Enlarging DES data type to 60 characters

Question

Hi, 
 We are using Sage X3. Our user have difficulties due to the very limited size of the DES data type (30 characters), which is not enough to designate our products without ambuiquity. Using the text fields or multiple Designations fields creates complexity because these fields are not visible in most screens (PO Line, SO Lines...). 
 The obvious solution is to increase the number of characters of the DES data type (and the translation), but increasing could increasing this field to 60 characters cause instability or any kind of disorder? 
 My consultant is reluctant to do it and I do not get why...

Julien P · Answer

Hi hansacha 
 I think we have various experiences in this forum on how to face this requirement. 
 I understand the reluctance of your consultant: changing DES data type will impact 375 differents tables and even more screens!! 
 The size of the field has a direct impact on the display and you might need to adapt many screens. So technically, this change is simple but the impacts are so massive that you need days of testings and troubleshooting for a 2 min change. Second major impact is about the cristal reports, almost all standard reports would need to be modified to accomodate the extra space needed. 
 So another approach can be to create a new data type, which will be 60 characters long and only apply it to ITMDES1 so at least the impact would be lower. => Beware to have a proper translation you need as well to adapt the AX3 data type linked to DES1AXX. Still you need to cope with the impacts on screen / reports using ITMDES1 and plan for some tests, it still a budget to sell to the customer. To reduce the budget, you can see if the customer agree that the classic screen only displays 30 characters so at least you can benefit from the full text upon object selection (and the grid I think). Regarding, the report quite often the customers are tailoring them so it would be an additional task on their side, else you need to identifiy the report to modify in order to have a correct estimated budget to sell. On the top, because now you modified so many standard screen (with an activity code), the cost for the maintenance of the solution would increase. You can find a feedback on this approach in the following thread: communityhub.sage.com/.../326810 
 Another approach that would allow to better control the impact and reduce the maintenance is to create a new custom field based on 60 Characters. You can check this thread that deep dive in this alternate approach: RE: How To increase the number of Character in the product Description field.

Sage X3

Enlarging DES data type to 60 characters

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