The Beauty of Oracle’s Web Enabled Applications Richard Byrom Oracle Applications Consultant UKOUG November 2004

Problem Statement Solution Oracle’s Response Conclusion Agenda Problem Statement Solution Oracle’s Response Conclusion Questions & Answers Point 2 i.e. the Business Case for the ERP audit.

Reports and Intelligence Tools Problem Statement Reports and Intelligence Tools Disparate Reporting Solutions Application Fragmentation Data Separation – non relational Lack of Standardisation Local as opposed to shared working environments Applications Database Outlines the problems faced by organisations today and emphasises that this occurs at all of the technology layers within an organisation Point 1 Often the reporting solution used depends on the personal preference of the user Point 4 Solutions that we use are not standard across the organisation Point 5 An upgrade nightmare

Solution – Web Services Applications on Demand Secure and Universal Access Business Integration Reports and Intelligence Tools Web Applications Database

The Oracle Information Architecture Unified data model Accessible by anyone, with any device Global Configurable Open Oracle has an information architecture which I believe enhances users abilities to carry out audit and review work. As wonderful as this architecture is, it also increases the level of risk an organisation is exposed to. Hence measures have to be taken to ensure that appropriate controls are in place. The key elements of the Oracle information architecture are: -   Unified Data Model The Unified Data Model provides a single definition of customers, suppliers, partners, employees, and business events. This single source of truth, throughout the organisation, means that the information on which decisions are made is accurate and timely. Accessible by anyone, with any device Pre-built, role based portals deliver personalised information to managers. These portals are delivered in ways that best support an individual user - for example, e-mail for executives or radio frequency (RF) devices for warehouse workers. Global Global means that all data, worldwide, are consolidated into a single instance. The Oracle E-Business Suite handles multiple currencies, languages and different security needs of different countries. This means that costs are reduced, by consolidation of data centre’s and data administration, and the quality of the information is improved. Configurable The Oracle E-Business Suite lets users configure their applications to meet their business needs without changing the application code. This reduces implementation time and makes it easier to take advantage of upgrades and new features. As each organisation can configure the Oracle Application to suit the requirements of their p Open The Oracle E-Business Suite makes it easier for standards-based customers to integrate with Oracle’s applications. This integration, based on Oracle9i Application Server, offers choices at multiple levels, including: User interface - pre-built portlets, 9iAS Portal for custom portals. Services - Web services (SOAP, ebXML). Business documents - OAG, EDI. Industry-specific - Rosettanet, HL-7. Functions, components - APIs, EJB. High-volume integration - interface tables. Directory – LDAP.

Oracle Product Specific Solutions This presentation will look at Web ADI, Web OFA/EPB and Web Discoverer It’s primary purpose is to encourage attendees to look at having all of these products running via a single web interface through 11i E-Business Suite.

Web ADI – Product Roadmap Journal Wizard – Released Asset Wizard – Assets Team Inventory Wizard – Assets Team Budget Wizard – Patch Set E Report Manager Report Submission and Publishing – Patch Set G Report Wizard – Patch Set H Analysis Wizard – Patch Set H

Web ADI – Journal Creation

Web ADI – Coming in 11.5.10 General Ledger Upload daily rates Upload and download historical rates Upload Journals Financials Intelligence Upload budget and forecast information

Web ADI – Coming in 11.5.10 Project Accounting Download lists of projects, issues and change documents Download and upload budget and forecast information Student Systems Download student lists Download and upload unit grades and assessment item outcomes Download and upload progression outcomes

Web ADI – Coming in 11.5.10 Engineering Online Download and upload items in the engineering Catalog Sales Compensation Download commission statement Internal Controls Manager Upload all risk library objects – processes, risks, controls, and audit procedures

Web ADI – Coming in 11.5.10 Public Sector Financials International Download and upload Inflation Accounting data Trade Management Create resale data (point of sales or indirect sales data) Customer or partner claim reason codes Upload customer or partner claims

Web ADI - Internet Computing Architecture Application 2 Tier X Database Application Server Application 3 Tier Browser Java Move from 2 tier two three tier architecture. Simplified Deployment Other advantages of this architecture become apparent when we look at application deployment. In client server environments, you would need to install the application on each desktop. If you add new users, you need to install the application. If you want to upgrade.... you need to install the application. If we’ve learned one thing from Y2K compliance, it’s that upgrading 100’s or 1000’s of desktops is a challenge best avoided. The true, three-tier architecture avoids this pitfall. By storing the application on the middle tier, the ICA requires you to upgrade only the servers. Clients upgrade themselves. As soon as the browser detects that a new application version exists, it’s downloaded automatically. Even some “web” tools use plug ins that load windows components as opposed to IC architecture. These can be as difficult to uninstall as typical windows applications.

Web ADI – Installation Setup Metalink Download and install Patch Set C 2819091 Download and install Rollup Patch 5 3624372 Both of these patches are included in 11.5.10 Setup In the System Administrator responsibility give yourself the Web ADI Responsibility – this will give you three menus Create Document Create Layout Create Mapping

What is OFA? Oracle Financial Analyzer is a pre-packaged Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) application built with a Visual Basic front-end and an Oracle Express multi-dimensional data structure back-end. It is tightly integrated with Oracle General Ledger.

Financial Analyzer Highlights Intuitive, easy information access OFA is an “End-User Managed” Application Utilizes Oracle Express, a specialized OLAP database designed for powerful analysis, fast reporting, computations and modeling Robust Data Security by user at several levels: Financial Data Item (locking Actuals, Budget, etc.) Dimension level (e.g. CCtr) Deployment Architecture Flexibility centralized (server based), distributed, stand alone Integrated with Oracle GL via GL Link, but can run independently

Oracle Financial Analyzer - Interface The Financial Analyzer Web interface provides access to reports, graphs, and data entry forms through a Web browser.

Benefits of Web Publishing Uses standard browser - no client s/w Currently no license fee for web-only users Accesses the Shared database Simplifies administration Minimizes disk usage Tremendous flexibility in distributing specific slices of data to subsets of users

Limitations of Web Publishing Provides read-only access Calculated rows & columns do not display Calculated FDIs and Models can be substituted Numeric scaling does not work Various formatting features do not work Licensing rules may change

Oracle Financial Analyzer – Setup Information System Requirements In addition to the standard Financial Analyzer server components, the following server components must be installed: Express Server, including Oracle Express Web Agent. The following configuration options must be selected in Express Configuration Manager: The Web Authentication Type property on the Web Agent tab must be set to BASIC The Require Password Encryption property on the Security tab must be set to NO A supported Web server such as Apache

Oracle Financial Analyzer – Set up steps Browser requirements Users must have the appropriate browser installed on the PC. User requirements To access Financial Analyzer through the Web interface, you must have a valid user ID. You must also be set up as a user in Financial Analyzer. Methods of Access Financial Analyzer can be configured for direct access, or for access through Oracle Applications.

OFA – architecture Browser Application Server OFA/Express Server OFA/Express Client Express Database Oracle GL EBS Database

Enterprise Planning and Budgeting Product to be released end of September, 2004 Delivered as part of Oracle Applications, but can be run standalone Delivered as a patch to Oracle Applications 11.5.9 Included as part of the rapid install for 11.5.10 Backports of EPB to 11.5.8 or earlier are not feasible Requires Oracle9i Database 9.2.0.5 plus OLAP Option If a customer has 10.7 or 11.0.x or no Oracle Applications, then the product can be a standalone solution

Migration From OFA and OSA OFA and OSA 6.4 will be supported until mid 2008 with error correction support until end of 2006 Oracle will provide a migration path for existing customers of OFA and OSA to migrate their implementations to EPB Migration paper on http://www.oracle.com/applications/cpm

Migration Data Flow Oracle9i OFA/OSA Express databases APPS Security Tables 3. Map users to Apps security BI Beans Repository Tables OLAP Analytic Workspace 2. Map documents, folders, saved selections to BI Beans EPB Schema Interface Tables EPB Tables 1. Map dimensions and variables to standard schema for EPB

Oracle Discoverer Features

Oracle Discoverer Components Discoverer Plus - http://hostname.domain/discwb4/html/english/welcome.htm A web-based development tool used to access the EUL to create and modify workbooks.

Discoverer Viewer Discoverer Viewer - http://hostname.domain/discoverer4i/viewer Oracle Discoverer 4i Viewer is a tool for viewing workbooks created by users of the client/server or web versions of Discoverer Plus. Oracle Discoverer 4i Viewer can also be used to integrate database output into a web site and portal and is easily customized to conform to a particular web site look and feel, or to build custom Discoverer applications for the web.

Oracle Discoverer Features Matrix

Oracle Discoverer – Web limitations

Discoverer Plus Architecture Source: Oracle Discoverer 4i Configuration Guide for Oracle9i Application Server

Discoverer Viewer Architecture Source: Oracle Discoverer 4i Configuration Guide for Oracle9i Application Server

Discoverer Viewer – take the guided tour http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/discoverer/files/viewlets/9iAS_Disco_viewer_part1_viewlet.html

Oracle Discoverer - Setup Metalink Note 146468.1

Single Sign-On Build a portal or information gateway for all of your products OFA, Discoverer and ADI can be run from the Apps logon page. Where separate roles exist linkage should be maintained

Conclusions Web Services provide you with Platform independent solutions for your application and reporting needs. Use the Oracle Tools together to support your strategy. Oracle’s web strategy and associated products allow you to adopt a web services strategy in your organisation.

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Speaker Information Name: Richard Byrom e-mail: richard.byrom@thales-is.com richard@richardbyrom.com Company: Thales Information Systems Web Site: http://www.thales-is.com http://www.richardbyrom.com Mobile: +44-7976123106 Please do not hesitate to contact me.