FOUNDATION Code Table Manager

Externalized Code Definitions

Information definitions are one of the most volatile aspects of an enterprise application. Application systems often require sets of lists and code tables to meet application requirements. Administration tasks to maintain these lists and code tables often account for a significant percentage of the overall application. These lists evolve over time and new codes are often added. Foundation Codes Facility provides ability to maintain and create these lists without programming. Foundation provides administrative functions to distribute table maintenance for all tables, or for individual tables.

Code List Reusability

Code lists are easy to correlate, review and modify through on-line operations. A directory of all code lists known to Foundation is available for on-line perusal. Explanatory comments about each code list can also be provided to help the reviewer understand how each code list is used. Code list reusability is promoted through the users visibility into this information.

Limitless Code Tables

Foundation imposes no limits on the number of code tables that can be defined, nor does it impose any limits on the number or types of different code lists maintained. Customers often find new ways to use this facility to externalize even system oriented code lists and processing rules.

Application Specific Definitions

Applications often use code lists in a variety of ways. For example, a state code list might be used to validate USA address information. In another scenario, Foundation code lists can be used to decide which sales territory is credited with a sale. In other applications, the same state code list might be used to identify time zone or region or to associate an order with the closest warehouse. Foundation's code lists provide application developers the flexibility to record this type of application specific information: all without coding. The content of these additional fields are provided automatically to applications using Foundation's Codes.

Active and Inactive Code Values

Over time, some codified information may no longer be viewed as valid. For example, in a personnel application job codes 51 and 52 may be replaced by job code 50. When an application contains historical information, however, it is typically necessary to continue to recognize these obsolete codes for purposes of translating the code into meaningful descriptions when it is displayed or printed. Foundation allows you to indicate the status of each code value. A code value must be "Active" for it to be used in data entry, although all codes, active and inactive, can be translated and viewed.

Easy Enterprise Integration

Foundation Codes are accessed through a simple, consistent API, and can be integrated onto your current Pathway and other applications very easily with just a few lines of code. Different interface options provide for code validation, translation, and the retrieval of an entire collection of code information.

 

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