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

2. 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.

3. 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

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

5. 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, 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. Web ADI – Journal Creation

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.

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

15. 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.

16. 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

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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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.

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

23. 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 Included as part of the rapid install for
Backports of EPB to or earlier are not feasible
Requires Oracle9i Database 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. Oracle Discoverer Features

27. Oracle Discoverer Components
Discoverer Plus -
A web-based development tool used to access the EUL to create and modify workbooks.

28. Discoverer Viewer
Discoverer 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.

29. Oracle Discoverer Features Matrix

30. Oracle Discoverer – Web limitations

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

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

33. Discoverer Viewer – take the guided tour

34. Oracle Discoverer - Setup
Metalink Note

35. 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

36. 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.

37. A Q
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38. Speaker Information Name: Richard Byrom
Company: Thales Information Systems
Web Site:
Mobile:
Please do not hesitate to contact me.