Ledgers
A Ledger is the top-level container for journal entries in the General Ledger. Each ledger ties together a chart-of-accounts structure, an accounting calendar, and a functional currency — the three pillars that define how transactions are classified, when they can be posted, and in what currency balances are maintained.
Ledger records
Each ledger record captures:
| Attribute | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Ledger code | Unique short code within the tenant (e.g. PRIMARY, REPORTING_USD) |
| Name | Human-readable name with i18n support |
| Short name | Abbreviated name for compact display |
| Ledger type | Classification (see below) |
| Chart-of-accounts structure | The COA structure this ledger uses for account classification |
| Calendar | The accounting calendar that defines this ledger's periods |
| Functional currency | The currency in which balances are maintained |
| Description | Optional longer description |
| Status | Active/inactive lifecycle state |
| Start/end dates | Optional validity period for the ledger |
Ledger types
Ledger types distinguish the purpose of each ledger within a legal entity:
| Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| PRIMARY | The main operational ledger — one per legal entity |
| SECONDARY | Additional ledgers for reporting in a different currency or under different accounting standards |
| MANAGEMENT | Internal management-reporting ledgers not required for statutory purposes |
A legal entity must have exactly one primary ledger (enforced through the FLE legal-entity-to-ledger mapping). Secondary and management ledgers are optional.
Relationship to other entities
- Legal entities (FLE) — every ledger is owned by a legal entity through the legal-entity-to-ledger mapping
- Chart-of-accounts structure — determines which segments and value sets are used for account classification
- Calendar — determines which periods are available for posting
- Currency (FND) — the functional currency drawn from the FND currency master
Defaulting and validation
When a journal entry is created against a ledger, the ledger supplies defaults for:
- The chart-of-accounts structure used to validate account code combinations
- The calendar used to determine which period the entry falls into
- The functional currency used when no explicit currency is specified
If a code combination references segments or values not defined in the ledger's chart-of-accounts structure, the entry is rejected. Similarly, if the entry's accounting date falls in a period that is not open for the GL application, the entry is rejected.
Further reading
- Chart of Accounts — how account structures, segments, and code combinations work
- Calendars and Periods — how periods control when transactions can be posted
- Legal Entities and Business Units — how legal entities own ledgers