Interfaces Basics
Interfaces
are used to integrate external systems and data conversion in Oracle
Applications.
è
These
can be used to either transfer data from Oracle Applications to a flat file or
data from legacy system to Oracle Applications.
è Used
extensively at the time of data conversion from legacy/old systems to a fresh
implementation of Oracle Applications.
è
Used
also at regular intervals when data transfer is from live systems if the system
is not represented in Oracle Applications implementation.
TYPES
OF INTERFACES
Two
major types of Interfaces
·
Inbound: To transfer data from external
systems to Oracle Applications.
·
Outbound: To transfer data from Oracle
Applications to external systems.
Two other distinctions of Interfaces
·
Open Interface: If interface logic is provided
by Oracle Applications, it is called an Open Interface.
·
Custom Interface: If the interface logic needs
to be developed by the implementation team it is called Custom Interface.
OPEN
INTERFACE LOGIC
The
data from source application is loaded into a database table (called Interface
Table).
The
provided program logic validates the records.
Any
errors are transferred into another table (called Error Table).
The
correct records are then transferred through a process into destination
application table.
INTERFACE
COMPONENTS
Picture
Source Application
·
You obtain data from a source application to
pass on to a destination application for further processing and/or storage.
Source Data Issues
·
Type of file, Size, Frequency of upload,
Record length (variable or fixed), Delimiter, Data type of each field, Any
unwanted data, Naming convention, Unique ness of file, Location of file and
access on the file.
Destination Application
·
You send data to destination application so
that the application can perform further processing and/or storage.
Interface Table
·
For inbound interfaces, the interface table is the intermediary table
where the data temporarily resides until it is validated and processed into the
destination application.
Identifier Columns
·
Uniquely identify rows in the interface table and provide foreign
key reference to both the source and destination applications.
Control Columns
·
Control columns track the status of each row in the interface
table, as it is inserted, validated, rejected, processed, and ultimately
deleted.
·
WHO Columns are also called control columns.
Data Columns
·
Stores the data that is being converted.
Required Columns
·
Required Columns store the minimum information needed by the
destination application to successfully process the interface row.
Derived Columns
·
Derived columns are created by the destination application from
information in the required columns
Oracle apps Interfaces API Basics
⦁ What
is API?
⦁ What is the difference between Client Side API’s and Server
Side API’s?
⦁ What is the use of FND_GLOBAL.APPS_INITIALIZE procedure?
⦁ Brief the usage of FND_GLOBAL Package?
⦁ How can you find the application user id in Oracle
Application?
⦁ What are all the WHO columns provided by Oracle? Which API
used to update the WHO Columns
1) API stands for Application Programming Interfaces.
2) APIs those are all stored in the ORACLE database are
called Server side API’s. APIs those are in front end libraries are called
Client Side APIs.
3) Usage of FND_GLOBAL.APPS_INITIALIZE procedure are
⦁ It sets the global values & Profile Values in the
database session.
⦁ You can use it for routines such as java , PL/SQL or other
programs which are not integrated with the Oracle application concurrent
processing or Oracle Forms ( Both of which already do similar initialization
for database session ) .
⦁ You can use this for manually testing application using
SQL*Plus
4) Usage of FND_GLOBAL package
It is a server–side package returns the values of system global, such as the
login/sign on or “session” type of values. You can use the values to set who
columns for inserts and updates from stored procedures.
5) FND_GLOBAL.USER_ID API is used to find the application
user id.
6) Created_by, Created_date, Last_modified_by,
Last_modified_date are the WHO columns in all transaction table provided
by Oracle to find who has created or modified the row of the transaction
tables.
FND_STANDARD.SET_WHO API is used to Update WHO columns.
Oracle Apps Interfaces API basics-2
1. How can you retrieve system date from database? Which API having
the same functionality in Oracle Apps?
Ans) SELECT sysdate FROM DUAL used to find the system date in Oracle
Database. FND_STANDARD.SYSTEM_DATE API having the similar functionality.
2. Can you invoke web browser through any API’s? If so Which API
can do this?
Ans) Yes, you can invoke web
browser through API. FND_UTILITIES.OPER_URL API can do this.
3. What is the use of
FND_UTILITIES.PARAM_EXISTS API?
Ans) FND_UTILITIES.PARAM_EXISTS API is used to check the given
parameter is Exist in the Open Oracle Form or not . If exists it will return
True other wise it will return False.
4. FND_FILE support maximum buffer line size _____KB.
Ans) FND_FILE support maximum
buffer line size 32 KB.
5. Shall we use FND_FILE.PUT_NAME & FND_FILE.CLOSE in concurrent
programs? If not Why ?
Ans) We should not use FND_FILE.PUT_NAME & FND_FILE.CLOSE in
concurrent programs. Because these two operations are automatically done by
Oracle Apps we should not override this default operations.
6. What is the difference between FND_FILE.PUT &
FND_FILE.PUT_LINE?
Ans) FND_FILE.PUT API is used to write text to a file (without a new line
character). Multiple calls to FND_FILE.PUT will produce concatenated text.
FND_FILE.PUT_LINE API is used to write a line of text to a file (followed by a
new line character).
7. What are the two types of files we can deliver with the help of
FND_FILE Package?
Ans) FND_FILE.OUT – Oracle Apps
Output File.
FND_FILE.LOG – Oracle Apps Log File.
8. How can you see the status of the concurrent program through
backend?
Ans) With the help of FND_CONCURRENT.GET_REQUEST_STATUS API we can see
the status of the concurrent program through backend.
9. What is the use of FND_CONCURRENT.WAIT_FOR_REQUEST API?
Ans) FND_CONCURRENT.WAIT_FOR_REQUEST
API is used to implement the parent-child concurrent programs. Waits for
request completion, then returns the request phase/status and completion
message to the caller. Goes to sleep between checks for request completion.
10. What is the usage of FND_PROGRAM package?
Ans) The FND_PROGRAM package includes procedures for creating concurrent
program executables, concurrent programs with parameters and incompatibility
rules, request sets, and request groups.
The FND_PROGRAM package also contains functions you can use to check for the
existence of concurrent programs, executables, parameters, and incompatibility
rules.
11. What is the usage of FND_CURRENCY Package?
Ans) This package is used to format the currency . We can use it in Client side
as well as Server Side .
12. Is it possible to Delete Executable through FND_PROGRAM API’s?
Ans) Yes , It is Possible to
delete executable through FND_PROGRAM.DELETE_EXECUTABLE if it is not attached
to the Concurrent program Otherwise not possible to delete.
13. What is the usage of FND_PROGRAM.ENABLE_PROGRAM API?
Ans) Use
this procedure to enable or disable a concurrent program.
Syntax is:
Procedure FND_PROGRAM.ENABLE_PROGRAM
(Short name IN VARCHAR2,
Application IN VARCHAR2,
ENABLED IN VARCHAR2)
14. Can you submit the request from Backend triggers? Which API helps
to do that?
Ans) Yes, You can summit the
request with in the backend triggers. Before submitting the request you have to
use the FND_REQUEST.SET_MODE API to set the mode. With out using
FND_REQUEST.SET_MODE we can’t submit the request from Database Triggers.
15. How can you submit a request from Backend?
Ans) With the help of FND_REQUEST.SUBMIT_REQUEST API we can submit the
request in Backend.
16. Why we have to register the tables & columns in AOL?
Ans) You have to register the
table & columns in AOL before you create new flex field or alert on a
table. Otherwise not possible to create flex field or alert on it .
17. How can you register a table in AOL?
Ans) With the help of
AD_DD.REGISTER_TABLE API we can register the table in Application Object
Library.
18. How can you launch a workflow through backend?
Ans) With the help of
WF_ENGINE.STARTPROCESS we can launch the workflow from backend .
19. What are the two default parameters you have to give when you
create stored procedures & functions as a concurrent program?
Ans) errbuf - VARCHAR2
retcode – NUMBER - 0 for
success
1 for success with
warning
2 for error
