“Apps Are In … Data’s In … Now How Do I Get The Info Out!”

Russ ProudmanARIS Software,

Inc.425.372.2747www.noetix.com

Agenda

1. Reporting Challenges2. Difficulties Caused by Database Complexity3. Top 10 List of Key Elements for Successful

Reporting

4. Demonstration5. Q & A

Reporting Challenges

Section 1

What Experts Have Observed

“The typical Fortune 1000 company has a big problem: it collects a lot of important business data that never gets used.”

“Users who could take data and turn it into a competitive advantage can’t get the level of access they need.”

What Do the Experts Predict

“Instead of a small number of analysts spending 100 percent of their time analyzing data…

All managers and professionals will spend 10 percent of their time analyzing the data themselves using Analytical Processing Systems.”

Huh? Wha?

Running Your Business “I want to see the top 10 vendors in dollar volume over the last year.”

“Which invoices were charged to my department this month?”

“What is the backlog for item 1265?”

“What is the salary history for employees in my department?”

Standard Oracle

Reports

How Do You Get The Data Out?

Have the Information

ServicesGroup Do It

Do It Yourself

Not Available! Too Late! Too Hard!

“You don’t have the information you need to make informed business decisions.”

Querying Oracle Apps using SQL

End User Query Tools - Example

End User Query Tools

• Oracle Discoverer 3.1

• Cognos Impromptu• Business Objects• Brio Query• Crystal Reports• InfoMaker• etc.

“All I need is an End User Query Tool…”

Database Complexity

Section 2

Advantage Problem?Feature?

RelationalDatabase

Desc. Flexfields/Quick Picks

ComprehensiveSuite of Apps

Great for OLTPFlexibility

200-300 tables of information per average App

Need to create complex joins to get to meaningful data

Customize Apps for your business

Hard to get at and identify customized data elements

Integrated BusinessFunctions

Oracle Apps Structure is Complex

Performance Oracle is a good performing database

Statements must be tuned to perform

Key Flexfields Identify key elements in your business

Hard to identify what segments stand for

Top 10 Elements for Successful

Reporting

Section 3

#10. Open Systems - don’t limit your optionsproprietary systems means you’re on a query tool’s upgrade path, method, etc.

#9. Automatic Setup - not trading one task for anothercontinual administering / managing query tool is not productive

#8. Handle Environment Changes - seamless regenerationif your Oracle environment changes (ie: new SoBs, Op. Unit, Inv/Mfg. Org., etc.) then must be able to regenerate whatever’s required for query tool to keep working

#7. Performance Optimization - stop unnecessary waitingtuned queries can be vastly faster than unoptimized ones

#6. Organize Information by Functional Areausers productivity is much higher when info broken down by their job responsibility

#5. Index Column Identification - creates fast queriesFull table (multi-table) scans are agonizingly slow while indexes are faster (book)

#4. KFF / DFF / LOV Decoding - much easier for userOracle Apps save data as segments(kff), attributes(dff), numbers(lov)Decoding data for user recognition is much easer for reporting / querying

#3. On-Line Directory to InformationHaving full help with all objects, definitions, hints, examples, searches means end users will produce reports / queries much faster.

#2. Complexity Completely Hidden - user not confusedIf it’s difficult for the end user, they won’t use it!

#1. Buffer Needed for Oracle Upgrades / PatchesAs Oracle releases patches / upgrades “they’ll get ‘ya”It’s not a matter of if … it’s a matter of when!

Solution to Database Complexity

You can create a business layer in the database using Views

• It’s an Open Solution (use any query/reporting tool/SQL, etc.)• Views have the “look & feel” of tables (rows & columns)• Allow for a more complex representation of data than a table• View complexity can be hidden from users (multi-table joins)• Views can be tuned & optimized• Fields in views can identify Oracle Applications index columns• Fields in views can decode KFF / DFF / LOVs

Oracle Applications Data Base

QueryTools

Crystal ReportsMS Access, Excel

SQL*PlusO Reports

ODBC, Java, XML

Query &Analysis

Oracle DiscovererBusiness Objects

Cognos ImpromptuBrio Query

Andyne/GQL

OLAPClients, Servers

Oracle ExpressArbor Essbase

Cognos PowerplayOracle ROLAP

etc.

Views

Metadata Layer Metadata Layer

Overview of Views

Complex Joins Can Be Done in Views

Oracle Tables

PO_Lines

ViewsPO_HEADERS PO_LINE_TYPES

MTL_ITEMS

PO_LINES

MTL_ITEM_CATEGORIES

AP_TERMS PO_UN_NUMBERS

Customize Views to reflect your configuration

DepartmentManufacturer_NameSegment12Attribute4

Oracle Tables Views

APPROVAL_CODE MAKE_BUY_CODE1 12 13 2

APPROVAL_CODE MAKE_BUY_CODERejected MakeApproved MakePosted Buy

Flexfields

Quick Picks

Demonstration

Section 4

1. Noetix Help File2. Oracle Discoverer w/ NoetixViews

We have a solution … NoetixViews

Questions& Answers

Section 5