Employee Directory in Oracle HRMS

Today I am going to talk about a not-so-popular and less known feature of Oracle HRMS. Its called the employee directory.

Well, as the name suggest, Employee Directory is a directory of all employees of any organization. Employee Directory provides a webbased frontend that helps search any employee in the organization. It allows to browse through the organizational hierarchy, check who’s who in the company, who reports to whom and how many people report to a manager….lot of information, on one page.

Its a great tool. One of the coolest feature is the employee picture. The picture that you load on employee form in Oracle HRMS – is visible here on the webpage in employee directory.

Recently at a client i implemented employee directory. Here are the quick steps to make it work:

1. Add a new menu to Employee Self Service (assuming you want this feature available to all employees).

2. Menu Item Name : Employee Directory
3. Function User Name: Simple Search
4. Function Name: HR_EMPDIR_SIMPLE_SEARCH
5. Description: Employee Directory Simple Search

Navigation to do this:

1. Goto Applications à Menu
2. Query for “Employee Self Service” in User Menu Name.
3. Scroll all the way to end and add one more line.
4. Prompt “Employee Directory”, Function “Simple Search”
5. It will provide multiple options for “Simple Search” – select the “Employee Directory Simple Search” option.
6. Save

 

Try this…and probably some time soon, i’ll also put together something to tell you how to upload bulk of Employee pictures in Oracle HRMS.

 

Have fun with oracle! Have fun at knoworacle!

 

Oracle HRMS Functional Questions

What is the difference between rehire and reverse-termination?
What is a security profile in HRMS?
Is Address form date tracked?
What are the date tracking options while deleting a record?
Can we delete an employee forever? How?
What is required to be able to pay someone in Oracle Payroll?

before i post answers to these questions, lets hear from you..Post your answers in the comments and then who knows, may be i won’t have to answer at all

-ashish

Shivmohan – Oracle E-Business Suites

Just to thought how to define Oracle E-business Suite term.

What is Oracle E-Business Suite

 

Oracle’s E-Business Suite is a fully integrated system package that provides access to Oracle’s business applications in a database environment. The suite is available in internet format and provides strong flexibility in integrating Oracle systems across applications. The E-Business Suite includes multiple products, such as Oracle Financials (Oracle General Ledger, Oracle Payables, Oracle Receivable), Oracle Logistics, Oracle HR, and Oracle Sales. The most current E-Business Suite release is edition 12, which debuted in January 2007

 The suite is comprised of a three-tiered hardware architecture. The tiers are database, application and PC. Sometimes referred to as Oracle’s “E-Business Suite”, Oracle Applications (currently Release 12, released 31st January 2007), contains several product lines.

 

Thanks – Shivmohan Purohit 

 

Shivmohan – Perspective on Mentoring

A Perspective on Mentoring

Hello Friends,

In my past organization it was very important to use high jargons even for small things or activities, even for giving help to juniors or bit of guidance used to consider as mentoring. Coaching was very common word. Recently i am reading one book on mentoring, now realizing that mentoring is not just a bigger coverage areas but it is important as well in order to build and keep a successful team/ group and to make them grow in order to achieve your own and their success. Once i get more thoughts i like to share it, here i just putting very high agenda on what mentoring is… i also more from your side as well as feedback.

as per some of thought i gather i can say do
  – Set high expectations of performance.
  – Offer challenging ideas.
  – Help to build self-confidence.
  – Encourage professional behaviour.
  – Offer friendship.
  – Confront negative behaviour & attitudes.
  – Listen to personal problems.
  – Teach by example.
  – Provide growth experiences.
  – Offer meaningful sayings or quotations.
  – Explain how the organization works.
  – Coach their mentorees.
  – Stand by their mentorees in critical situations.
  – Offer wise counsel.
  – Encourage winning behaviour.
  – Trigger self-awareness.
  – Inspire their mentorees.
  – Share critical knowledge.
  – Offer encouragement.
  – Assist with their mentoree’s career.

Thanks – Shivmohan Purohit

Salary form in Oracle HR

I have been asked this question by many clients and consultants recently, and the solution is pretty straight forward. So, i thought i’ll share it here with y’all.

Oracle released a Family pack RUP 2 for HRMS last year, and it brought in a new feature – The web based Salary Administration form.

For many users, it was a thrill. But for a lot others, it was a challenge to get it to work. They are used to the old form based salary administration interface. Some of them even have custom hooks on the form that can not be implemented on the webpage so easily.

So, the Question is, how to revert to the salary form after applying this RUP, so you can still continue using the form based salary administration.

Here’s the answer. And as i said, its pretty straightforward.

Taskflows come to rescue.

Here are the steps to replace “New Salary Framework Page” with “Old Salary Form”:

• Select any HRMS or Super HRMS Manager Responsibility (Example: US HRMS Manager)
• Open the “Define Taskflow” form. (Security->Task Flow Definitions)
• Query the Taskflow that is used by the Person form function (For Example: US HRMS PERSON TASKFLOW). Normally, this is the custom Taskflow.
• Go to “Node section – Name field” and add “SALFORMNODE” by inserting a new row and selecting “SALFORMNODE” from Lov in the Name field.
• Then Query “NASSIGN” node in “Node Section”.
• In “Navigation Options Section”, delete record that has “SALREVIEW” for Node. Select “Yes” in the delete warning window.
• In Navigation Options, insert new record with the following details:
  Seq: 1
  Node: SALFORMNODE
  Button: Checked
  Label: &Salary (leave the default &Salary as is)
• Save and Exit the “Define Taskflow” form.
• Logout the current applications and re-login to check that the “Old Salary form” is launched instead of “New Salary Page” when “Salary” button is selected in Assignment Window.

Try this, and let us know if you still have any issues. Most probably, it’s because you are using Oracle

cheers!

Oracle Applications / Financials – Functional Question on General Ledger – Budgeting

Oracle Applications / Financials – Functional Question on General Ledger – Budgeting. Quite useful as FAQ and Interview Questions for General Ledger.

11. What is Set of Books? What are the four conditions when you change your SOBs?SOB is of 2 types – Primary and Reporting.Primary SOB - All transactions are with functional Currency

12. What is an Invoice?

AR invoice is a document sent to the customer with details like, Bill-to customer code, product code, qty sent, price, currency, credit terms, tax details, etc. Based on this invoice, customer will make payment to the company and the same is applied against the invoice. AP invoice is the document received from the supplier and contains information such supplier details, product code, qty, price and tax details. This invoice is entered in the AP module and payment is made to the supplier against this invoice.

There are 2 types of invoices-

1. Periodic 2. Milestone

Also, Invoice is an information sheet which a company sends to the buyer along with the good. It explains the details of the goods in the shipment and also the prices. Invoices can contain all sorts of data regarding the shipment and goods depending on the company and product.

13. Can you disable budgetary control for a set of books?

You can, however existing encumbrances are not cleared from the feeder systems. Therefore it is not recommended. If you do change the budgetary control options for an existing set of books, you must do two things for the change to be reflected.

–Run the Period Map Maintenance concurrent request, it must complete successfully.

–Exit Oracle Applications and restart. You must completely exit the application…it is not sufficient to select Sign on again from the Oracle Applications Special menu.

14. Is there a limit to the number of periods in a budget year or how many years a budget can span?

There is no limit for the budget. One can define budgetary control for n number of years however, one year can have maximum of 60 fiscal periods.

15. Why don’t my Detail budgets roll up to my Master budget?

Detail budgets do not automatically roll up to the master budget. The GL uses summary accounts to maintain master/detail budget relationships between them.

 

 

16. I was able to post a budget journal to a closed period, why?

Yes, a budget journal can be posted to any period that is in an open budget year for that budget. This is regardless of the status of that period. The budget journal is not linked with your accounting period. Once you have open the budget period then you can book budget journal for that whole period.

 

 

17. How many ‘Current’ budgets can you have?

For each set of books, you can have only one current budget at any point in time. The only distinction between a ‘current’ and an ‘open’ budget is that the current budget defaults into the budget field on several budget-related forms. It can be replaced however by any ‘open’ budget in the field.

18. What is a funding budget?

Funding budget is a budget against which accounting transactions are checked for available funds when budgetary control is enabled for your set of books. Funding Budgets are approved budgets.Two types of budgets are there in Oracle Apps: 1- Fund 2- Plan.

Fund budget create the Budget Journal but plan budget used only for planning. Fund budget requires journal entries, and is assigned to a summary template or account range in the budget org, where the funds check level is set at Absolute or Advisory. It is the assignment that makes it a ‘funding budget’; it is not done at the budget definition level.

19. Why is my budget requiring budget journals?

At the set of books level that option is not enabled? This would happen when the budget itself is defined to require budget journals. This is done at the budget definition level.

 

 

20. Why can’t I inquire on my budget amounts from INQUIRE/BUDGETS navigation path?

The Budget Inquiry form (GLXIQBUD) is used to perform inquiries about master and detail budgets. GL compares summary balances between your master and detail budgets, and checks for budget variances and violations. This form only looks at summary accounts. To inquire on detail accounts you must use the navigation INQUIRE/ACCOUNTS, and choose the ‘budget’ amount type.

 

 

21. If I delete my budget org, will the budget amounts be deleted?

No, the amounts will be same. Deleting the budget organization does not remove the budget amounts from the GL_BALANCES table.

 

 

22. Can I update/adjust an existing account range in my budget organization?

Yes you can update an existing account range in Budget Organization.

 

 

23 How many times can a budget be purged?

Budget can be purged only one time.

 

 

24. Why is there no value in the REQUEST_ID column of GL_BUDGET_INTERFACE for rows with data that failed to be uploaded by the Budget Spreadsheet Upload program?

You are trying to open the next budget year. After navigating to the form and querying the budget, you notice the [Open Next Year] button is grayed out. You find that Account code combinations are not being added to the Budget Organization.

25. Why don’t my Detail budgets roll up to my Master budget?

Detail budgets do not automatically roll up to the master budget. The GL uses summary accounts to maintain master/detail budget relationships between hierarchy levels. Summary templates are defined so that accounts in your lower level detail budgets roll up into the same summary accounts as the detail accounts in your controlling master budget. A common misconception is that the detail budgets somehow roll up to the master budget by definition, this is not true. You must actually budget to a detail account in the master budget; this then serves as the controlling amount for the detail budgets. Master/Detail budgets are used in the budgeting process to control Authority and identify budgets that exceed control limits. They are not intended for reporting purposes.

26. I was able to post a budget journal to a closed period, why?

A budget journal can be posted to any period that is in an open budget year for that budget. This is regardless of the status of that period (closed, opened, or future enterable).

27. Why don’t my budget amounts appear on my FSG?

To include budgets (encumbrances or currencies) in a FSG report, your report definition must specify a row set of column set that has control values specified in the Balance Control options. In the report definition itself, you associate budget names with the control values that are assigned to the row or column set.

 Shivmohan Purohit

 

 

 

Reporting SOB - All transactions are with foreign Currency

You have to assign your SOB to your responsibility. Set of book means linking between the 3cs i.e. chart of accounts, calendar, currency and maintain 5 mandatory accounts. Set of books are created keeping in mind the ‘Accounting Structure”. This is a combination of 3 ‘Cs’ – Chart of Accounts, Currency and Calendar. Chart of Accounts is made up of segments- Max of 30 Segments are allowed. Two Segments are mandatory – Balancing and Natural segment, Calendar –This can have a max of 365 periods (daily calendar) and a min of 1 period (Yearly calendar). Periods can be monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily.

Oracle Applications – Interview Questions (All Modules)

Oracle Applications – Interview Questions (All Modules)

Question: What are the key benefits of forms personalization over custom.pll?
Answer: Multiple users can develop forms personalization at any given point in time.
It is fairly easy to enable and disable forms personalization.
–>A programmer is not required to do simple things such as hide/disable fields or buttons.
–>Provides more visibility on customizations to the screen.

Question: Tell me some limitations of forms personalization when compared to CUSTOM.pll?
Answer:
–>Can’t create record group queries, hence can’t implement LOV Query changes.
–>Can’t make things interactive, i.e. can’t have a message box that gives multiple choices for example Proceed or Stop etc.

 

Question: How can you import invoices into Oracle Receivables?
Answer:

You can either use AutoInvoice by populating tables RA_INTERFACE_LINES_ALL, RA_INTERFACE_DISTRIBUTIONS_ALL & RA_INTERFACE_SALESCREDITS_ALL.Alternately you may decide to use API ar_invoice_api_pub.create_single_invoice for Receivables Invoice Import.

Question: In OA Framework, once your application has been extended by substitutions, is it possible to revert back to remove those substitutions?

Answer: yes, by setting profile option “Disable Self-Service Personal%” to Yes, keeping in mind that all your personalizations will get disabled by this profile option. This profile is also very useful when debugging your OA Framework based application in the event of some error. By disabling the personalization via profile, you can isolate the error, i.e. is being caused by your extension/substitution code or by Oracle’s standard functionality.

Question: For a PL/SQL based concurrent program do you have to issue a commit at the end?

Answer: The concurrent program runs within its own new session. In APPS, the default database setting enforces a commit at the end of each session. Hence no explicit COMMIT is required.

Question: What is the difference between running Gather Stats and “Program – Optimizer[RGOPTM]” in Oracle General Ledger?

Answer: “Gather Stats” will simply gather the stats against existing tables, indexes etc. However Gather Stats does not create any new indexes. But “Program – Optimizer[RGOPTM]” can create indexes on GL_CODE_COMBINATIONS, provided accounting segment has the indexed flag enabled,

Question: How do you know if a specific Oracle patch has been applied in apps to your environment?

Answer: Use table ad_bugs, in which column bug_number is the patch number.

SELECT bug_number ,to_char(creation_date, ‘DD-MON-YYYY HH24:MI:SS’) dated

FROM apps.ad_bugs

WHERE bug_number = TRIM(‘&bug_number’) ;

Question: How to make concurrent program end with warning?

Answer: If the concurrent program is of type PL/SQL, you can assign a value of 1 to the “retcode” OUT Parameter. For a Java Concurrent program, use the code similar to below ReqCompletion lRC; //get handle on request completion object for reporting status IRC = pCpContext.getReqCompletion(); lRC.setCompletion(ReqCompletion.WARNING, “WARNING”);

Question: Which table is used to provide drill down from Oracle GL into sub-ledger?

Answer: GL_IMPORT_REFERENCES

Question: You have just created two concurrent programs namely “XX PO Prog1″ & “XX PO Prog2″. Now you wish to create a menu for Concurrent Request submission such that only these two Concurrent Programs are visible from that Run Request menu. Please explain the steps to implement this?

Answer:

a) Define a request group, lets say with name “XX_PO_PROGS”

b) Add these two concurrent programs to the request group “XX_PO_PROGS”

c) Define a new Form Function that is attached to Form “Run Reports”

d) In the parameter field of Form Function screen, enter REQUEST_GROUP_CODE=”XX_PO_PROGS” REQUEST_GROUP_APPL_SHORT_NAME=”XXPO” TITLE=”XXPO:XX_PO_PROGS” e) Attach this form function to the desired menu.

Question: Which responsibility do you need to extract Self Service Personalizations?
Answer:Functional Administrator

Question: Can you list any one single limitation of Forms Personalization feature that was delivered with 11.5.10
Answer:You can not implement interactive messages, i.e. a message will give multiple options for Response. The best you can get from Forms Personalization to do is popup up Message with OK option.

Question: This is a very tough one, almost impossible to answer, but yet I will ask. Which Form in Oracle Applications has most number of Form Functions?

Answer: “Run Reports”. And why not, the Form Function for this screen has a parameter to which we pass name of the “Request Group”, hence securing the list of Concurrent Programs that are visible in “Run Request” Form. Just so that you know, there are over 600 form functions for “Run Reports”

Question: How will you migrate Oracle General Ledger Currencies and Sets of Books Definitions from one environment to another without Keying? Will you use FNDLOAD?

Answer: FNDLOAD can not be used in the scenario. You can use migrator available in “Oracle iSetup” Responsibility

Question: How can an end-user be given control to run a script developed by a developer, given that an end user will never have access to apps password (and rightly so)?

Answer: This script can be attached to a Concurrent Program via a concurrent program executable. The user will then be given access to this Concurrent Program.

Question: But how will the end user or Oracle Apps make this script run every 10hours daily?

Answer: A concurrent program can be scheduled to run at desired intervals. The schedule is defined at the time of submission.

Question: What are the basic steps when defining a concurrent program?

Answer: Broadly speaking there are three steps when developing a concurrent program in Oracle Apps Step 1. Make Oracle Apps identify the executable Step 2. Provide a handle to the executable by means of defining a concurrent program Step 3. Make this concurrent program accesible to selected users via their responsibility.

thanks - shivmohan purohit

Shivmohan – Oracle Applications – Basics – Part 1

Hello Friends, here i am posting some of basic oracle applications questions , will try to collect more and put in future posts, here i am putting quite easy and basic questions. If you like to know Questions of any specific area or modules, plz communicate so i will post those as well.

 

 

What are Oracle Apps API?

Where APIs are physically store? n What is the latest version of API?

They are Application Program Interfaces, which are standard stored procedure, package or functions created for performing specific activities in the Oracle Apps E-Business Suite.

Ex: The Order Import API when called would create orders corresponding to the record in the Order Interface tables.

 

How to attach reports in Oracle Applications?

The steps are as follows:

1.          Design your report.

2.          Generate the executable file of the report.

3.          Move the executable as well as source file to the appropriate product’s folder.

4.          Register the report as concurrent executable.

5.          Define the concurrent program for the executable registered.

6.          Add the concurrent program to the request group of the responsibility.

 

 

How to attach Forms in Oracle Applications

1. Develop the form in Developer 2000.

2. Save the FORM and move it to UNIX. [Form to be moved to $CUSTOM_TOP/forms/US]

3. Define the FORM in Application Developer

4. Define FORM as FUNCTION.

5. Identify MENU, where the FORM to be attached. [SysadminResponsibilityDefine]

6.Copy the above MENU and go to Application Developer and query on MENU tab 

 

 

What is the difference between Customization and Personalization?

Customization is done by making the changes in the cutom.pll whereas the Form Personalization is done through the Front End in Oracle Apps.

 

 

Difference between Key and Descriptive Flexfield?

key flex fields are used to identify particular entity like(accounts,objects) supoose take debit cards each debit card contain unique number to identify them. eg; 100-023-323 key flex fields are used to store this number along with description.

Unique Identifier 

Key Flexfield are stored in segment 

For key flexfield there are flexfield Qualifier and segment Qualifier 

 

DFF’s are used to capture additional informtion required for our organization without any programming.

To capture extra information
Stored in attributes
Context-sensitive flexfield is a feature of DFF. (descriptive flexfield)

 

 

What is the difference between data conversion and data migration?

Data Migration is upgrading from one version to another version fro e.g. from 11.5.9 to 11.5.10.. Data Conversion is receiving data from a legacy system or receiving data from another module ( e.g. PA), validating it and converting it to ur our the target module using the standard import program.

 

 

What is the difference between Organization_id and Org_id ?

OrgId: Org Id is an unique ID for the Operating Unit.Organisation Id: The Organisation Id is an ID for the Inventory Organisation which is under an Operating Unit.

 

What are _ALL tables in Oracle Apps?

_all tables will store information about multiple oraganizations. these table contain ORG_ID column that  picks particular organizations from multiple organizations. _all tables will be created when we install multiorg.

 

 

What is one full life cycle implementation?

Full Life Cycle means implementing a project from the begining to the production and maintenance stage.

(1) System Planning:

        (Scope & Budget of the Project)

(2) Business Analysis:

        (Business Requirements, Mapping & GAP Analysis)

(3) System Analysis & Design

        (Design Conceptual & Functional Data Models)

(4) System Development

        (Programming & System/Integration/Validation Testing)

(5) System Implementation

        (Data Conversions, Interfaces, Extensions,User Manuals & User Training)

(6) System Maintenance & Support

 

 Thanks – Shivmohan Purohit

Oracle Applications – Technical Interview Questions

Hello Friends, Upon requests on some of my friends, i am posting few more generic oracle applications’ questions. hope this will give you overview of generic features. do share your feedback if these are good n useful. 

what is a flexfield qualifier ?

Oracle Applications products use flexfield qualifiers to identify certain segments used for specific purposes. eg: segment named ‘Account’ is qualified as ‘Natural Account’so that it identifies Accounts, similarly a segment named ‘Company’ can be qualified as ‘Balancing Segment’, i.e, for these segment values B/S can be brought out in Accounting Flexfield in GL.

 A flexfield is made of segments and oracle identifies if particular segment in the accounting flexfield is an account segment or a company segment, based on some predefined values called as flexfield qualifiers which are assigned to the segments to look meaningful for defining the accounting flexfield. Eg: Account segment uses Natural Account segment and the company segment uses Balancing segment are mandatory for defining the accounting flexfield. Other values are Cost center segment, Inter company segment, secondary tracking segment

 

What is the difference between configuration, conversion, and customization?

Conversion ,customization and configuration are part of an oracle implementation project they come in this order

1. configuration/set up

2. Customization

3. Conversion

Configuration is setting up customer specific requirement which generally exist in oracle apps customization is filling the gap between oracle apps and Customer requirement by developing some extension and solution design

Customization is relatively different thing, something that is not a part of oracle apps core product but the client requirement demands it we go for Customization. If the functionality demanded by the client exists in the application, it is to be configured according to his needs by taking some data, this is called configuration

Conversion is structural change of customer data in a form which is compatible with oracle database best of luck. Conversion is the process of mapping the tables from a legacy system to apps system. Sometimes conversions can be from one version to other

 

Where we can check the status of PO.

In po_headers_all authorization_status coloumn is their we can find through this coloumn

 

What is back order in OM

There are few reasons that a scheduled order could be Backordered during pick release process.

1. In-sufficient onhand

2. Order might be put as ‘Pick release hold’

3. If it’s a lot controlled item being involved then some of the factors will be checking at picking rule setup (like Lot- expiration date, etc) and tured to ‘Backordered’ incase the criteria does not meet.

 

Where we find the status of order information.

Order header status is in oe_order_headers_all table reference with flow_status_code column and order line status would be oe_order_lines_all table reference with flow_status_code column.

 

What are the tables of auto invoice?

RA_INTERFACE_LINES_ALL, RA_INTERFACE_DISTRIBUTIONS_ALL ARE THE TWO INTERFACE TABLES MAINLY USED BT AUTOINVOICE.  FURTHER DATA READ FROM THESE TABLES WILL BE INSERTED INTO RA_CUSTOMER_TRX_ALL , RA_CUSTOMER_TRX_LINES_ALL , RA_CUST_TRX_LINE_GL_DIST_ALL , AR_PAYMENT_SCHEDULES_ALL AFTER VALIDATING.

 

For report i have to parameters those are from_date and to_date ,so to_date should be greater when compare to from_date ,if we are giving to_date is less then it must shows some error how we will make it.

While defining Parameters you can set range option(in concurrent prog parameters window). Select low for from_Date and high for to_Date.Then it will not allow for from_date > to_date.

 

How to find the custom directory in front end.

From Application Developer responsibility, navigate to Application –> Register. Query for the custom application name. The value in the field Basepath, is the OS system variable that stores the actual directory info.

 

What are the execution methods in oracle apps?

1. Host

2. Immediate

3. Java Stored Procedure

4. Java Concurrent Program

5. Multi Language Function

6. Oracle Reports

7. Request Set Stage Function

8. Pl/Sql Stored Procedure

9. Spawned

10. Sql*Lodar

11. Sql*Plus

12. Perl Concurrent Program

 

What are APIs

API stands for application program interface. Oracle has its own api facility to transfer data from a external source to oracle base table so api is an standard oracle tool to transfer data to oracle database. It is a very simple method and a person with no technical background also can use api. Example-uploading journal and budget data through API.

 

Thanks – plz share questions if you have more in this area. also share your comment/feedback. Shivmohan Purohit

Oracle Payables Useful Tables

Hello Friends , here is some of quite commonly used AP (Payables) tables and their usage. There are many other tables also in AP but here i am putting only few commonly used tables. for other table if needed we can dig furthur. Let go through below article and let me know if it useful.

1- AP_INVOICES_ALL

2- AP_INVOICE_DISTRIBUTIONS_ALL

3- AP_PAYMENT_SCHEDULES_ALL

4- AP_HOLDS_ALL

5- AP_AE_LINES_ALL

6- AP_AE_HEADERS_ALL

AP_INVOICES_ALL

AP_INVOICES_ALL contains records for invoices you enter. There is one row for each invoice you enter. An invoice can have one or more invoice distribution lines. An invoice can also have one or more scheduled payments. An invoice of type EXPENSE REPORT must relate to a row in AP_EXPENSE_REPORT_HEADERS_ALL unless the record has been purged from AP_EXPENSE_REPORT_HEADERS_ALL. Your Oracle Payables application uses the INTEREST type invoice for interest that itcalculates on invoices that are overdue. Your Oracle Payables application links the interest invoice to the original invoice by inserting the INVOICE_ID in the AP_INVOICE_RELATIONSHIPS table.

 

 

 

 

 

AP_INVOICE_DISTRIBUTIONS_ALL

AP_INVOICE_DISTRIBUTIONS_ALL holds the distribution line information that you enter for invoices. There is a row for each invoice distribution. A distribution line must be associated with an invoice. An invoice can have multiple distribution lines. Your Oracle Payables application automatically creates rows in this table when:

1) you choose a distribution set at the invoice level

2) you import expense reports

3) you match an invoice to a purchase order or receipt; ituses information from the matched purchase order or receipt

4) you import invoices via the Open Interface Import process

5) you select to automatically calculate tax

6) you select to automatically do withholding.

Each invoice distribution line has its own accounting date. When you account for an invoice, your OraclePayables application creates accounting events, accounting entry headers and accounting entry lines for those distribution lines that have accounting dates included in the selected accounting date range for the Payables Accounting Process.The accounting entries can then be transferred over to General Ledger by running the Transfer to General Ledger process which creates journal entries. Values for POSTED_FLAG may be Y for accounted distributions or N for distributions that have not been accounted. Values for ACCRUAL_POSTED_FLAG may be Y if distribution has been accounted and system is set up for accrual basis accounting or N if either distribution has not been accounted or accrual basis accounting is not used. Values for CASH_POSTED_FLAG may be Y if distribution has been accounted and system is set up for cash basis accounting, N if either distribution has not been accounted or system is not set up for cash basis accounting or P if distribution has been partially accounted in the cash set of books. The MATCH_STATUS_FLAG indicates the approval status for the distribution. Values for the MATCH_STATUS_FLAG can be null or N for invoice distributions that Approval has not tested or T for distributions that have been tested or A for distributions that have been tested and approved. Invoice distributions may be interfaced over/from Oracle Assets or Oracle Projects. Your Oracle Payables application sets the ASSETS_ADDITION_FLAG to U for distributions not tested by Oracle Assets; Oracle Assets then adjusts this flag after it tests a distribution for assignment as an asset.

To avoid the same invoice distribution being interfaced to both Oracle Projects and Oracle Assets, you must interface any project–related invoice distribution to Oracle Projects before you can interface it to Oracle Assets. If the project–related invoice distribution is charged to a capital project in Oracle Projects, Oracle Projects sets the ASSET_ADDITION_FLAG to P when the PA_ADDITION_FLAG is set to Y, Z or T. Oracle Assets only picks up invoice distributions with the ASSET_ADDITION_FLAG set to U and if project–related, with the PA_ADDITION_FLAG set to Y, Z, or T. PA_ADDITION_FLAG tracks the status of project–related supplier invoice distribution lines and expense report distribution lines.

For supplier invoice distributions entered via Oracle Payables, the PA_ADDITION_FLAG is set to N if the distribution is project–related, otherwise it is set to E and it is updated by Oracle Projects when the distribution is processed by the Oracle Projects Interface Supplier Invoice process. Oracle Projects sets the PA_ADDITION_FLAG to Y or Z after the item is successfully processed, or may be set to a rejection code if the line is rejected during transfer to Oracle Projects; see QuickCodes listing for all the errors. You must correct the rejection reason an try to retransfer the line. For supplier invoice adjustment lines interfaced from Oracle Projects to Oracle Payables (which must net to zero with another line), the value for the PA_ADDITION_FLAG is set to T. For expense report distributions interfaced from Oracle Projects to Oracle Payables via Invoice Import, this value is set to N. This row is never picked up by the Interface Supplier Invoices process based on the AP_INVOICES.INVOICE_TYPE_LOOKUP_CODE = EXPENSEREPORT. For expense report adjustment lines interfaced from Oracle Projects to Oracle Payables which net to zero with another line, thisvalue is set to T. Both lines are associated with the original invoice by the Oracle Projects Interface Expense Reports to AP process. Values for the ENCUMBERED_FLAG are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

- Y indicates aregular distribution that has been successfully encumbered by Payables;

- W indicates a regular distribution that has been encumbered in advisory mode even though insufficient funds existed;

- H indicates a regular distribution that has not been encumbered because it was put on hold;

- Nor null indicates a regular line that has not been encumbered because it has not been looked at yet;

- D is the same as Y for a reversal distribution line;

- X is the same as W for a reversal distribution line;

- P is the same as H for a reversal distribution line;

- R indicates a line to be ignored by encumbrance and approval code because neither the original nor the reversal distributions were looked at and they offset each other so, they can be ignored.

AP_PAYMENT_SCHEDULES_ALL

AP_PAYMENT_SCHEDULES_ALL contains information about scheduled payments for an invoice. You need one row for each time you intend to make a payment on an invoice. Your Oracle Payables application uses this information to determine when to make payments on an invoice and how much to pay in an automatic payment batch. Values for HOLD_FLAG may be ’Y’ to place a hold on the scheduled payment, or ’N’ not to do so. Values for PAYMENT_STATUS_FLAG may be ’Y’ for fully paid payment schedules, ’N’ for unpaid scheduled payments, or ’P’ for partially paid scheduled payments. For converted records, enter a value for AMOUNT_REMAINING.

 

 

 

 

 

AP_HOLDS_ALL

AP_HOLDS_ALL contains information about holds that you or your Oracle Payables application place on an invoice. For non–matching holds, there is one row for each hold placed on an invoice. For matching holds, there is one row for each hold placed on an invoice–shipment match. An invoice may have one or more corresponding rows in this table. Your Oracle Payables application does not pay invoices that have one or more unreleased holds recorded in this table. This table holds information referenced by the Invoice Holds window. In the strictest sense, AP_HOLDS_ALL has no primary key. It is possible for your Oracle Payables application to place a certain type of hold on an invoice, then release it, then place another hold of the same type (if data changes before each submission of Approval), which would result in a duplicate primary key. But for practical purposes, the primary key is a concatenation of INVOICE_ID, LINE_LOCATION_ID,and HOLD_LOOKUP_CODE.

AP_AE_LINES_ALL

An accounting entry line is an entity containing a proper accounting entry with debits or credits both in transaction currency as well as functional currency along with an account and other reference information pointing to the transaction data that originated the accounting entry line. An accounting entry line is grouped with other accounting entry lines for a specific accounting entry header. Any such group of accounting entry lines should result in balanced entries in the functional currency.

 

 

 

 

 

AP_AE_HEADERS_ALL

An accounting entry header is an entity grouping all accounting entry lines created for a given accounting event and a particular set of books. An accounting entry header can either be transferred over to GL or not at all. That is, either all its accounting entry lines are transferred or none at all. The transferred to GL status is marked in the GL_TRANSFER_FLAG. Possible values for GL_TRANSFER_FLAG are Y, N, or E. Y indicates that the accounting entry header has been transferred to GL. N indicates that the accounting entry header has not been transferred to GL due to 2 possible reasons: either the transfer process has not run or it has run but the accounting entry had an accounting error on it. E indicates that an error was encountered during the transfer to GL process.

 

Thanks – Shivmohan Purohit

 

 

 

 

Distinction between configuration, personalization, and extensibility.

Distinction between configuration, personalization, and extensibility.

Configuration provides setup and administrative choices using the native features of the product. Some configuration examples include:

• Profile Options
• User-defined fields (Flexfield)
• Function Security Setup
• Data Security Setup
• and a lot more….

Personalization enables you to declaratively tailor the UI look-and-feel, layout or visibility of page content to suit a business need or a user preference. Some personalization examples include:

• Tailor the order in which table columns are displayed.
• Tailor a query result.
• Tailor the color scheme of the UI.
• Folder Forms
• Forms Personalization
• Oracle Application Framework (OAF)

Extensibility is about extending the functionality of an application beyond what can be done through personalization. Some extensibility examples include:

• Add new functional flows
• Extend or override existing business logic
• Using Oracle Forms Developer, Oracle JDeveloper and Oracle Workflow

Oracle Financials Accounting – Interview Technical Fucntional Questions

 1. What are the application objects that support View Accounting and Drilldown?
GL_Import_Reference_Table (modified) For Example Invoices imported from Payables into GL goes to these tables from GL_Inerface table.
GL_SL_LINK_ID
GL_SL_LINK_TABLE
GL_JE_LINES (modified)

New views in the database:
FA_AEL_GL_V
FA_AEL_SL_MRC_V
FA_AEL_SL_V

2. Where in Oracle General Ledger 11i can Drilldown be accessed?
You can drilldown from GL Account Inquiry window and the GL Journal Entry and GL Journal Inquiry windows. (N) Tools -> Drilldown Open the Journal entry in GL and go to Tools – drilldown, its shows u the origin of the journal entry. It is used only for viewing the origin of the journal entry.

3. What are the Release 11i Sub-ledger drilldown features?
Expanded Subledger drilldown to other subledgers. View Accounting Lines window.

4. What are recurring invoices? What are AP setup steps?
Some times suppliers would not be sending any invoices, but still the payment have to be made to him. Ex: rent, lease rentals. In this situation we have to create invoice every period wise. For that purpose we have to create one recurring invoice template. Template means with one master copy creating the multiple invoices. Here we are creating the one invoice master copy is formally known as recurring invoice or recurring invoice template.

Setup: 1) Create one special calendar
2) Create one full distribution set
3) Enter payment terms in the recurring invoice window
4) Enter the template no., first invoice amount, special invoice amounts.

Recurring Entries are of 3 types-
1. Standard,
2. Skeleton,
3. Fornulae Based

In GL Module
1.Define Formula Batch (e.g. ABC Rent batch)
2.Enter Lines (Here u have both Debit as well as Credit lines)
3.Generate Recurring period
4.Review Journal Batch
5.Post the batch

1. Standard Recurring Journal: It is used for same accounts & same amounts e.g.
Utilities Dr
Cash Cr

2. Skeleton Recurring Journal: It is used for same accounts but for different amounts, e.g.
Recurring Fee Dr
Cash Cr

3.Formule Based Journal: It is used for different accounts with different amounts, e.g.
Salaries Dr
Cash Cr

5. If any conflict occurs in FSG who will override; Column Set or Row Set?
The override component is row set. However some times it depend on the column set also.

6. What is the difference between discounts and adjustments?
Discount refers to the payment terms or on quantity (bulk order discount) ordered. In the invoice received from supplier, discounts term is specifically stated, e.g. “If paid with in 15 days discount @ 2%”, what you need to do is pay 2% less then the original invoice amount, however caution should be taken that the freight amount should not be considered while calculating the discount. Adjustment could be for various reasons- Over priced invoice, short delivery of quantity as per goods received note, poor quality etc. Agreed upon amount will be deducted from the invoice, while making the payments. In AR, discount is given to promote the business and cash flow. Adjustments are made to adjust the account balances, which is not possible in other means.

7. What are cycles of GL, AP, and AR?
GL Accounting cycle can be further elaborated like this…
1. Open Period.
2. Create Functional and foreign journal entries.(including the journal import from legacy systems and subledgers).
3. Reverse journal entries.
4. Post the journals.
5. Review and correct the balances.
6. Revalue foreign currency balances.
7. Translate foreign currency balances.
8. Consolidate set of books.
9. Run accounting reports.
10. Close the accounting periods.

AP cycle ——– Purchase Order –> Receipt –> AP voucher –> Payment made
AR Cycle ——–Sales Order –> Shipment –> Invoice –> Payment receipt
GL cycle ——– Direct GL JE / Transfer subledger data to GL –> Post

8. What are Summary Accounts and Rollup groups?
Summary Account is an account whose balance represents consolidation of accounts. Rollup group is a collection / consolidation of parent accounts. e.g. Assets is a total of Current assets and Fixed Assets. Current assets / Fixed assets in turn are collection of assets.

Summary Account is an account whose balance represents the sum of other account balances. You can use summary accounts for faster reporting and inquiry as well as in formulas and allocations. Rollup group is a collection of parent segment values for a given segment. You use rollup groups to define summary accounts based on parents in the group. You can use letters as well as numbers to name your rollup groups.

Summary accounts are consolidated balances of accounts and rollup groups is collection of parent accounts.

9. What Sub-ledgers does Oracle General Ledger 11i Drilldown support?
Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Cash Management. Drilldown from Oracle General Ledger 11i also supports Oracle Purchasing module (displays POs and Requisitions) from 11.5.9 version onwards. Drilldown from Oracle General Ledger 11i is supported for Oracle Payables, Oracle Receivables, Oracle Assets (except depreciation), Projects, Purchasing, Inventory, and Work in Process (WIP).

 

Shivmohan Purohit