Joined Fujitsu Consulting

Joined Fujitsu Consulting as a Project Lead. This involves implementing Oracle Time and Labor and Internet Expenses. I will also be using Macroscope (a Fujitsu equivalent of Oracle AIM, but on PMI Methodology).
I am very excited to work in this project.

BI Publisher (Formerly Known as XML Publisher)

Does BI Publisher (XML Publisher) support Microsoft Word-XML-Document format as template ?

Solution

BI Publisher (XML Publisher) supports the following formats only:

1. XSL-FO
2. PDF template
3. RTF template

The Word-XML-Document is not included in the supported template formats.
BI Publisher (XML Publisher) is using RTF and XSL-FO standards,
where PDF and RTF templates are converted in loading to XSL-FO.
So it is advisable to follow the supported features to avoid any problems that may be caused from Word 2003 conversion to XML Template.

• BI Publisher Desktop 10.1.3.2.1/5.6.3 can be downloaded from edelivery.oracle.com [Oracle BI Publisher Desktop 10.1.3.2.1 for Microsoft Windows (CD) B42918-01] or from MetaLink Patch 5887917 ORACLE XML PUBLISHER DESKTOP PATCH 5.6.3.
• BI Publisher available in EBusiness Suite, PeopleSoft, Siebel(OBIEE) or Standalone. New Version 10.1.3.2 / 5.6.3 depending upon where the product is installed, the two versions refer to the same product.

more on this later.

Upglo - Helping Legal Immigrants

Linda Hearne, a Volunteer at Upwardly Global had in the past mentored a Doctor from Afghanistan. The Doctor has moved 3 times and start anew - I can understand - we have moved 8 times in US alone, not to mention India.
Reproduced a part of the article below, to read the full article, click here.
Quote:
I am reminded anew of her courage and fierce determination. M. passed the rigorous medical entrance exam at 15 and daily risked her safety to attend Kabul University's School of Medicine. She graduated only weeks before the Taliban captured Kabul in 1996 and ended women's access to formal education. M. and her family fled back and forth to Pakistan twice before moving to the U.S.; this is the third time they've had to start their lives anew.

End Quote

Fake Steve Blog

FSB is busted, but he seems to be unstoppable. This one seems to strike close home. I have a dell Computer - naturally umm, errr, not too expensive - but bought one of the expensive stands - $200 - at Circuit City

Driving in Manhattan and Madras corner shop

I love to drive, ideally in a Two-wheeler; Of course, four wheeler has its own benefits. Best part is when you drive close to the place you would like to visit, alongwith your friends or family;
I was in Manhattan sometime ago, trying to read the street names off the boards, wishing I had a map with me. got mis-guided at least twice (once by a Policeman!), but did find it a pleasant drive - it was a weekend - across the fashion avenue; Although my young 'un was not too happy being fastened in the child seat; She would let us know her displeasure by letting out a squeal now and then.

Getting lost made me wish for good-old Madras Corner shop - or Chennai as it is known nowadays. If I am in a new neighborhood, and I am lost, all I had to do, was to go to the nearest Corner Shop ( also known as Nair kadai; this is a small mom-pop type store, sells usually, Cigarettes, Matches, Bananas). I never had to worry about finding a address; Better still I can even ask by a person's name.
To know more about Madras goto
India Tourism or
ChennaiOnline
Map of Chennai

How to determine Workflow Mailer status without using OAM

I had an interesting question from my friend the other day.

How can you determine the availability of WF Mailer without using OAM?

The following query provides the status, eliminating the need to use OAM.

SELECT Component_name, Component_Status
FROM FND_SVC_COMPONENTS
WHERE component_type = 'WF_MAILER'

Reference: Metalink Doc: 316352.1

Workflow Model

Saw an interesting posting in the OTN forum on Workflow model (see above) by Luiz Soares. There is link in the thread to download the model Click on the title to goto directly and download from the server Luiz has posted.
Thanks Luiz. Awesome job :-)

Your SIG needs you?

What was that again?
It was interesting to read this note in Antony Reynolds Blog. It says, "Your SIG needs you. and of course, it displays the above picture". Nice point Antony! I hope it received the clicks it deserved!(to read his post Click here )

Feeds while Offline?

Google Gears is an excellent way to catch with your reading (rss feeds )while you are flying or cannot get connected.

Here is the link to blog note: Feeds on a Plane!

Update:
Although Google gears says there is no need to reboot, I had to reboot a Windows XP (Home edition). After rebooting all I had to do was to link up with Google reader.

XML Publisher or BIP

I had an opportunity in the recent past to work on XML Publisher (or BI Publisher as it is known now) - on an EBS 11.5.10, XMLP 5.6.2. It is definitely easy to start working; Did not take more than 2 weeks to get going - I also had help from the BI Publisher Team at Solutionbeacon, especially Tim Sharpe, Thanks folks.

What I like about it is that we can design the Template in Word. That leaves us (Developers) to focus on developing a better program and leave the BA's change a dot or semi-colon or change the Syntax. Although I have seen a few claims that BA's (read non-oracle skilled persons) can create reports using BIP, I disagree. Creation of template still needs technical knowledge - at the very least, should know how control logic flows, when to use these;
Although "Validate" does provide some help,there are instances when the Template gets "Validated" by this tool but fails to get executed when you run it from Template viewer or from EBS.
Error messages are cryptic; Oracle should either provide intelligible messages (these seems to presume knowledge of XML and/or XSLT) and an utility to search for these messages.

for ex: an if you are checking whether there are records found, then it has to coded like this:
"<?if COUNT > 0 ?>". If you enter incorrect syntax, then validate will produce an error screenshot as shown below:




Using Tools->Validate, you will see a message like the one shown below:




Although "Validate" helps, still left me wondering how an Non-Technical person can understand or resolve it.
Other than this, I am very excited to work on this Product, seems to me miles ahead of Oracle Reports writer (It is downright frusturating to see REP-1219 error - 'F_3' has no size or length zero; when the damn thing looks fine).
Also, changing the template is in BIP much smoother and faster. Changing Static text? No problem. All of this can be done in Word (If there is a need to change text or change the font, no need to raise a ticket to the IT Department then, wait for few weeks to get the changes completed).
As far as the price goes, per release note available at oracle (see 2007 Jan OBIEE Press release ) it seems to cost $1500 per user.
For more information goto
Forum: BI Publisher

Train Travel

Last week I am took the train for the first time. 5.12 AM the train was supposed to leave the Station. Reached the Station just 10 minutes before departure - I liked this; no need to leave 2 hours before. Boarded the train. Surprise, Surprise, the train left punctually right on time. I was actually waiting for the announcement on the PA, after moving 100 yards or so, "We are sorry to say, that Weather at XXX Place is holding us up" or something like that. Needless to add, I was on time at the Client office, instead of being several hours behind.

ERP Implemetation Mistakes to avoid

I always give preference to Business Case documentation; Felt that it should rank top in a ERP implementation. More often than not, it has been a case of horse being put in front of the cart. This seems to be vindicated by an article I recently chanced to read - by Clive Weightman at Delloitte

how to prevent session frequent logout

Recently learnt how to prevent session logout.
Navigation Path:
System Administration->Profile->System
Query on Username and the Profile "ICX:Session Timeout"
ICX:Session Timeout
Use this profile option to enforce an inactivity time–out. If a user
performs no Oracle Applications operation for a time period longer than
the time–out value (specified in minutes), the user’s session is disabled.
If this profile option to 0 or NULL, then user sessions will never time out
due to inactivity

Fear of Flying - who me?

I always used to wonder about those who have "Fear f flying" (should it be termed Flying-challenged?); Thank God, I do not seem to exhibit any.
Well, sitting on the tarmac waiting for the plane to take-off, back to Newark, NJ, I seemed to invariably fall-asleep - usually I will wake up when we are airborne and stewardess will be out serving drink. However, more often than not, I will wake up only to find that we have probably moved 100 yards;
many times, the wait will be for a hour or 2! Cann't get out of the Plane. Captain will announce Weather problem; gusty winds! Yeah right!

home, travel, work, home...

Just got back home. Think I am one of those travel-challenged!
Been travelling to Atlanta, GA for the last few weeks; I do look forward to those 2 days or so when I can stay home and spend sometime with my kids.
At home the routine falls in... Cleaning, groceries, kids activities, going out for a dinner/movie(? where is time) Whew! oh, boy, time to catch my next flight.

REP-1219 error;object; has no size

Most of the times you face the error, you generally delete the object.
This error occurs when you create a report in bitmap mode and run it as a character report.

Solution is as below:
Open reports builder and the rdf file which is giving error

1. Go to FILE -> ADMINISTRATION -> CONVERT
2. A dialog box will popup.
3. In OPTIONS tab, select DESTINATION UNIT as CHARACTER, and select OVERWRITE as NEWNAME
4. Then in CONVERSION tab select the following
Document Type : Report
Source Type : rdf
Source : It is the file for which you are getting error
Destination Type : rdf
Destination : give the location and filename for the destination file
3. Then click on OK
Reopen the rdf file, the error is no longer reported.