What is $FLEX$ and $PROFILES$?

$FLEX$ and $PROFILES$ are Special Variables in oracle Apps environment and are
used to hold values at runtime.
Every Oracle Apps technical consultant will be familiar with the term $FLEX$ and
$PROFILES$. Whenever we are working with value sets, we will be using both of these
for modifying the data fetched, for basing the values of a parameter on the other
parameter and also fetching the Profile Option values.
To segregate this based on the functionality
$FLEX$: Used for basing the value of a parameter on another parameter.
$PROFILES$: used for fetching the data stored in the specified profile option value
which is currently active.

Where is it used?

Both these variables are used in the Parameter form of a Concurrent Program and are
used at the Where Clause window in the value set of Table type.

Syntax:

:$FLEX$.previous_value_set_name
Important:

 $FLEX$ must always be in capitals.

 A ‘:’ must precede the declaration of $FLEX$.
 The previous value set name must have already been assigned and saved on a
different parameter.

:$PROFILES$.Profile_option_name

Important:

 $PROFILES$ must be always in capitals.

 ‘:’ must always precede the declaration.
 Profile option name is the Profile Name and not to be confused with the User
profile Name.

Some use of the Special Variables are as below:

Pre-Requisites:

Created an Executable and a concurrent program which is registered in the Application

Object Library. The Query for the report is as below:

SELECT e.ename, e.empno, e.sal, e.hiredate, e.deptno, d.dname, d.loc

FROM emp e, dept d
WHERE d.deptno = :x_deptno;
The name of the concurrent program is taken as “XX_Checking_flex_and_profile_use”

Scenario 1:

Changing the value of Parameter B based on the Parameter A:

In this, we created two value sets and they are: XX_SCENARIO_1 and XX_Sub1

Steps:

Create the value set XX_SCENARIO_1 using the validation type as ‘Table’.
Create the second value set XX_Sub1 using the validation type as ‘Table’ and in the
where clause field specify the following code:
where deptno <= :$FLEX$.XX_SCENARIO_1

Working:

To check the working of this concurrent program, lets submit this

In the picture here, the First parameter contains no value, so the second
parameter is disabled as the WHERE clause in value set is equated to NULL,
making the field disabled.

When a value is selected in the first parameter, the second parameter gets
enabled and when the LOV is clicked, it shows the departments which are in
department number 20 and below it, as we have specified <= in the where clause.

Scenario 2:

Use of :$FLEX$ in the default type option of a Parameter form

Steps:

The query used in the Default

Value test field is as below: Select dname from dept where deptno =:
$FLEX$.XX_SCENARIO_1
Ensure that the default value for the field Department Number is given as SQL
Statement.
Select deptno from dept where deptno=20

Working:

Lets submit the concurrent program and check.

Since the default value was given as a SQL statement, the result of that is shown
in the first parameter and the second parameter has the value based on the first
parameter as specified in the SQL statement.

Scenario 3:

Use of $PROFILES$ in where clause and Default Value. It is done in the same way as
is used in $FLEX$.
Modifying the where clause using $PROFILES$ returns Successful upon
validation.

Scenario 4:

Use of Parameter name instead of a value set name in the $FLEX$ Special Variable.
Where Clause of the value set of table type using the parameter name.

Reason:
When we provide the name of the value set in $FLEX$ then we will be able to change
the value of the parameter which is dependent on it. If the value set is used by more
than one parameter then it becomes difficult to get the exact value in the dependent
parameter as it will fetch the values based on the last used value of the value set. It
could have been last used by the first parameter or any other parameter in the form. To
avoid this kind of confusion, the alternative is to provide the name of the Parameter
itself in the $FLEX$ variable. No matter how many times the value set is used, if we
provide the parameter name, we will get the dependent parameter value based on its
parent parameter only. Let me explain this using the pictures below:

Where Clause of the value

set of table type using the parameter
name.
The first and third parameter are based on value set names and the second and
fourth parameter are based on parameter name. Since the second parameter is
not initialized, the third parameter (value set based )is also not initialized.

Since the latest value is from Second parameter, hence the value in third is based
on the second parameter. The third value is based on the value of the second
parameter and is irrespective of the value set. Shown in the next picture.
Here the third parameter takes the latest value of the value set, hence shows the
department name corresponding to that and the fourth parameter values are
dependent on the value of the second parameter.