Use this function to maintain the General Ledger Parameters file, which contains fundamental information defining how the General Ledger application operates and interfaces with other applications. This allows you to "customize" your General Ledger.
The Parameters (Interfaces) Screen, shown in Figure 4-3 below, appears when you select Parameters from the File Maintenance Pulldown Menu. Parameter information must be entered during Initial Setup in order to establish fields critical to the proper operation of your system. During Live Operations, such fields are display only and can only be changed through Recovery Processing.
The General Ledger Parameters file is a one-record file although there are two screens of information. Once the Parameters record has been created, you will normally enter this function in Inquire mode. You can change mode between Inquire and Change by using the mode icons on the toolbar or the mode function keys; however, you are not allowed to change mode to Add or Delete. Since Change mode places a hold on the record, use Change mode only when you intend to change data.
Figure 4-3. Parameters (Interfaces) Screen
This screen contains the following fields grouped by sections.
Enter the number of months or periods in your fiscal year. An entry of '12' means that you operate on a monthly basis, and Start Month of Fiscal Year determines which calendar month begins your fiscal year. An entry of '13' means that you operate on a 13-period basis with each period representing 4-weeks, and Start Month of Fiscal Year must be '01'.
If you operate on a monthly basis, enter the first calendar month of your fiscal year. For example, if your fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30, enter '10'. If you are on a 13-period basis, you must enter '01'.
Enter the fiscal period (or month) and fiscal year to begin "live operations" for General Ledger.
If you are on a monthly basis, the system displays the current calendar month/year once the previous entries have been validated. Calendar month/year does not apply for a 13-period basis.
For each of the ten occurrences, enter up to two uppercase letters, such as AP, AR, FA, GL, IC or PA, or leave the field blank.
OK Application Types indicate the application types that are permissible for account numbers entered within General Ledger, such as in Journal Entries or Recurring Entries. The application type for an account is determined by the Application Type specified in Chart of Accounts File Maintenance on the Details Overlay. If you make any entries here, be sure to include a "blank" type as the first entry in order to allow for accounts without application types. If no restrictions should be applied, leave all these fields blank.
There are four occurrences of Account Number Components (Length & Title) but only the first component is required. However, if the second or higher is blank, then any higher components must also be blank. Any component may be up to 10 characters in length, although the entire account number cannot exceed 12 characters in length.
Enter the size of each component of your account number (up to 10 characters, with a combined total of not more than 12 characters).
Enter a description for each component of your account number for which a Length was entered.
Enter the retained earnings account number (or the root portion if applicable).
You can click on 
or press the Scan key to find an appropriate
entry. If the field Separate Retained
Earnings by Account Component? is "no", this account
will be updated automatically during the Close Month process for the last
month of the fiscal year when the revenue and expense accounts are summed
and zeroed. If possible, the system displays the account description defined
in Chart of Accounts
File Maintenance so that you can verify your entry; otherwise, a warning
is issued for information only. (Since the parameters record must be established
before you can add any accounts, a warning should be expected initially.)
Indicate whether or not retained earnings are to be posted separately
beginning with the account component designated in the Component
Level to Begin Separation field. Select "yes" or 
to maintain separate Retained Earnings accounts where the
root portion is found in Retained Earnings
Account. Select "no" or 
to post all retained
earnings to the single account named in Retained
Earnings Account. The default is "no".
If Separate Retained Earnings by Account Component? is "yes", enter the component level of the account number where you want separation to begin. For example, if the fourth component of the account structure is defined as "Branch" and you wish to maintain a separate Retained Earnings account for each branch, then the proper entry would be "4" (for the fourth component). If the third component of your account structure is "Division" and the fourth component is "Branch" and you wish to maintain a separate Retained Earnings account for each division/branch combination, then the proper entry would be "3" (for the third component). Suppose, however, that the second component of your account structure is "Company" while the third and fourth are "Division" and "Branch" and you wish to maintain a separate Retained Earnings account for each company/division/branch combination, then the proper entry would be "2" (for the second component).
Press ENTER or click 
or the Save
button to save the information on this screen. If any information has
changed, the system may redisplay the screen to show any new or changed
system-supplied items or to report any error or warning messages. If so,
the current screen has not yet been saved; you must address any concerns
and press ENTER or click or the Save
button again. To exit without saving, press END or click 
or the Cancel
button.
In Add mode, when you save this screen, the system will automatically present the Parameters (Reporting & Posting) Screen; otherwise, click on the Reporting & Posting button to access it (which first saves the current screen if applicable).
The following icons are also available for use on the toolbar (unless disabled in Add mode):
List Parameters:
See Parameters List for further information.
Display Parameters Audit
Info: See Audit
Info for further information.
Click the appropriate icon to perform the desired operation (which first saves the current screen if applicable), after which you will return to where you are.