BI Publisher in Oracle EBS R12: What it is, its evolution, and how to use it. Presented by: Bob Bullman, BizTech

Transcription

1 BI Publisher in Oracle EBS R12: What it is, its evolution, and how to use it Presented by: Bob Bullman, BizTech

2 What is Bi Publisher? Historical perspective Seeded functionality Options for creating new reports Bi Publisher in Action - Creating a quick report - Extracting into Excel Session Objectives - Making changes to output using Word as the editor. 2

3 Oracle Reports Options Seeded report discussion Oracle seeded reports were mainly RDF s for Years Some C reports (MRP Outputs) 11i and R12 BI Publisher Spawned (11i often required adding an after report trigger) - Receipt traveler - Pick Slip - Statements - Packing Slip PL/SQL Packages with delimiters BI Publisher 3

4 Simplified Self-Service Reporting BI (XML) Publisher Reporting Evolution Benefits Replaces most standard reports with data extracts and templates Merges custom templates and data extracts at run-time Delivers output in PDF, HTML, RTF, Excel (HTML), or text for use with EFT and EDI transmissions Put reporting in the hands of the business user Create report formats using desktop tools (Adobe Acrobat, MS Word, MS Excel, and XSL Editors) Publish in any format, to the web and electronically Drive reporting consistency with one source of data Oracle s new XML Publisher is visionary and empowers end users. This new capability gives customers the look and feel of Excel with a desktop publishing look to reports, and enables users to create their own reports, minimizing the dependency on the IT staff. -- Sean Malinski, Accenture Partner, Global Business Solutions - Oracle Practice

5 RDF s Oracle Report Developer Difficult tool to use even for technical resources Required moving an RDF from Server to Desktop Required when needing to change data model and layout This is what standard EB used for most reports 5

6 Oracle Reports Significant learning curve to get proficient Powerful, but complicated tool to use 6

7 What is BI Publisher? Initially released as XML Publisher 5.5 with Oracle E-Business Suite Released as two products XML Publisher (Desktop) XML Publisher (Server)

8 Add-in for Microsoft Word Provides the ability to: Import XML or SQL source XML Publisher 5.5 (Desktop) Lay out a report template using standard Microsoft Word formatting Preview and run the report within Word

9 XML Publisher Released in April 2006 Updated Template Builder add-in Latest Version integrates Desktop and Server into a single release called XML Publisher Enterprise Extended to Oracle, Peoplesoft and JD Edwards

10 XML Publisher Enterprise

11 OLTP vs. OLAP On-Line Transaction Processing (OLTP): technology used to perform updates on operational or transactional systems (e.g., point of sale systems) On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP): technology used to perform complex analysis of the data in a data warehouse OLAP is a category of software technology that enables analysts, managers, and executives to gain insight into data through fast, consistent, interactive access to a wide variety of possible views of information that has been transformed from raw data to reflect the dimensionality of the enterprise as understood by the user. [source: OLAP Council:

12 Multidimensional Data Juice Cola Milk Cream /1 3/2 3/3 3/4 Date Sales Volume as a function of time, city and product

13 BI Publisher Output Formats RTF (for modifiable documents such as contracts, or marketing letters) PDF (for printing) Excel (for financial reporting) HTML (for web delivery) XML, EDI or EFT

14 Creating an RTF Template Rich Text Format (RTF) is a specification used by common word processing applications, such as Microsoft Word. When you save a document, RTF is a file type option that you select. BI Publisher's RTF Template Parser converts documents saved as the RTF file type to XSL-FO. You can therefore create report designs using many of your standard word processing application's design features and BI Publisher will recognize and maintain the design. During design time, you add data fields and other markup to your template using BI Publisher's simplified tags for XSL expressions. These tags associate the XML report data to your report layout. If you are familiar with XSL and prefer not to use the simplified tags, BI Publisher also supports the use of pure XSL elements in the template. In addition to your word processing application's formatting features, BI Publisher supports other advanced reporting features such as conditional formatting, dynamic data columns, running totals, and charts. 14

15 Process Overview Creating customized reports using XML Publisher can be divided into two phases: Design Time and Runtime. Design Time 1. Register the E-Business Suite report as a Data Definition in the Template Manager. Create a Data Definition in the Template Manager for E-Business Suite reports that you wish to customize using XML Publisher. 2. Design your template. Your template files can be either in Rich Text Format (RTF) or Portable Document Format (PDF). 3. Register your Template in the Template Manager. When you create the template in the Template Manager, you register and upload your RTF or PDF template files. The Template must be assigned to the Data Definition Code of the E-Business Suite report with which it will be merged. Runtime 1. Set the concurrent program to generate XML. 2. Run the concurrent program using standard request submission. If you are using the Submit Request form, the Layout field of the Upon Completion region displays the currently selected template. To change the template, template language, or output format select the Options button. 15

16 The steps to create a basic report. 1. Create Concurrent Program 2. Create Data Definition (Create XML) 3. Create Template (Create RTF) 4. Add to Request Group 5. Test Report (PDF or Excel) 6. Run reapply 7. Review XML Data 16

17 Create Concurrent Program 17

18 18 Responsibility XML Pub.

19 Create a Data Definition 19

20 Basic SQL (.xml) <?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> <datatemplate name="ati_ap_ac" version="1.0"> <dataquery> <sqlstatement name="q_main"> <![CDATA[ select msi.organization_id ORG, msi.segment1 ITEM, msi.description ITEM_DESC from mtl_system_items_b MSI ]]> </sqlstatement> </dataquery> - <datastructure> - <group name="g_header" datatype="varchar2" source="q_main"> <element name="org" datatype="varchar2" value="org"/> <element name="item" datatype="varchar2" value="item" /> <element name="item_desc" datatype="varchar2" value="item_desc" /> </group> </datastructure> </datatemplate> 20

21 Create Template 21

22 Create and edit using MS Word 22

23 Link to the data tag is in help text. 23

24 Add to a Responsibility Group 24

25 Review Output 25

26 Re-run/Re-Publish 26

27 Saves run time! 27

28 Create Concurrent Program Create Data Definition -Update XML Create Template -Upload RTF Add to Request Group Test Report (PDF or Excel) Recap and steps for changes 28

29 Using A Stored Procedure! Depends on what your used to using. Extremely fast! You can use Toad or SQL DEV. You might need to following code control procedures. 29

30 Printing Bar Codes 30

31 Very important Option 31

32 You can see the data stream (use for testing). * For AP checks go into in the log as a non-wrapped line. 32

33 Invoice(+) - System Admin Setups 33

34 Copy Seeded New Invoice Print 34

35 Create new Executable that points to a new RDF 35

36 Create Data Definition (empty) 36

37 37 Create Template

38 Create Concurrent Program Create Data Definition Update XML (N/A) Create Template Upload RTF Add to Request Group Test Report (PDF or Excel) Install the AR Invoice - XML 38

39 Changing the Purchase Order Layout 39

40 Installing BI Publisher Template Builder

41 Uses for BI Publisher Any Output that Outward Facing PO Purchase Orders PO Requests for Quotation AP Checks AP 1099 forms AR Statements AR Dunning Letters OM Shipping Documentation For standardization of PDF output, ensure PASTA drivers have been installed and configured on your instance

42 AP Checks

43 Supplier Outstanding Balance analysis

44 Supplier Outstanding Balance (Grouped and Totaled by Currency)

45 BI Publisher is here to stay BI Publisher & Release templates for more than 60 modules included with baseline Release 12 Oracle is currently migrating the remaining reports to XML Publisher More than 2000 templates should be available later this year R12 also includes a set of libraries to move custom reports to a data template and layout template These libraries are the same as Oracle is using for report migration

46 BI Publisher on the Blog 46

47 Any Questions? Thank you for your time, and special thanks to the OBI Special Interest Group for supporting this session. Bob Bullman Director, Oracle Applications Practice