(BRA) Set up the configurator layout group
Important
This content is archived and is not being updated. For the latest documentation, see Microsoft Dynamics 365 product documentation. For the latest release plans, see Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform release plans.
Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2
Use the Configurator layout groups form to set up a configurator layout group. A configurator layout group defines the file structure that is used to import or export data. When you create configurator layout groups, you must attach a configurator definition group to the layout group and define the layout. If you create a configurator layout group to import a return file, you must select the Register type check box in the Edit layout form to define a register type for the record layout that has a header, detail, and trailer.
Note
You cannot delete a configurator definition group if it is attached to a configurator layout group.
Click Organization administration > Periodic > Configurator > Configurator layout groups.
Create a configurator layout group.
In the Layout group and Name fields, enter an identification code and name for the configurator layout group.
In the Layout type field, select one of the following options to indicate the type of layout:
Delimited – The fields are separated by a delimiter.
Fixed length – The fields have a fixed length.
In the Definition group field, select the identification code of the definition group to attach to the configurator layout group.
In the File structure field, select one of the following options to indicate the file structure for the layout group:
Simple – You can define a single header, detail, and trailer for the layout. If this option is selected, the Header, Detail, and Trailer options are available in the Record type field in the Edit layout form.
Complex – You can define multiple headers, details, and trailers for the layout. If this option is selected, the File header, Batch header, Details, Batch trailer, and File trailer options are available in the Record type field in the Edit layout form.
If you selected Delimited in the Layout type field, click the Layout tab, and then enter information in the following fields:
In the Delimited field, select one of the following options to indicate the delimiter for the delimited layout type:
Tab – The fields are separated by tabs.
Semicolon – The fields are separated by semicolons.
Comma – The fields are separated by commas.
Space – The fields are separated by spaces.
Other – You can specify any other delimiter in the Other field.
If you selected Other in the Delimited field, in the Other field, enter the delimiter to use.
Note
This field is available only if you select Other in the Delimited field.
In the Text qualifier field, select the text qualifier.
Select the Export check box to use the layout group as an export format. If you select this check box, in the Methods of payment - customers and Methods of payment - vendors forms, in the Export layout group field, you can select the layout group for a method of payment that has the Configurable layout file export format.
Select the Import check box to use the layout group as an import format. If you select this check box, in the Methods of payment - customers and Methods of payment - vendors forms, in the Return layout group field, you can select the layout group for a method of payment that has the Configurable layout file return format.
Click Layout to open the Edit layout form. You can define a simple or a complex file layout, based on the file structure that is defined for the layout group.
In the Edit layout form, enter information in the following fields:
In the Record name field, enter a name for the record layout.
In the Record size field, enter the size of the record layout. The total size that you specify for all the record lines in the Size field on the Configurator layout fields FastTab cannot be more than the record size.
In the Record type field, select the type of record to define the layout for.
If you select Simple in the File structure field in the Configurator layout groups form, the following options are available:
Header
Detail
Trailer
If you select Complex in the File structure field in the Configurator layout groups form, the following options are available:
File header
Batch header
Details
Batch trailer
File trailer
Select the Hide check box to indicate that the record layout is not printed in the output file. This check box is available only if you select the Complex file structure for the layout group in the Configurator layout groups form.
Select the Register type check box to activate a register type for the record layout. If you select this check box, you must define a register type for record layouts that have Header, Detail, and Trailer record types. To define a register type, select Command in the Table name field and Register type in the Field name field, and then specify the register type value in the Content field.
Note
You must specify a register type for each layout line of the layout group. The register group is used to import a return file.
On the Configurator layout fields FastTab, enter or view information in the following fields:
In the Table name field, select a table to define the layout for. The tables that are defined in the Configurator definition groups form for the configurator definition group that is assigned to the configurator layout group are available.
In the Field name field, select a field to define the layout for. The fields that are defined for the table that you select in the Table name field are available.
Note
For a record layout line, you can specify either a field in the Field name field or a method in the Method name field.
In the Array index field, enter the array index for the array type field.
In the Method name field, select a method to define the layout for. You can select a method in the list of methods that are available for the table that you select in the Table name field.
Note
For a record line, you can specify either a field in the Field name field or a method in the Method name field.
In the End position field, view the ending position of the record. You can update the end position for string, integer, and real data types. When you update the end position for a field, the Size field and the number of characters in the Format field are updated. Any increase or decrease in the end position of the real data type updates the number of characters that are before the decimal point in the format.
Note
For the date and time data types, the end position is updated based on the value that you specify in the Format field.
In the Size field, view the total size of the record layout line. The size is equal to the character count from the starting position to the ending position for the field. For example, if the ending position is 20, and the starting position is 10, the size is 11. The record size is updated if you update the value in the End position field or the Format field.
Note
For the date and time data types, the size includes the separator that is used in the format.
In the Type field, view the default data type for the selected field or method. This field is updated based on the field that you select in the Field name field.
In the Format field, update the format of the field, based on the data type. This field is updated based on the field that you select in the Field name field.
Type
Format
String
X(nnn)
X indicates that the value consists of characters.
nnn indicates the number of characters.
You can only modify the number of characters (nnn). For example, X(30) is a string that contains 30 characters.
Integer
9(nnn)
9 indicates a numeric value.
nnn indicates the number of digits.
You can only modify the number of digits (nnn).
Real
9(nnn)V9(nnn)
9 indicates a numeric value.
nnn indicates the number of digits.
V indicates the separator between the integer and decimal values, such as a comma or a period. The separator that is used depends on the system setup.
The second 9 indicates that the separator is followed by decimal places.
The second nnn indicates the number of decimal places after the separator.
For example, 9(8)V9(5) is an eight-digit number that has five decimal places.
Note
You can also use the format 9(nnn)9(nnn) when there is no separator between the integer and decimal values of the number.
Date
Any combination of DD, MM, and YY or YYYY. These placeholders represent the date, month, two-digit year, and four-digit year. You can use different combinations of DD, MM, YY, and YYYY, and can include or exclude a separator. For example, the date format can be DD/MM/YY or MM/DD/YYYY, or DDMMYY or MMDDYYYY.
Time
Any combination of hh, mm, and ss, which represent hours, minutes, and seconds. A colon (:) is used as the separator. For example, the time format can be hh:mm:ss.
Note
For the string, integer, and real data types, you can only modify the number of characters, which is indicated by nnn. If you modify the number of characters for a field, the values in the End position and Size fields are updated.
In the Content field, enter a value for the selected field, if any value is required. You must specify a value if you select Command in the Table name field, and Fixed or Register type in the Field name field.
Note
You must enter the value for the register type in the format that is specified in the Format field.
In the Fill field, enter the character that is used to fill empty spaces in the field. For example, if the Name field uses left justification and X as the fill character for a 10-character string, the value is displayed as NameXXXXXX.
In the Justification field, select the justification that is applied to the value of the field that you select in the Field name field. The options are Left justify and Right justify. For example, if the Name field uses right justification and X as the fill character for a 10-character string, the value is displayed as XXXXXXName.
In the Truncate field, select one of the following options to indicate the method that is used to truncate the decimal values in the selected field:
None – The value is not truncated or rounded.
Truncate – The value is truncated.
Round – The value is rounded up or down to the nearest whole number, depending on whether the number is more than or less than 00.50.
Rounding-up – The value is rounded up to the nearest whole number.
Rounding-down – The value is rounded down to the nearest whole number.
In the Comments field, enter any comments. The comments that you enter in this field are used for informational purposes only.
Note
The Start position, End position, Size, Fill, Justification, and Truncate fields on the Configurator layout fields FastTab are available only if you select Fixed length in the Layout type field in the Configurator layout groups form.
In the Complex file structure layout, an automatic sequence number for the batch ID is generated for the Batch header, Details, and Batch trailer record types. Select Command in the Table name field and Batch ID in the Field name field, and then specify the batch ID in the Content field. The batch ID can contain a maximum of five characters.
If you select Command in the Table name field in the Complex file structure layout, in the Field name field, select one of the following options. The options that are available depend on the record type.
File Batch Qtd (Record type - File trailer) – Generate the total number of batches in the layout on the output file.
Batch Register Number (Record type – Details) – Generate a sequential number for the registers in a batch.
Qtd Registers in a Batch (Record type – Batch trailer, File trailer) – Generate the total number of registers in the batch.
Repeat step 12 to add other fields to the record layout.
See also
(BRA) Configurator layout groups (form)