Getting the Most out of EPM: Insight and Considerations related to upgrading and converting to Version 11.1.2.3 for FDM & HFM

www.finitsolutions.com
Getting the Most out of EPM:
HFM 11.1.2.3 Upgrade and Design
Considerations
September 27, 2013
Sue Lewis slewis@finitsolutions.com

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Finit Introduction
Finit Solutions specializes in consulting services in the Oracle Hyperion Enterprise
Performance Management Solutions suite of products:
Financial Close and Consolidation
 Financial Management (HFM)
 Hyperion Enterprise
 Financial Close Management (FCM)
 Disclosure Management
 Account Reconciliation Module (ARM)
Integration
 Financial Data Quality Management (FDM)
 Oracle Data Integrator (ODI)
 Enterprise Performance Management
Architect (EPMA)
 Data Relationship Management (DRM)
 Other (ERPi, EIS, etc.)
Planning and Business Intelligence
 Planning
 Core Planning
 Modules
(Workforce, CapEx, Project
Financial Planning)
 Essbase (ASO / BSO)
Reporting Tools
 Financial Reporting
 Smart View / Essbase Excel Add-In
 OBIEE
 Financial Management Analytics
(OFMA)
 Web Analysis

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Finit Services
Finit’s consulting services cover a broad range of implementation
and post implementation options.
Finit Solutions: Implementation Services
– Full cycle implementations
– Discovery and Requirements
– Global Design
– Detailed Design and Build
– Testing and Training
– Deploy
– Infrastructure Services
– Data Services (historical data, GL data
integration)
– Project / Program Management
– Product Upgrades
– Redesign / Enhancements

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Finit Answers
Finit Answers provides the proper support offering for your Business
 Hyperion Product Expertise: Finit has been offering Oracle Hyperion EPM services and support as a
company since our inception (July 2002) - staffed by our Hyperion Subject Matter Experts.
 Finit is providing a unique pledge for Hyperion Enterprise Customers: Any Hyperion Enterprise related fees
can be applied to a future project to replace Hyperion Enterprise with Finit Solutions.
 Allow Finit Answers to be your personal Hyperion Insurance Policy
 Flexibility: We offer a ‘pay as you go’ option (pay for only the time you use) along with several other levels
of support that we can customize to meet your needs:
1. Time And Materials Support: You only pay for the time you use (no monthly fees)
2. Dedicated Critical Support: Technical Application Support with a guaranteed 2-hour response time
3. Remote Consulting Assistance: Ask us to review your HFM Rules, Essbase Calcs, consolidations, FDM Integrations,
custom reports, etc.
4. Managed Services: Application Administrator Assistance (Primary or Secondary)
 http://www.finitsolutions.com/Support_Finit_Answers.html
 CONTACT Greg Barrett (gbarrett@finitsolutions.com) for more information
Finit Solutions Official Support Offering:
Answers & Support with Efficient, Responsive Service

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We strongly believe that Service + Solutions = Maximum Value
Service
 Compensation model based upon client satisfaction with consultant’s
work, not utilization / chargeability.
 No external owners and Finit partners are involved in every full-cycle
implementation.
 Employees, not contractors.
Solutions
 Finit consultants are Hyperion product experts who enjoy designing, building
and deploying great solutions, applications and processes.
 Finit works closely with Oracle Hyperion development on product strategy
and beta testing.
Finit’s Focus

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Finit’s Values

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Our client service approach has led to 100%
customer satisfaction for every Finit client (185
and counting) for every Oracle Hyperion project
(over 325 and counting).
Finit’s Client Service

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About the Presenter
Sue Lewis (slewis@finitsolutions.com)
• Over Ten years of Hyperion experience
• FDM, HFM, EPMA, Financial Reporting focused
• HFM Certified Implementation Specialist
• PMP (Project Management Professional) Certified
• Twelve years Financial Systems Management experience in
Global Manufacturing business

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 Why Upgrade to HFM 11.1.2.3?
In General
From pre 11.1.2 HFM versions
From 11.1.2.x to 11.1.2.3 HFM versions
Integrated Applications
Financial Close Suite Changes – FCM/ARM, DM, OFMA, Tax Provision
Enhancements to LCM and Extended Analytics
New FDM “EE”
 Project Considerations
 Our Experiences
 Q and A
Agenda

Why Upgrade to HFM 11.1.2.3
The Finit Solutions Series

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Sources Common Reasons
Promoted by Finance Implement functionality of new EPM tools
Implement new functionality of existing EPM tools
Gain efficiencies in meeting business needs/growth
Outgrow existing tool
Promoted by IT Life Cycle expiration of the software support
Compatibility with operating
systems, databases, desktop software
Resolve existing software bugs
In General
Overall, release 11.1.2.3 in the Financial Close Suite is a minor release
compared to the changes included in 11.1.2.2 which was a major release.

From pre 11.1.2 HFM versions

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• MUCH SOUGHT AFTER -> 4 Custom dimension limit change to
open Custom dimension availability – extending Management
reporting and analysis capabilities
– This unrestricted number of Custom dimensions offers significant
improvements to HFM’s capability to meet financial reporting needs
• Performance and stability improvements with 64 Bit capabilities
• More ‘user-friendly’ interface enhancements
• Application Copy Utility for EPMA applications
• New MS Excel Smart View functionality
– Smart Slices offering pre-defined user friendly navigation
– Inclusion of HFM Task Lists
• Extended HFM integration with …
– Financial Close Management (FCM)
– Disclosure Management (DM)
– Oracle Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC)
From pre 11.1.2 HFM versions

From 11.1.2.x to 11.1.2.3 HFM versions

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• ‘On Demand’ Rules and the ability to run them from
Web Forms and Data Grids
– This follows a similar concept to Hyperion Planning.
– ‘On Demand’ rules are a part of the Sub Calculate sub-
routine and are prefixed in the rules file (i.e.
OnDemand_RFValidation).
– You can specify the On Demand rules in the form / grid
definition.
– The concept is to be able to quickly run a calculation instead
of all rules.
• More flexibility with display of Web Forms / Data
Grids.
– Dimension order can be specified for POV.
– Certain members can be excluded.
– Show / hide dimensions.
HFM Changes in 11.1.2.3

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• The vertical navigation bar remembers how you last left
it. It will remember you expanded Application tasks and
minimized Favorites.
• Administrators can disable modules from showing up
for anyone if they are not used.

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• Metadata Load Auditing is now included.
– This adds more logging features for those using ‘Classic’ metadata.
– You can see log information of what changed
• User defined attributes can now accept up to 256 characters (up from 80)
• New OpenCellTextUnit rule
– Can be used to retrieve cell text for multiple intersections (similar to OpenDataUnit).
• New Security Roles
– View Task Audit – lets a non administrator view the Task Audit screen
– View Data Audit – lets a non administrator view the Data Audit screen.

Financial Close Suite Changes
FCM/ARM, DM, OFMA, Tax Provision

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Financial Close Management (FCM) Changes
• New Column Attribute that records and displays ‘Actual Time to Complete’.
– This records and shows the duration that a task took from start to completion.
• Semi-Automated Tasks
– Applies to automated tasks and lets the task owner delay putting in required information until
when the task is ready to run.
Accounts Reconciliation Module (ARM) Changes
• Net Activity Attribute from Prior Reconciliation
– Calculates the activity on any reconciliation profile / account from the last reconciliation.
– Displays as an amount along with the Beginning Balance, Ending Balance, Explained
Balance, etc.
• Can Hide Options from Reconciliations Formats
– Can choose to Hide an item such as Adjustments to Source Systems, Net Activity, etc.
• Can have Summary Reconciliations that pull from child reconciliations.
FCM / ARM Changes in 11.1.2.3

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Accounts Reconciliation Module (ARM) Changes
• Improved User Assignments of Reconciliations
– A user can assign a backup
– Can assign a group to a reconciliation (with members existing in the group). The group exists as
a Native group in Shared services.
– A user can request a workflow be reassigned to another user.
• Improved scheduling of Data Loads
– Can be scheduled with any scheduler tool.
– Status can be monitored in ARM
• Improvements to Auto Reconciliations (5 new methods added)
– Balance is zero & no activity exists
– Balance is within a range (based on prior reconciliation amount)
– Balance is within range and no activity (based on prior reconciliation amount)
– No Activity (based on prior reconciliation amount)
– Balance match (# tolerance) – less or equal to a tolerance amount.
FCM / ARM Changes in 11.1.2.3

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Disclosure Management Changes
• Very minor changes and nothing significant in our minds.
Oracle Financial Management Analytics (OFMA)
• No changes as an 11.1.2.3 version has not been released yet.
Oracle Hyperion Tax Provision
• Was released in Q1 2013 before 11.1.2.3
• Separately licensed product that is used for the tax provision calculation
process.
• Integrated into the Workspace and with HFM.
Other Financial Close Products

Enhancements to LCM and
Extended Analytics

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• Lifecycle Management (LCM) has some significant improvements
• Additional artifacts for HFM, Essbase, Essbase Studio, FCM/ARM,
and FDMEE
• New HFM artifact for Data:
• Ability to download the entire export folder. Can import this detail
directly into the target system.
– Export is limited to 1.8 GB file size.
LCM Changes in 11.1.2.3

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• New ‘artifact changed’ report that shows what artifacts were
modified, by whom, and when
LCM Changes in 11.1.2.3

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• Now accessible from the HFM Data Extract user interface
• Supports extracts to both Flat files and SQL repository
• Allows users to:
– Extract data from multiple Scenarios and Years at one time
– Extract data at every member of the value dimension
– Define the Extract file format
Extended Analytics Changes in 11.1.2.3

New FDM “EE”

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• Beginning with release 11.1.2.3, Oracle has combined Financial
Data Quality Management “FDM” with ERP Integrator “ERPi” to
create FDM Enterprise Edition or “FDM EE”.
• In release 11.1.2.3, two products exist:
– FDM – traditional FDM
– FDM EE – rebranded ERPi with newly added FDM functionality
– Currently, a conversion tool from FDM to FDM EE is not provided by Oracle.
• It is our understanding that version 11.1.2.3 will be the terminal
release of FDM and starting with the next version release expected
in April 2014 (11.1.2.4?) only FDM EE will be available.
FDM EE - Overview

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• FDM EE is a rewrite of FDM, with the goal being to keep nearly all
functionality of FDM. How it will be done is changing:
• Will be integrated in the Workspace like ERPi
• Fully utilize Shared Services (compared to partial now in FDM)
• Scripting is moving from VBScript to Jython (potential for a few remaining
VBScript items)
• Reports will be in BI Publisher and not Active Reports
• Batch Processing will be different (ODI Batch and shell scripts)
• No Hyperion Enterprise or Tax integration
• The product business case is that FDM EE will combine the direct
sourcing and drill through to the source that ERPi provides while
still providing users the core functionality
(workflow, controls, audit) that they have grown to love with FDM.
FDM EE – Plan For Release

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• Oracle is planning a “Phased” release of FDM EE in version 11.1.2.3
with increased and added functionality in each release. The
releases will all be as patch set updates (PSU) to FDM EE version
11.1.2.3.
– Our understanding is that ERPi in version 11.1.2.2 will not receive the FDM-
like functionality through PSU’s.
• Our understanding of the approximate targeted release schedule is
the following:
– GA – Released April 2013
– PSU1 – Released July 2013
– PSU2 – Released 2- 3 months after PSU1 October 2013
FDM EE – Plan For Release

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• What is not included in FDM EE 11.1.2.3 ‘GA’:
– No Scripting Functionality for any script types
– No Intersection Check with HFM Adapter
– No Excel Import Functionality (FDM Journals or Multi-Load)
– No Batch Processing
• As a result, the ‘GA’ release only contains “basic” functionality.
– It should be sufficient for simpler integrations (i.e. you are connecting to EBS
(1 ledger) and have simple mapping, validations and no scripting needs).
– The Workflow interface will look very similar with the Fish, but a lot of the
core functionality will be missing.
FDM EE – Plan For Release GA

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• What is included in FDM EE PSU 1:
– Event, Import Format and Mapping scripts
– Excel Import (most likely FDM journals)
– Full HFM Adapter as we know it in FDM currently
– Clear and Agg Calc Scripts for Planning/Essbase
– Batch Loader Functionality
• This will represent the first release for more complex integrations
– With PSU 1, we can use simple import scripts that we attach to import
formats.
– HFM Intersection Check is key as this is very important for most traditional
FDM clients.
– Need more information about the Excel import but that is key as well if it
includes FDM Journal functionality.
FDM EE – Plan For Release PSU1

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• What is expected to be added in FDM EE PSU 2:
– Ability to integrate FDM mapping from DRM (no details yet on specific
functionality)
– SOX Certification
– Data Synch between all EPM apps
• There will be source adapters for all Hyperion EPM Target systems
• This is a great feature as it required custom scripts in the past.
– Multi-Load file
• With PSU 2, we should be back to what we currently know as FDM
with some added functionality.
FDM EE – Plan For Release PSU2

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• In Summary, it is our understanding that traditional FDM is being
replaced with FDM EE and that FDM EE will be the go-forward data
quality integration product.
• Existing FDM customers will more than likely need to wait until PSU
1 at a minimum to get similar functionality.
• It is our understanding that 11.1.2.3 is the terminal release of FDM
and that existing FDM customers that upgrade to a future release
beyond 11.1.2.3 will need to convert to FDM EE. Customers
running version 11.1.2.3 can use either FDM or FDM EE.
FDM / FDM EE Summary

Project Considerations

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• You have two installation options for 11.1.2.3:
– New Installation: installing version 11.1.2.3 onto a new server.
– Maintenance Release: install version 11.1.2.3 on top of an existing
installation of 11.1.2.1 or 11.1.2.2.
• Overall, the large majority of clients choose to upgrade onto new
server hardware. In this scenario, 11.1.2.3 would be installed on
the new hardware and then applications can be migrated and
tested while the existing environment operates.
• An ‘in-place’ upgrade is possible (upgrading onto an existing server
environment), but most clients do not choose this because it
requires an extended system downtime where the existing servers
cannot be accessed. An in-place upgrade is also more risky in case
something goes wrong in the shortened time frame.
Environment Upgrade Options

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• You have three HFM application upgrade options:
– As-is
• No HFM application changes – simply upgrading to new version
• All Metadata, Artifacts and Data are migrated from source HFM version to new
• HFM connection points (i.e. FDM, FR, Smart View) require minimal changes
– HFM Application Redesign and Migration
• Preliminary project phase to redesign HFM application to improve existing application
shortcomings and to taking advantage of newer version functionalities
• Metadata and Artifacts require updating and conversion from old to new design
• Data requires remapping to new metadata and so extensive revalidation
• HFM connection points require more complex changes
– Hybrid Approach combining As-is with Redesign
• Initial As-is, unchanged application migration to move to new version
• Followed by redesign once upgrade migration is complete
• Recommended approach
Application Upgrade Options

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Approach Pro’s Con’s
As-is Least amount of Risk No improvements offered
Shortest timeline; straight-forward data
validation
Incurred cost with little to no
value realization
Least amount of Change Management
Redesign Full redesign effort for maximum gain in
functionality
Highest Change Management
effort
Higher return on investment Highest Risk level
Hybrid Initial As-is phase offers low risk, focused
upgrade validation
Longest timeline
Following redesign takes advantage of new
version functionality and improvements to
identified shortcomings
Equivalent to two projects –
replicating many project
phases
Phased approach offers opportunities for
quick wins and eases Change Management
Application Upgrade Options

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• Other HFM Related Project Considerations:
– Open the discussions to expand the Custom Dimension use
• Data Nature/Type and Data Source are now widely used
• Extending Exchange Rate comparisons and projections is another optional use
• Other Business Defined categories such as Cost Centers/Departments, Products, Channels,
Divisions, Customer, Geography offer more value within the consolidation process
– Common Questions
• What are the negatives of moving beyond the 4 Custom dimensions?
– All HFM artifacts and connection points will require rework within the scope of the project .
» Financial Reporting and Smart View reports will need rework for the added Custom dimensions
» FDM requires rework to adjust for the additional Custom dimensions
» HFM components, i.e. Grids, Entry Forms, Rules, etc… will require rework for the added Custom dimensions
• Should we add some extra empty but held for future use Custom dimensions?
– HFM delivers functionality to later add Custom dimensions to an existing application so this can be done at a later
date as needed, BUT …. adding extra Custom dimension at the start of the build offers many advantages should they
be needed later.
– For all the points mentioned in the first question, if an additional Custom dimension is needed later – and an empty
dimension already exists within the application, changes to Reports, FDM and HFM components will be minimal
compared to adding a new Custom dimension after-the-fact.
Application Upgrade Redesign

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• Other HFM Related Project Considerations:
– Consider Redesign of the Entity and Account Dimension
• With the Entity dimension having the biggest impact on application performance, consider
redefining this hierarchy. For example, moving lower level sub-division members into a
Custom dimension where available may increasing overall performance
• Where sub-accounts were often built into the Account dimension due to the lack of
availability elsewhere, these can now be moved into a Custom dimension offering more
flexibility inherent in the multi-dimensionality of HFM
– Common Questions
• What are the negatives of moving Entity and/or Account members to a Custom dimension?
– Careful consideration must be given to the move of Entity members to a Custom dimension due to the system
functionalities available within the Entity dimension. For example, the Entity dimension has foreign currency and
intercompany elimination properties that are not a component of the Custom dimension attributes.
– Again thorough consideration must also be given to moving Account members to a Custom dimension due to
possible loss of system functionalities available within the Account dimension attributes. Account properties
include smart account Type attributes, intercompany elimination components, Custom Top Member controls, etc…
that would be lost with the move to a Custom dimension.

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• Other General Project Considerations:
– Investigate offerings of other “EPM” products with a higher birds-eye
perspective
• Account Reconciliation Management, Tax Provisioning and Disclosure Management for
example inside Financial Close Management
• HPCM, HSF and Essbase/Planning as an example of those outside of FCM
– Consider the Improved Data Integration technologies
• EAL for HFM to Essbase movement
• EPM Data Sync between applications
• Enhanced Extended Analytics functionality
– Explore Additional Reporting Capabilities being offered with each release
• Smart View continues to offer more functionalities with each release
• OFMA and Mobility options are expanding for the on-the-go staff

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• You can upgrade your applications either using system schema
based conversion utilities or manually by extracting application
objects and importing them into 11.1.2.3.
• Direct upgrade paths exist from 11.1.1.4 and 11.1.2.x.
• Removed 9.3.3 and 11.1.1.3 as options for existing Hyperion
versions you can run schema upgrades from.
• Clients on 9.3.3 or 11.1.1.0 – 11.1.1.3 will need to do an interim
step of first upgrading to 11.1.2.2 or 11.1.1.4 before then
upgrading to 11.1.2.3.
Supported Upgrade Paths

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• Expected Compatibility with latest patches :
– Currently, version 11.1.2.3 does not include third party support for Windows
8, Windows Server 2012, Internet Explorer 10, Office 2013, SQL Server 2012
RDBMS and Oracle 12c RDBMS
– Based on our understanding, Oracle will release two separate patches to
11.1.2.3 to provide support on these items
• Smart View will receive a PSU that will provide compatibility and support for Office 2013.
• The EPM application will receive a PSU that will provide the remaining third party
compatibility and support for IE 10, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, SQL Server 2012
RDBMS and Oracle 12c RDBMS. Our understanding is this will be targeted for December
2013 or January 2014.
• Smart View 11.1.2.5 has been released and we are working with this version now.
– Chrome and Safari are still unsupported browser clients and it is expected
they will not receive support in this release.
11.1.2.3 Upgrade Compatibility

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• Are you an existing FDM user?
• Yes - Would recommend upgrading to version 11.1.2.3 to install FDM and
FDM EE. With 11.1.2.3 you would not have to convert to FDM EE but you
would in future releases.
• No, but plan to use FDM - Implement 11.1.2.3 to have both FDM and FDM
EE and choose based on needs and FDM EE readiness.
• No – N/A to your version decision
• Will your company roll out Windows 8 or IE 10 in the next 1 – 3
years?
• Yes – Go with version 11.1.2.3 to get PSU later this year with this support.
• No – N/A to your version decision and can use either 11.1.2.2 or 11.1.2.3.
11.1.2.2 or 11.1.2.3 Version Decision Tree

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• Do you want to use Windows Server 2012, SQL Server 2012 and /
or Oracle 12c RDBMS?
• Yes – Go with 11.1.2.3. You will need to wait to begin your upgrade until
after the PSU is released to support these items.
• Do you own or plan to own Financial Close Management (FCM) for
use with either FCM or Account Reconciliation Module (ARM)?
• Yes – Go with version 11.1.2.3 to get some additional functionality in ARM.
Version Decision Tree Cont.

Our Experiences

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• Bugs, Bugs, Bugs … sample list of our findings
Current 11.1.2.3 Project Experiences
Product Issue Solution/Workaround
HFM
Data Sync of EPMA application. Error shown in the transaction log:
FMConnector: Query processing failed - exception:
EPMA_DS_READ_DATA. PSU .100
HFM System messages not displayed in chronological order
PSU .200. Workaround - scroll down to the point where
the system has to “fetch data”, then scrolling back up to
the top sets the messages back in order
HFM WDE forms - cannot select member properties in the designer Still under investigation by Oracle
HFM Certain forms not displaying data when pov - period or year changed
1.) Had to disable proxy on web server
2.) Had to change LAN settings to disable "Automatically
check for settings" option
HFM An unknown error has occurred in the HsvDSDataCube2 object. PSU .100
HFM
Users cannot see ongoing consolidations using the Running Tasks option
within the HFM app. Workaround is to go to the Running Tasks option
within Consolidation Administration.
Initially was told by Oracle it's a bug and will be fixed with
PSU 100.
Later was told by Oracle it's working as intended.
HFM
When an overlapping consolidation is started, users aren't notified that
the consolidation will overlap with another running consolidation. PSU .100
FDM Adapter function [fConnect] failed (FDM)
Oracle instructed to register each server as an individual
cluster and the HFMSERVER<username>.txt files were
deleted from FDM Outbox folder. However, users now
see too many choices under HFM - HFMCluster plus each
individual server.
FR ADM Errors when Period Offset function is used PSU .100
FR PDF view the bold formatting shows same as regular text - not dark. Still under investigation
FR PDF view some subtotals truncated when values are negative. Still under investigation
SV Linked form not working properly within Smart View PSU .100

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• Expected Out -> PSU 100:
– Many 11.1.2.3.000 “bugs”
fixed with this .100 Patch
Set Update
– Many had been identified
with the 11.1.2.2 version
even before 11.1.2.3.000
was released
– But more still to come …
Upcoming PSU 200 is
stated to be IE 10
compatible

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• In summary:
– We have 6 concurrent projects today developing in the 11.1.2.3
release – and others moving forward in the very near future
– With these numerous project experiences working in the new
11.1.2.3 release we have found no show stoppers and many valuable
enhancements – fixing some application bugs but also adding new
functionality throughout the EPM suite to offer an even more
comprehensive and robust financial solution
– So yes … for most customers this is the right choice. Jump right in!

- 49 -
Questions?
Email us for a
copy of the slides or
link to the recording
http://www.finitsolutions.com/webinar.html
Thank you for attending!
- > Sue Lewis
slewis@finitsolutions.com
- > Insights@finitsolutions.com
- > General Questions
 Greg Barrett
(gbarrett@finitsolutions.com)
 Joe Mizerk
(jmizerk@finitsolutions.com)

Getting the Most out of EPM: Insight and Considerations related to upgrading and converting to Version 11.1.2.3 for FDM & HFM

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Getting the Most out of EPM: Insight and Considerations related to upgrading and converting to Version 11.1.2.3 for FDM & HFM