Dimension defaulting in accounting distributions, Part 2 - Basic defaulting sequence and priorities

Image 001 - Accounting distributions

In general, dimension values for a given accounting distribution are populated from higher levels in the tree.
Since different accounting distributions may require different dimension attributes based on the main account’s account structure and advanced rules, the system may have to traverse
the defaulting order to ensure that all dimension values have defaulted. 

The general order to determine dimension attributes for a given accounting distribution is:

Parent > Grandparent(s) > Default dimensions on the document line > Main account

 

Examples 

1. Parent - A dimension attribute value is defaulted from its parent distribution.
   In the example shown in image 001 the distribution for Tax: AV_CAST gets the dimension values from its parent, the distribution for Extended price.

2. Grandparent – The grandparent will be used if the parent is missing a segment applicable for the child, but is available on the grandparent.
   In the example shown in image 001 the distribution for Tax: HR_CAST is a child of distribution for Charge FEE and a grandchildren of distribution for Extended price.
   If the main account for Tax: HR_CAST would require a dimension value which is not provided in the distribution for Charge FEE, the system will use the value - if available there - from the grandparent distribution extended price.

3. Document line default dimensions - If a value cannot be defaulted from the parent or the grandparent(s) distribution then the default values from the source document line will be used.
   In the example shown in image 001 the distribution for Tax: HR_CAST could use an account structure which requires a dimension value which is not provided in any accounting distribution on a higher level (Charge or Extended price).
   The system will use the value from Financial dimensions tab on the purchase order line details as shown below.

   
   Image 002 - Line details - Financial dimensions

4. Main account - If there is no default dimension value on the document line then the default value from the related main account is used to default the dimension value on the accounting distribution.
   In the example shown in image 001 the distribution for extended price has main account 600180.
   If the system cannot find a dimension attribute value on the document line’s default dimension tab it will look at the default financial dimensions on the financial dimension tab on the main account.
   The default values on main account need to be specified on a company level as shown in below image 003.

   
   Image 003 - Main account default financial dimensions

AX also provides features (Main account allocation rules and Financial dimension default templates) to automatically split accounting distributions.
How defaulting of dimension values works when these features are used will be described in a separate blog entry – Splitting and defaulting using Financial dimension default templates and
Main account allocation rules.