something called Journal Entry Description. When a
transaction is transferred as a journal, then every journal has
credit/debit and description. The journal has description at
header and also at line level. The JED allows you to generate
the description of the Journal at both header and line level.
For example you may want Customer Name or Customer Number
in the journal description for a journal that is initiated from Oracle
Receivables module. Using JED in SLA you can build header or
line level descriptions.
 Setup
Journal Line Definitions
The How
 Journal Line Definitions
The Journal Line Definition "defines" how the entire journal is
built. To create any journal, one of the key things is to get the
CCID or the code combination of segments.
SLA needs to know where this CCID will be coming from. You
also need to know whether this CCID will be debit or this CCID
will go into credit. Therefore you not just require the CCID, but
you also need to decide whether a specific CCID will be debited
or credited. In SLA, the "Journal Line Type" will specify whether
the accounting entry is credit or debit. Also, you can then "attach
something called an ADR (Account Derivation Rules) to this
Journal Line Type".
The ADR returns the final code combination. Therefore Journal
Line Definition will leverage the JLT+ADR to know which CCID
is crediting and which CCID is debiting in the journal.
If desired the Journal Entry description JED
 Journal Line Definitions
Journal Line
Type
Decide Credit or
Debit

Journal
Line
Definition
Journal Entry Account
Description Derivation
Construct Desc Rules
(header/line) Generate CCID
 Journal Line Definitions
Journal Line Type

Journal Line
Type
Decide Credit
or Debit

Journal
Line
Definition
Journal Entry Account
Description Derivation
Construct Desc Rules
(header/line) Generate CCID
 JOURNAL LINE TYPES
Payables> Setup> Accounting Setups> Subledger Accounting
Setup> Accounting Methods Builder> Journal Entry Setups>
Journal Line Types
 JOURNAL LINE TYPES
Payables> Setup> Accounting Setups> Subledger Accounting Setup>
Accounting Methods Builder> Journal Entry Setups> Line Types
(new/find)
 If you Merge Matching lines in SLA you can
not transfer to GL in detail
 Condition
 In this example, we want to build a condition for Journal Line
Type eligibility depending upon whether in the Payables
Options Screen has Automatic Offset Method is set to None,
Balancing or Account.
In the example condition, we have placed an OR condition.
 Setup> Options> Payables Options
This is what the normal setting could be
 Repeat for debit Copy Option
 Repeat for debit
 Build a condition based on Invoice
Distribution type as shown below
 Journal Line Definitions
Account Derivation Rules

Journal Line
Type
Decide Credit
or Debit

Journal
Line
Definition
Journal Entry Account
Description Derivation
Construct Desc Rules
(header/line) Generate CCID
 Account Derivation Rule
Setup Accounting setups> Subledger Accounting
Setup> Accounting Methods Builder> Journal Entry
Setups> Account Derivation Rules
 Account Derivation Rule
Chart of Accounts
Must enter both Transaction & Accounting
An ADR can either return a full CCID or a specific segment. The values
can be sourced either statically or from existing seeded dynamic
sources in SLA. These seeded sources are mapped to database
 Account Derivation Rule
Output type options based on your unique configuration
 Account Derivation Rule
We are saying this specific ADR will return a constant for Company
 Account Derivation Rule
We are saying this specific ADR will return a constant for the full
Accounting Flexfield
 Account Derivation Rule
First the conditions against priority 1 are evaluated.
If the condition returns TRUE, then the value from priority 1 will
be picked up
Otherwise it will go to the next condition
 Journal Line Definitions
Journal Entry Description

Journal Line
Type
Decide Credit
or Debit

Journal
Line
Definition
Journal Account
Entry Derivation
Description Rules
Construct
Generate
Desc
CCID
(header/line)
 Creating Journal Entry Description
Setup> Accounting Setups> Subledger Accounting
Setups> Accounting Method Builder> Journal Entry
Setups> Journal Entry Description
 Example: Display; Supplier Name, Invoice
number, Invoice Date, PO Number, etc
 ..RECAP JOURNAL ENTRY DESCRIPTION
There is something called Journal Entry Description. When a transaction is transferred as a
journal, then every journal has credit/debit and description. The journal has description at
header and also at line level. The JED allows you to generate the description of the Journal at
both header and line level.
For example you may want Customer Name or Customer Number in the journal description for a journal
that is initiated from Oracle Receivables module. Using JED in SLA you can build header or line level
descriptions.
 Journal Line Definitions
Journal Line Definition

Journal Line
Type
Decide Credit
or Debit

Journal
Line
Definition
Journal Account
Entry Derivation
Description Rules
Construct
Generate
Desc
CCID
(header/line)
 Journal Lines Definitions
 The CCID for the debit line will be calculated by the CCID value
in Invoice Distribution line, with the specific segment from
Account segment being replaced as per ADR_EXPENSE_CSS.
For example, if the CCID in AP_INVOICE_DISTRIBUTION
equates A.B.C.D.E.F then your journal line debit entry will be
02.B.C.D.E.F
New setups
new tables?
Important Tables in SLA
XLA_Events
Stores records for accounting events generated by subledger
applications. Each product populates this table by calling the
subledger API
XLA_AE_Headers
Stores subledger journal entries. There is a one to many
relationship between Events and Headers
XLA_AE_Lines
Stores subledger journal entries lines. There is a one to
many relationship between Headers and Lines. This table
will store at least one row for debit and one row for credit.
XLA_Distribution_Links
Stores detail distribution of the journal entries. This table is
the most granular level and represents data contained in
respective subledger products distribution tables. Accounting
uses this table for processing reversals and business flows
 AR - HEADERS ENTITIES
XLA_TRANSACTION_ENTITIES
Visual for AR
RA_CUSTOMER_TRX_ALL
AR_CASH_RECEIPTS_ALL data in SLA
AR_ADJUSTMENTS_ALL
ACCOUNTING EVENTS
XLA_EVENTS

ACCOUNTING HEADERS
XLA_AE_HEADERS

ACCOUNTING LINES
LEDGER TABLES
XLA_AE_LINES

AR DISTRIBUTIONS

RA_CUST_TRX_LINE_GL_DIST_ALL
AR_DISTRIBUTIONS_ALL DISTRIBUTION LINKS GL IMPORT
XLA_DISTRIBUTION_LINKS REFERENCES
 Setup
Application Accounting Definition
The When
Application Accounting Definitions
Accounting Setups> Accounting Methods Builder>
Methods and Definitions> Application Accounting
Definitions
Application Accounting Definitions
Accounting Setups> Accounting Methods Builder>
Methods and Definitions> Application Accounting
Definitions
The purpose of AAD in SLA is to dictate which "Journal Line
Definition" must be used when a specific event takes place
against a specific type of transaction in a specific module like
Payables or Receivables.
Oracle ships out of the box an AAD for every
module/application that uses SLA.
For each application like AP,AR,PA,PO there will exist an
existing AAD in the Subledger Modules. However, for this
example we will create a new AAD for Payables.
AAD screen you will specify when the Journal Line Definition
will be used. In this case, as per the next slide, we are stating
that journal line definition JLD_CSS should be used for
creating journal whenever any event occurs against an
Invoice in Payables.
 Application Accounting Definitions
Journal Header description will be constructed.
Journal Entry Description, we concatenate static text
and dynamic content from SLA Sources[mapped to DB
columns or pl/sql functions] so as to construct a
description for Journal Line or Journal header.
 Creating - Custom Methods
Seeded Application Accounting Definitions are
provided for each module out of the box by Oracle.
However if the existing definitions do not meet your
business requirements, then you can copy the
existing AAD's to a custom AAD, and then make
alterations to the custom AAD, which means
creating custom JLT, custom JED and custom ADR
as appropriate.
It is important to remember that you must create a
custom copy of an existing SLA component before
making modifications.
 Setup
SubLedger Accounting Methods
SLAM
There Where
 Subledger Accounting Methods
Primary Ledger and also each secondary ledger should
be able to generate Journals as per their respective
legislator requirements for all the modules implemented.
This is where "Subledger Accounting Method" [SLAM]
comes into the play.
A Ledger needs accounting entries to be processed
across many modules. Hence SLAM provides an
umbrella to join accounting entries from various modules
so that they can be channelled through to Oracle
General Ledger.
In other words a SLAM is a collection of accounting
definitions for various modules in Oracle Apps. A SLAM
is then attached to the Ledger.
Subledger Accounting Methods

Ledger Defined in GL
SLAM
AAD [Event Class & Event Type]
JLD
[JLT + ADR + (JED)]
 Subledger Accounting Method
Setup Accounting Setups> Subledger Accounting Setup>
Methods and Definitions> Subledger Accounting Methods
 Using AAD we specify the Journal creation rules (the when) per
module. (Receivables a receipt is reversed). In SLAM we specify the
applications/modules (the where) for which the Journals must be built
for the entire organization such as "COMPANY UK" across Payables
and Receivables and Project Accounting. The decision of whether the
journal must be created is delegated to the AAD. As for how the journal
is constructed and how the accounts are derived is delegated to the
Journal Line Definition
You can attach SLAM directly from form by clicking Accounting setups
 Subledger Accounting Method
General Ledger> Setup> Financial> Accounting Setup
Manager> Accounting Setups
 Subledger Accounting Method
General Ledger> Setup> Financial> Accounting Setup
Manager> Accounting Setups
 Subledger Accounting Method
General Ledger> Setup> Financial> Accounting Setup
Manager> Accounting Setups
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