How Document Type Works in iDempiere

The Document Type window in iDempiere defines how business documents behave across the system. It controls numbering, document flow, accounting impact, and processing rules for transactions such as Sales Orders, Purchase Orders, Invoices, Shipments, Receipts, and Payments.

Every transactional document in iDempiere is governed by a Document Type. Without a properly configured Document Type, documents cannot be completed, posted, or linked correctly.

Document Type Configuration Role

Document Type serves as the rule engine for documents, controlling sequence numbering, inventory impact, accounting posting, and next document generation. This foundational setup ensures operational flow and financial integrity.

Document Type Flow Control

Each Document Type belongs to a Document Base Type (for example: Sales Order, Material Receipt, AP Invoice). Based on this base type, iDempiere enforces system-level behavior such as mandatory fields, allowed processing actions, and posting logic.

Additionally, Document Type can define related document types, enabling automatic document creation. For example, a completed Sales Order can automatically generate a Shipment and later an Invoice, each driven by its own Document Type configuration.

Document Numbering Process

Document numbering is controlled at the Document Type level—upon completion, iDempiere fetches the assigned sequence, locks the document number (making it immutable), ensuring audit-safe, gap-controlled numbering. Different Document Types enable separate sequences for domestic/export invoices, manual/automated documents, and system/user transactions.

Accounting Trigger Configuration

Document Type determines accounting relevance—when enabled, completion triggers posting per Accounting Schema, with reversals/voids following document rules. For example, a Material Receipt posts inventory value, while non-financial types skip accounting entries.

Inventory Impact Control

Document Type settings control inventory movement—only enabled documents update on-hand quantities, generate cost transactions, and affect inventory valuation. This prevents non-logistics documents from accidentally altering stock levels.

In iDempiere, Document Type defines how documents are numbered, processed, posted, and linked across the system. It is the backbone of document control, ensuring consistent workflow execution, accurate accounting, and audit-ready operations.