BI Publisher in Oracle EBS R12: What it is, its evolution, and how to use it

Presented by: Bob Bullman, BizTech

Session Objectives
What is Bi Publisher?
Historical perspective Seeded functionality Options for creating new reports

Bi Publisher in Action
- Creating a quick report - Extracting into Excel - Making changes to output using Word as editor
3

Oracle Reports Options

Seeded report discussion
Oracle seeded reports were mainly RDFs 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 4

Simplified Self-Service Reporting

BI (XML) Publisher
Reporting Evolution
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

Benefits

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

Oracles 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

Oracle Report Developer

RDFs
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

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

What is BI Publisher?
Initially released as XML Publisher 5.5 with Oracle E-Business Suite 11.5.10 Released as two products
XML Publisher (Desktop) XML Publisher (Server)

XML Publisher 5.5 (Desktop)

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

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

XML Publisher Enterprise

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: www.olapcouncil.org]

Multidimensional Data
Sales Volume as a function of time, city and product

Juice Cola Milk Cream

10 47 30 12

3/1 3/2 3/3 3/4

Date

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

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.

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.

16

Install the sample - steps

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

17

Create Concurrent Program

18

Responsibility XML Pub.

19

Create a Data Definition

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>

21

Create Template

22

Create and edit using MS Word

23

Here is the link to the data tag

24

Add to a Responsibility Group

25

Review Output

26

Re-Publisher

27

Saves run time!

28

Recap and steps for changes

Create Concurrent Program Create Data Definition
-Update XML

Create Template
-Upload RTF

Add to Request Group Test Report (PDF or Excel)

29

Using A Stored Procedure!

Depends on what your used to. Extremely fast Can use Toad Will need to following code control

30

Printing Bar Codes

31

Very important Option

32

You can see the data stream

* For AP checks into in the log as a non-wrapped line. 33

Invoice(+) - System Admin Setups

34

Copy Seeded New Invoice Print

35

Create new Executable that points to a new RDF

36

Create Data Definition (empty)

37

Create Template

38

Install the AR Invoice - XML

Create Concurrent Program Create Data Definition
Update XML (N/A)

Create Template
Upload RTF

Add to Request Group Test Report (PDF or Excel)

39

Changing the Purchase Order Layout

40

Installing BI Publisher Template Builder

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

AP Checks

Supplier Outstanding Balance analysis

Supplier Outstanding Balance (Grouped and Totaled by Currency)

BI Publisher & Release 12

BI Publisher is here to stay 870 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

BI Publisher on the Blog

http://www.biztech.com/blog/2012/12/oracle-e-business-%e2%80%93-supplychain-%e2%80%93-how-to-use-oracle-bi-publisher-based-reporting-to-analyzeand-reduce-your-inventory-levels/
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 BBullman@BizTech.com