What is the formula to work out the total number of possible companies to obtain when the LENGTH = 2 for the Company segment Value Set in the creation of a COA structure? Hasan said there are 99 possible companies from 01, 02 …99. What is the formula?

What would be the formula for the possible number of accounts when the LENGTH = 4 for the Natural Account segment Value Set.

Considering the different account types we have, and knowing the number of “Income Statement” accounts may be more than Assets, Liability and Retained Earning accounts combined together, how do we allocate the account ranges to the different account types.

Please, explain with some example, as I did not really get it from the tutorial.

Thank you in advance.

It all depends on your client's requirements.
If there are few companies and you know that the number of companies will never cross 99 then you could go with 2 digits. Otherwise you could go with 3 or 4 digits.
Similarly, some companies use 4 digit natural account segment and some go with 6.
Rule of thumb is less the number of digits, the faster the data entry is. The more the number of digits, the more number of values could be accommodated. Avoid alpha-numeric child values. Alpha-numeric is usually used for parent values.
You have to strike a perfect balance between ease of data entry and future growth.
Again, accountants would have a final say on the segment lengths. If they are unable fit in all their account ranges in 4 digits they might then want to use 5 or 6 digits.

Hasan

Once the structure is created and the system goes live, you cannot change the lengths.

Thank you Hasan for the clarification. Please, could you give me an example about your statement: "Avoid alpha-numeric child values. Alpha-numeric is usually used for parent values." Thanks

Hasan said: “Avoid alpha-numeric child values. Alpha-numeric is usually used for parent values.” The reason I asked for an example to illustrate your statement is that:

A COA structure is a parent to Segments (a child)
A Segment is a parent is a parent a Value Set (a child)
A Value Set is a parent to Values (children).
So, which child should we avoid using a alpha-numeric child values (Segment, Value Set or Values)? Thanks

Your understanding is correct in your above post. However in your post the use of term parent-child is in the context of a general master detail relationship between different entities.
In Oracle you can create two kind of values child (or detailed) values and parent values. A parent value contains various child values within it. Parent values are used in summary templates and FSG reporting etc.
Example:
Child values: 01,02,03,04,05
Parent values: P1, P2
Child values: 10000,10001,10002,10003
Parent values: ASSET, LIAB

Hasan

Thanks Hasan. I will take this on board.