1. Forms and OA Framework Personalization
Examples in R11i/R12
Presented By
Susan Behn
VP, Oracle Practice
Central States OAUG Spring 2011 St. Louis Conference
2. 2
Agenda
• Why
– Business Benefit
• What
– Overview of Personalization Tools
• How
– Forms Personalization Examples
– OA Framework Personalization Examples
– Migration to other instances
• References
3. 3
Business Benefit – $aves Money!
Implement security policies
Less
Development
Time
Reduce
Audit Costs
Reduce
Processing
Time
Adapt terminology to your
business without coding
Attach extensions ‒
seamless processing power
Speed up data entry ‒
move or eliminate fields
Add validations ‒
reduced error correction
Reduce
Upgrade Costs
Reduce
Training Time
Declarative Menu Driven Tools
Business User Friendly
Survives patching
4. 4
Overview
• Personalizations – declaratively alter
behavior or appearance using tools
provided by Oracle
• Personalization Tools
– Forms personalizations
• Professional Forms 6i or 10g
– OA Framework Personalizations
– CUSTOM.pll
• Programmatic tool prior to 11.5.10
• Professional forms only
5. 5
Overview – Forms Personalization
• Requires superuser with some sql skills
• Survive patching and upgrades
– Includes post patch/upgrade validation process
• Most changes traditionally done using
CUSTOM.pll can be accomplished using Forms
Personalization
• Effective immediately – no coding, no compiling
• Forms Personalizations fire prior to CUSTOM.pll
for the same event
6. 6
Overview – Forms Personalizations
What you can do?
• Speed up data entry and processing
– Hide fields, tabs
– Change order of fields
– Set default values
– Call other forms or web address from tool bar
– Execute processes from tool bar
• Improve security and audit controls
– Make fields required
– Restrict insert or update
• Adapt to your business rules/self training
– Change prompts and labels
– Alter List of Values (LOVs)
7. 7
Overview – OA Framework Personalizations
• OA Framework Personalization is for self-
service applications
– Introduced with 11.5.9
• Apply Patch 3323690
– Standard with 11.5.10 and Release 12
• Requires functional superuser
– Minimal technical expertise required
8. 8
Overview – OA Framework Personalizations
What you can do?
• Speed up data entry and processing
– Reorder Columns
– Hide Columns
– Set Initial Values
• Improve security and audit controls
– Remove Buttons
– Change Field Attributes – make fields required
• Adapt to your business rules/self training
– Change Page and Section Headers
– Change Field and Column Names
– Change Button Names
– Add Items (Buttons, Fields, Tips and more)
10. 10
Setup – Profile Options – Form
Personalizations
• Hide Diagnostics menu entry
– Set to No to see the menu
• Utilities: Diagnostics
– Set to No to require apps password
13. 13
Forms Personalization – Condition Tab
• Trigger event determines when the rule fires
– Use standard trigger events (next slide)
– Use specific events unique to the form (With Caution)
• Find additional events using Help àDiagnostics àCustom Code
àShow Custom Events
• Trigger object depends on trigger event
– WHEN-NEW-BLOCK-INSTANCE requires block name
14. 14
Forms Personalization - Standard Trigger Events
• WHEN-NEW-FORM-INSTANCE
– Security rules, Navigation rules, Visual attributes
• WHEN-NEW-BLOCK-INSTANCE
– Same as WHEN-NEW-FORM-INSTANCE
– Message rules
• WHEN-NEW-RECORD-INSTANCE
– Default values
• WHEN-NEW-ITEM-INSTANCE
– Message rules
– Default values dependent on entry of another
item
15. 15
Forms Personalization - Standard Trigger Events
• WHEN-VALIDATE-RECORD
– Populate hidden fields
– Additional validations
• SPECIALn
– Populate tools menu (SPECIAL 1-15)
– Populate reports menu (SPECIAL 16-30)
– Populate actions menu (SPECIAL 31-45)
• MENUn
– Populate tools menu (MENU1-15)
16. 16
Forms Personalization – Condition Tab
• Condition
– Optional SQL code fragment to limit scope of rule
– Use bind variables (:block.field)
– Evaluates to true or false – use for complex
validation
17. 17
Forms Personalization – Context
• Who does this rule apply to?
Site
Responsibility
User ‒ Use this for
testing rules
Industry (For future use) Tip: For initial
development, set
context to your user
id
18. 18
Forms Personalization - Property Actions
• Sequence – non unique (1 – 100)
• Type – property, message, built-in, menu
• Description – (Optional)
• Language – use to change prompts for language
Prompts change
depending on
action type
19. 19
Example #1 – Display Message
• What
– GL Journal Entry – Remind users to change the
period name the first 20 days of the fiscal year
• Why
– During year end close, the final period is open
longer resulting in mistakes
– Save time and money by reducing errors
– Reduce time for training through use of
automated messages
20. 20
Example #1 – Display Message
• How
Message appears
Feb 1 ‒ Feb 20 every
year
Condition is checked when the user
accesses the journal name field
Enter
header
details
21. 21
Example #1 – Display Message
• Message Types
– Show – Informational Message
– Hint – Appear on status bar
– Error – Requires user response – raises form_trigger_failure
– Debug – Only displays if debug mode is set to Show Debug
Messages
– Warn – Informational message with caution symbol – raises
form_trigger_failure
Action type
= message
22. 22
Example #1 – Display Message
• Result
Click OK to
continue
23. 23
Example #2 – Data Access Restrictions
• What
– Restrict users from entering or retrieving their
own invoice
• Why
– Audit control
– Theft prevention
• How
– Requires minimal SQL skills
24. 24
Example #2 – Data Access Restrictions
• Enter header and condition tab details
– WHEN-NEW-BLOCK-INSTANCE for the invoice
block controls access at the invoice level.
25. 25
Example #2 – Data Access Restrictions
• Change the default where clause to prevent
retrieval of employee invoices based on user id
vendor_id NOT IN
(SELECT vendor_id
FROM po_vendors pv ,
fnd_user fusr
WHERE fusr.user_id = fnd_profile.value('USER_ID')
AND fusr.employee_id = pv.employee_id )
26. 26
Example #3 – Menu Entries
• What
– Create a menu item to display the invoice id
• Why
– Access to invoice id makes workflow and
invoice approval troubleshooting faster
27. 27
Example #3 – Menu Entries
• How - Step 1 – establish the menu entry
• Trigger Event = WHEN-NEW-FORM-INSTANCE
Use WHEN-NEW-FORM-
INSTANCE for visual changes
Such as establishing menu entries
28. 28
Example #3 – Menu Entries
• Menu action type only displays the menu
Note Menu
Entry # for
step 2
29. 29
Example #3 – Menu Entries
• Step 2 – create the action for the menu entry
– Trigger Event = MENU# chosen in step 1
30. 30
Example #3 – Menu Entries
• Step 2 – create the action for the menu entry
Use validate button to
check sql fragment
33. 33
Another Example – Menu Entries
• What
– Create invoice tax distributions for use tax for invoices where
sales tax was not charged
• Why
– Less manual processing saves money
• Reduces data entry time
• Eliminates calculation errors
• How
– Create a PL/SQL procedure which uses Oracle standard APIs to
calculate and create distributions
– Call procedure from menu item with Execute a Procedure Builtin
34. 34
Example #4 – Masking Data
• What
– Mask the tax id (11i)
• Supplier form has moved to OA Framework in R12
• Why
– Compliance
• Secure sensitive data
35. 35
Example #4 – Masking Data
• How - Change form appearance at
WHEN-NEW-FORM-INSTANCE trigger
36. 36
Example #4 – Masking Data
• CONCEAL_DATA = TRUE - replaces data with *
• DISPLAYED = FALSE – hides field completely
Use Select By
Text button to
find correct
object by prompt
Don t need to
know object
name
38. 38
Example #5 – Changing LOVs
• What
– Remove Taxpayer ID from List of Values
(LOVs) for find window
• Why
– Compliance
• Secure Sensitive Data
– Adapt to business/Reduce training time
• Limit LOVs to only display data applicable to
business
39. 39
Example #5 – Changing LOVs
• Taxpayer ID is also on LOVs for find windows
40. 40
Example #5 – Changing LOVs
• HOW – Use Create a new record group Builtin
Must have the same
number of fields as
existing Record group
41. 41
Example #5 – Changing LOVs
• Assign the new record group to the LOV used for
Supplier name
Record group
created in
previous slide
42. 42
Example #5 – Changing LOVs
• Result
• Additional steps
– Mask the tax id on the find window
– Replace the tax id with the end date for the supplier
number LOV
43. 43
Other Process Improvement Features
• Utilize the following Builtins to improve process flows
– Launch SRS Form – runs concurrent request
– Launch a Function – call another form
– Launch a URL – call any web page
– DO_KEY
• DO_KEY(‘NEXT_BLOCK’) will force query execution for find window
– GO_ITEM, GO_BLOCK – change navigation
• Use to prevent update to a field where navigation is needed to populate
– EXECUTE_TRIGGER
• Execute form trigger, not database trigger
• Use after setting default values to ensure internal code executes
44. 44
Forms Personalization – Tips
• Exit and re-open the form to see
personalization changes
• Use debug messages before and after
events
• Apply Now button - see the results
– Does not always work if dependant on the results
of another action
• Turn custom code off - Help à Diagnostics
à Custom Code à Off
45. 45
Forms Personalization Maintenance
• After upgrades, go to the personalization for each form
and choose Tools à Validate All
• Tools à Administration will show personalized forms
– Press the Find button with the Form Name blank
47. 47
Setup – Profile Options – OA Framework
Personalizations
• Personalize Self-Service Defn
– Yes to allow ‘Personalize’ button to appear at the top of the page
• FND: Personalization Region Link Enabled
– Yes to display all the regional links above each region
– Minimal to display key regional links
• Disable Self-Service Personal
– Yes will disable all personalizations at any level
• FND: Diagnostics
– Turns on ‘About this Page’
• FND: Personalization Document Root Path (new in 11.5.10)
– Required to migrate personalizations
– Set this profile option to a tmp directory with open (777) permissions
49. 49
OA Framework Examples
• Remove a button
• Change prompts
• Hide/reorder columns in a table
• Set initial values
• Display a field
50. 50
Example #6 – Remove a button
• What
– Remove the Import Spreadsheet button in iExpenses for a
separate responsibility where iExpenses is utilized for
procurement card transactions
• Why – Process Improvement
– Adapt to your own business processes without customization
• Importing Spreadsheets is not applicable to this business function
– No cash or out of pocket transactions for procurement cards
• More details: Using Personalizations to Give Your Self
Service Applications a Custom Look and Feel
– http://www.solutionbeacon.com/
PersonalizationsOpenWorld2008.pdf
51. 51
Example #6 – Remove a button
• How – Click Personalize Page button
Start with
Personali
ze Page
52. 52
Example #6 – Remove a button
• Biggest challenge – finding the item to personalize
– Simple View
– Complete View
– Expand All
– <ctrl> F
– Collapse All
– Focus
53. 53
Example #6 – Remove a button
• My favorite – expand all and use <crtl> F
Click pencil to
edit
54. 54
Example #6 – Remove a button
• Set rendered = false and click Apply
button
Options for
personalization
change based on
object type
55. 55
Example #6 – Remove a button results
• Click the Return to Application button
Button is gone
Shown column is
now null since
rendered = false
56. 56
Personalization Levels / Inheritance
• Personalizations at lower levels override
personalizations at higher levels
• Values inherit the definition from the level
immediately above unless changed
• Order of precedence from highest to lowest:
– Function
– Site
– Operating Unit
– Responsibility
57. 57
Example #7 – Change Prompts
• What
– Change Id to Notification Id
• Why
– Clarify description of field
– Eliminate confusion
– Less training
Tip: Changing prompts to your own business terminology
speeds up training of new employees and reduces error
rates!
58. 58
Example #7 – Change Prompts
• How
– Click the Personalize Page button and find the
Id using <ctrl> F
59. 59
Example #7 – Change Prompts
• How - Click the pencil
Click pencil to
edit
60. 60
Example #7 – Change Prompts
• How – Change the prompt at the site level
Site Level
Personalization
62. 62
Example #8 – Hide/Reorder
Columns in a table
• What
– Hide the Duplicate column to prevent users from
duplicating expense reports
– Reorder columns
• Why
– Hastily duplicating expense reports increased
error rates
– For the procurement card usage of iExpenses,
this functionality did not apply
– Reorder columns to match desired data entry flow
for faster entry
63. 63
Example #8 – Hide/Reorder
Columns in a table
• How
– Click the Personalize Page button
– Use strategies on next slide to find the
Duplicate column
64. 64
Example #8 – Hide/Reorder
Columns in a table
• The button to duplicate is called a Switcher
– Switchers allow users to “switch” to another
function
• Finding tip
– Look for other columns in the table if searching
for a common word
• Report Total
• Purpose
Click
pencil
to edit
65. 65
Example #8 – Hide/Reorder
Columns in a table
Set Rendered
= false
Duplicate
column is gone
66. 66
Example #8 – Hide/Reorder
Columns in a table
• Find the table to reorder table columns
– Turn on region links to find tables easier
Click the reorder
icon at the table
level
67. 67
Example #8 – Hide/Reorder
Columns in a table
• Check personalization level
• Use arrows to move fields up or down
68. 68
Example #9 – Set Initial Values
• What
– Set the initial value for the Purpose at the
Responsibility level as follows:
• Expense report responsibilities
– Purpose = ‘Internet Expenses’
• Procurement card responsibilities
– Purpose = “Procurement card”
• Why
– Save time
• Streamline data entry
69. 69
Example #9 – Set Initial Values
• How
– In the appropriate responsibility, click the
Personalize Page button
70. 70
Example #9 – Set Initial Values
• Set the initial value based on the
responsibility
71. 71
Example #10 – Add Item
• What
– Add Tips to provide additional instructions
– Add a tip to direct users to the corporate
receiving training application
• Why
– Make new users self sufficient
– Reduce training costs
– Reduce errors
72. 72
Example #10 – Add Item
• How – First create the text for the Tip through
the Functional Administrator responsibility
73. 73
Example #10 – Add Item
• Go to the receiving page where the tip is
to be added and click Personalize Page
74. 74
Example #10 – Add Item
• Find the item for tips and click the create
item button
Click to create new items
such as buttons, text,
messages, tips, raw text
75. 75
Example #10 – Add Item
• Enter the
item style,
id, Text to
identify the
tip and the
message
name for
the
message
created
77. 77
Customizations and Personalizations
Customizations or Personalizations, whether they are
protected or non protected, allow you to fundamentally
change the behavior of the application.
This could interfere with intended
functionality.
Use with caution!
TEST! TEST! TEST! TEST! TEST!
WARNING
79. 79
Migration to Other Instances
Forms Personalizations
• Download for a specific form:
– FNDLOAD <userid>/<password> 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/
patch/115/import/affrmcus.lct <filename.ldt>
FND_FORM_CUSTOM_RULES form_name=<form name>
• Download all personalizations
– FNDLOAD <userid>/<password> 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/
patch/115/import/affrmcus.lct <filename.ldt>
FND_FORM_CUSTOM_RULES
• Upload
– FNDLOAD <userid>/<password> 0 Y UPLOAD $FND_TOP/
patch/115/import/affrmcus.lct <filename.ldt>
80. 80
Migration to Other Instances
OA Framework Personalizations
• Migrate OA Framework Personalizations from the
Functional Administrator Responsibility
– Export to directory defined in FND: Personalization Document
Root Path
– FTP to target instance
– Import from Document Root Path directory
81. 81
Summary
• Personalizations reduce customizations
• Personalizations are easy to implement
• Personalizations can save you money
– Less customizations result in lower maintenance
cost and lower patching/upgrade costs
– Increase compliance reducing audit cost
– Speed up data entry
– Decrease error rates
– Reduce training costs
– Make users self sufficient
82. 82
References
• Oracle Application Framework Personalization Guide
• Oracle Applications User Interface Standards for Forms-
Based Products
• Oracle Applications Developer’s Guide
• Oracle Applications System Administrator’s Guide
• Oracle Applications User Guide
• My Oracle Support ID: 279034.1 – Forms
Personalization
83. 83
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