Selecting Transactions for General Ledger Distribution

Accounting transactions are selected for distribution to the general ledger module based on the month-end cutoff date specified on the current accounting calendar record on Reference File category 013 for each company/location.  This date is normally the same for all company/locations.  However, it can be different, which would permit separate period closings for each company/location. 

Accounting transactions with accounting dates on or before the month-end cutoff date are distributed.  The fiscal period code assigned to each transaction is retrieved from the current accounting calendar Reference File record for the company/location recording the transaction.

Accounting transactions can be distributed to the general ledger multiple times during a fiscal period.  This ensures that, throughout a period, the general ledger contains the most current accounts receivable information.  Each time distribution to the general ledger system is performed, all transactions with accounting dates on or before the month-end cutoff date specified in the Reference File are distributed.  If the automatic update flag on Reference File category 336 is set to 'Y' when the Final Post is requested, then the earliest valid accounting date on Reference File category 336 will be updated with the first day of the new current period just updated on Reference File category 023.

The Accounts Receivable module ensures that an accounting transaction is distributed only once.  A final closing distribution run should be performed at the end of each fiscal period to ensure that all accounting transactions for the period were distributed to the general ledger and to update the A/R current accounting period on Reference File category 023.

One way you can avoid the timing issue that results from non-dedicated mode processing is to change the cutoff date on Reference File category 013 while performing posts and various OP functions simultaneously.  For example, by changing the cutoff date to yesterday's date, any transactions entered today will not be processed.  Thus the timing of the processing of transactions will not be an issue.

In addition, it may be possible for you to exceed the commitment control unit if there are a large number of transactions, and if you don't distribute to the General Ledger often enough. If this occurs, you can change the cutoff date on category 013 to an earlier day in the month in order to reduce the number of transactions being processed.  After that distribution, the cutoff date can be changed to a later date and another distribution performed.  This can be done as many times as necessary in order to reduce the number of transactions for the posting.  If the commitment control unit is exceeded often, it is recommended that distributions to the General Ledger be performed more often so that the cutoff date on category 013 does not need to be changed.