This feature enables you to apply a structure to your Nominal Accounts for analysis purposes.

All the Categories created and managed in the same way but there is an assumed hierarchy of Category 4 within Category 3, within Category 2 etc.

The structure can have up to 84 levels of hierarchy in Dimensions but only 4 levels in Dimensions Lite.

If you use the Advanced Nominal Ledger system, Nominal Ledger Categories will be used to store the segments of your Nominal account codes.

The use of segmented accounts does away with the need to use categories for analysis.

However, Categories that have not been used as code segments will still be available for further analysis.

The use of the Categories enables you to make use of the Auto Account feature, which can automatically generate your chart of accounts based on the Categories.

When using the Advanced Nominal Ledger system, the Chart of Accounts builder removes the need for the Auto Account builder.

The category headings can be changed in the Nominal Ledger System Options.

The categories record window is opened for each of the levels of hierarchy from the Categories menu. The window title bar displays the category you have selected, e.g. Division Heading.

Only one Attribute of a given type may be assigned to a single Category record.

When the Nominal Ledger accounts are built,

Please refer to Nominal Ledger account codes and names for full details.

Additionally, the category list that you have set to contain the Detail contains additional columns for Bank and Cash to help you quickly identify those accounts.

Otherwise:

The Code and Short Name are used in the Auto Account feature.

The Advanced Nominal Ledger system enables you to create your own chart of accounts using segmented or cost centre coding.

Select Category Defaults: The Category Defaults window will open displaying:

For each transaction, a selection can be made for each category. You can select:

Default - this category will be populated with a default value determined by the order of precedence of analysis codes. You will be able to select a different category.

Select - the category field will be empty, you will have to enter or select this category.

Fixed - this category will be populated with a default value determined by the order of precedence of analysis codes and it cannot be changed.

A Reporting Code is assigned to each Nominal Account record in the system. These exist alongside the existing Major Headings and are used in definable management reports.

For example, If you wanted to produce a detailed Profit & Loss report by breaking expenses down under further headings such as Depreciation, Administration, and the like, you could create a Reporting Code for each level of analysis and then assign the Reporting Code to each Nominal Account. Then, when creating a new management report in ARW, the new Reporting Codes are added and used to calculate the totals.

12 Reporting Codes are created automatically by the system; these are default Reporting Codes and cannot be deleted. However, you may add and delete additional Reporting Codes.

To use this feature you must have appropriate Security Profile access to Reporting Codes.

The Reporting Codes List is an editable list where you can view existing Reporting Codes, create new records, and amend or delete existing records. For each record displayed, you are shown the Description, Type, and Code.

12 default Reporting Codes are automatically created by the System when a new database is created. One of these Reporting Codes will be automatically assigned to each Nominal Account record that is created when a new database is created and this will be the Reporting Code that matches the Major Heading assigned to that account.

Edit - This allows you to edit existing records and to add new records. Highlight an existing record, click Edit, then change any of the editable fields below the list. You can also create new records, up to a maximum of 255 records, by clicking into a new row and then entering detail into the editable fields below the list.

Delete - This allows you to remove records, provided that the record has not been assigned to a Nominal Account and is not one of the 12 system defaults.

OK - Saves any changes made to the list. This is only enabled when the list is in edit mode.

Cancel - Cancels any changes made to the list. This is only enabled when the list is in edit mode.

Attributes are similar to Sort Keys and are used to provide additional levels of analysis to Nominal Account beyond the Categories. You are able to define as many types of Attributes as you require and then define values specific to each type. You can then further specify whether the Attribute type links to a Category record or to another Attribute type.

Attributes can be used regardless of whether or not you are using ANL.

For example, your company has regional offices covering the North, the East, the West, and the South. You could create an Attribute named REGION and then assign values of NORTH, EAST, WEST, and SOUTH.
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Next, you might want to link each region to individual offices and so create an Attribute named OFFICE, and assign values of Newcastle, Manchester, Norwich, Leicester, and similar.
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Now you can Link Attributes so that Newcastle is linked to the North region, Norwich to East, etc.

Use the toolbar functions to manage and filter your search. These functions are fully described in the General Information chapter of this help.

Code - Enter a unique alphanumeric (a/n) code of up to 15 characters in length. The adjacent lookup button opens the Attribute List, if it has been closed.

Description - Enter a description of up to 40 a/n characters. This description should be in plain language to help you identify the associated code.

You should enter at least one attribute value consisting of a Code of up to 10 a/n characters and an associated Name of up to 30 a/n characters.

There are re-arrange buttons at the foot of the list that you can use to change the order in which the values appear.

There is a Delete button should you need to remove any redundant values.

You can enter free text notes on multiple lines.

The functions found on the Attributes ribbon are used for managing Attribute records. Each function is fully described in the General Information section of this Help, except as noted below:

Access to view this information is controlled through System > Security Profiles. The Info function informs you as to the date that the Attribute record was Created On, and also when it was Last Changed.

Access to Insert, Edit, or Delete Attributes is controlled through System > Security Profiles. Linked Attributes allows you to mix-and-match attributes of different types to suit your business needs. Select to open the Linked Attributes dialog from which you can create and delete links.