Oracle WebADI as “Automation Tool”

Overview
WebADI is a web based browser application which helps in integrating the desktop applications MS Word, MS Excel and MS Projects with Oracle E-Business. WebADI increases the productivity as the user need not change the user interface which are familiar to the user. Scope of this blog is to highlight 2 scenarios which helped users in reducing manual tasks using WebADI.

Advantages of WebADI

• Data exchange between the server and client application happens through HTML.
• MS Excel features like writing formulas, generating graphs and altering data can be used.
• Data values can be validated against Oracle EBS.
• Need not install any software in the client machines.
• Multiple sheets also supported from R12.
• Supports Single Sign on.

Web ADI Profile Options

• BNE Allow Set Parameters: If set to “NO” then users will not be able to use the upload parameters window.
• BNE Disable: Set to “Yes” to disable Web ADI functionality.
• BNE Document Lifetime: Specifies the time frame the Web ADI spreadsheet can be reused again to connect to E-Business Suite.

Scenario 1

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Problem Description:

Client was using Oracle Financial 11i version for all of their core financial business process. Testing team was having issue with adding the list of responsibility after every clone. Testing team users hardly have 2 or 3 responsibilities in production compared to the development environment where they have around 30 responsibilities. Issue was not only with the testing team but with the complete development team.

Solution:
1. Define Integrator using the package BNE_INTEGRATOR_UTILS.CREATE_INTEGRATOR
2. Associate Form Functions with Integrator. Web ADI will check if the user has access to the form functions using package BNE_SECURITY_UTILS_PKG
3. Create interface using BNE_INTEGRATOR_UTILS.CREATE_INTERFACE_FOR_API to attach a PLSQL procedure which calls the FND_USER_RESP_GROUPS_API to load the responsibility.
4. Create Interface Columns for every parameter used in the PLSQL procedure.
5. Define the layout for the user with the required information like “Responsibility Name”, “Start Date”.
6. Define the mapping to map the columns between the Spreadsheet and the PLSQL procedure.
7. Save the work.

Result:
Users can now maintain an excel sheet with the list of responsibilities with the “Start Date” and “End date”. After every clone users can run the webADI to get back their responsibilities in no time (reduces manual/repeated task).

Scenario 2

Problem Description:

Client is a big online transaction company where we have around 30 Order types in sales order. Every month there will be some changes on the order process program, OM Order workflow or the reports which are sent to customers. Functional users have to take the pain of creating sample orders for all the 30 order types to make sure the existing business functionality is not disturbed due to the change in the code done by technical team.

Solution:

1. Define Integrator using the package BNE_INTEGRATOR_UTILS.CREATE_INTEGRATOR
2. Associate Form Functions with Integrator. Web ADI will check if the user has access to the form functions using package BNE_SECURITY_UTILS_PKG
3. Create interface using BNE_INTEGRATOR_UTILS.CREATE_INTERFACE_FOR_API to attach a PLSQL procedure which calls the custom package to validate and load the data in the Sales Order interface.
a. PLSQL procedure will move the data to the staging table.
b. After successful validation of the data. Add a new row in excel with “Record Type” as “I” to call the standard oracle   order import process.
4. Define the layout.
5. Define the mapping to map the columns between the Spreadsheet and the PLSQL procedure.
6. Save the work.

Result:

Functional user team work was reduced by 80% as they were able to create the orders using the webADI and validate the business process more quickly.