Question - are we not able to create indexed items in custom folders?

Question

Just a question here. I would like to use the index/Value option for parameters in a workbook. This is where the List of Values drop down box for the parameter would show both the index number and the value and let you choose to select based on the index or on the value. An obvious example of this would be with months, where you would have January (1), February (2), March (3), and so forth. To do this, you have to set up indexed items in Discoverer Administrator.
That is where I am running into a problem/issue. I am not being able to pick an item and click to look at its properties, scroll down to the Indexed Item property, click on that property, and get a list of items to pick from. On the indexed item property I see a value of <None>, and when I click on that property, no list of items pops up.
I have defined indexed items before, but that was always done on regular folders (imported from the database). In this case, I am working with a custom folder.
The SQL that I have keyed in for this custom folder is this -
SELECT flex_value, description, flex_value_set_id, flex_value_id
FROM fnd_flex_values_vl
WHERE flex_value_set_id = 1011187
ORDER BY flex_value;
FND_FLEX_VALUES_VL is an Oracle view, that combines Oracle tables FND_FLEX_VALUES and FND_FLEX_VALUES_TL.
My goal would be to show both the FLEX_VALUE and the DESCRIPTION in the parameter to the users, so they can better decide what value(s) they want to pick. This is a general ledger application that I am working with, with the General Ledger account number segments and the Flexfield value set for each segment (we are using 7 segments to define our general ledger account number).
Am I not able to define indexed items when working with a custom folder? The documentation is not real clear. It talks about simple folders and complex folders, but does not mention custom folders, at least that I can find. Or perhaps I need to do something different with how I code the SQL for the custom folder to enable me to define indexed items in the custom folder?
Hope this makes some sense. Always a challenge to explain the situation in a clear manner. Thanks for any insight/assistance anyone can give me on this.
John Dickey

Answer 1

Ahh, those picky little details. Once I created an Item Class LOV on my item, then I could click on the Indexed Item property and get the list of fields in the folder to show up and pick my item (to be the indexed item) from that list. I went back to the user guides and the documentation sure does not indicate this requirement. For example, in the Discoverer Administrator guide, you have the section (page 9-30 in the version I have) titled "How to assign an indexed item to an item". Nowhere in that section does it say that you have to create an Item Class LOV first to be able to do this. Though it does show how if you do not have an LOV on the item you pick to be the indexed item, you will be prompted to create an LOV for that item. In the past I had my LOVs created first. This time I was trying to do the indexed item first before creating my LOVs. So lesson learned - you have to create an Item Class LOV first before you can assign an indexed item to an item.
Thanks for the assistance.
John Dickey