Inventory Dimension
Inventory Dimensions enable you to track inventory using custom fields in addition to the default ones (Warehouse, Batch, Serial Number). You can, for instance, track stock by Shelf, Rack, or Zone. These dimensions are displayed in inventory transactions and reports such as Stock Ledger and Stock Balance, supporting dimension-wise tracking and filtering.
How to Access
Go to:
Creating a New Inventory Dimension
Click New Inventory Dimension and complete the form.
1. Dimension Details
Dimension Name: Provide the custom parameter name (e.g., Shelf, Rack).
Reference Document: Choose a non-child document to reference this dimension from.
Disabled: Select to temporarily disable the dimension.
2. Applicable For
Here you specify where the dimension must be applied.
2.1 Apply to All Inventory Documents
When Apply to All Inventory Documents is Checked:
The system will add this dimension automatically to all documents related to inventory (e.g., Stock Entry, Delivery Note, Purchase Receipt).
You don't have to select documents manually—the dimension will be visible wherever Batch No. and Serial No. fields are present.
Example: if you define a dimension called "Shelf", it will become visible in all stock transactions by default.
2.2 Apply to Specific Documents
When Apply to All Inventory Documents is Unchecked:
You may choose only particular inventory documents where the dimension will be required.
More configuration options are now available:
Applicable to Document: Select one or more particular documents.
Applicable Condition: Include conditions by transaction type.
Example:
For Stock Entry Type = Issue > Use dimension From Shelf.
For Stock Entry Type = Material Receipt > Use dimension To Shelf.
Type of Transaction: Limit the dimension to Inward or Outward transactions.
This choice provides you greater control and flexibility than using it everywhere.
3. Fetch Value From
You can auto-fetch the dimension value from a field at the parent level.
Example: If you insert a custom field Shelf at the header of the Purchase Receipt form and choose it here, ERPNext will auto-use the same Shelf value for all rows. This is time-saving if you have hundreds of items with the same Shelf.
4. Mandatory Section
Mandatory: Makes the dimension field required for transactions.
Mandatory Depends On: Define conditions using:
parent.field_name for parent fields.
doc.field_name for child table fields.
5. Validate Negative Stock
If enabled, ERPNext will block transactions that cause negative stock for the selected dimension in its warehouse.
Example: If “Shelf A” has zero stock, the system won’t allow issuing items from that Shelf.
Using Inventory Dimensions in Transactions
Upon saving, ERPNext generates the dimension field within the chosen documents.
Users may choose the dimension while making stock transactions.
When submitted, the Stock Ledger marks the entry as well as the selected dimension.
Example: Inserting a "Shelf" dimension in Stock Entry Detail enables the user to select a Shelf per item. The value is subsequently saved in the Stock Ledger.
Reports
Stock Ledger Report: Filter entries by dimensions.
Stock Balance Report: See stock availability dimension-wise.
This can be analyzed as: How many items are kept in Shelf A compared to Shelf B in a warehouse?
Important Notes
Stock Reconciliation can be utilized only for entering opening balances with dimensions.
It cannot be utilized to update valuation rates or quantities for dimensions.
Updating stock/valuation through reconciliation will be an error, as ERPNext does not keep valuation rates per dimension.