The Make Field option is a capability in ECMap that allows you to simultaneously map and create new fields inside records by dragging elements and dropping them onto a record. In many cases, the data layout – whether it is a flat file or a database table – is not known or is non-existent prior to mapping. In this situation, ECMap allows you to create record or table layouts based on the critical elements inside the transaction set or message. This functionality creates fields of the same name, type, and size as the EDI element.
There are times when a more powerful Make Field capability is needed. This occurs when the field definition or name can be derived from the code list description of a different element.
For example, the first two elements of the N1 segment are a qualifier and a generic element called Name. The first element in the N1 segment determines the kind of name that appears in the second element. The Make Field option has a mechanism whereby the field created in the target record could have the name Ship To if, for example, the qualifier ST informs us that the name is a Ship To name.
This more powerful functionality is enabled by making the qualifier a conditional variable and then selecting conditional mapping (without actually mapping the element) and specifying that this particular element – the name – is conditional on the previous element. In other words, you would set up the condition that N102 is conditionally mapped based on N101 equaling ST. At this point dragging and dropping the element would create the field name Ship To in the target record.
Automatically creating a field based on an EDI
element
Do one of the following to Toggle the Make Field switch:
Right-click the element and choose Make Field from the drop-down list
Highlight the element and choose Map>Make Field.
When the Make Field switch is turned on, the only record/field mapping that is allowed is drag-and-drop mapping from an element onto a record.
Drag and drop the element on a record.
A new record is created using the element dame and description.
