Planning

Oracle PBCS – EPMAutomate v15.08 Encryption now available

Hello all,

Quick update.

EPMAutomate version 15.08 includes password encryption.

You may need to upgrade, but it is worth it.

Run the command to encrypt the password and store it in a file.

Update your script(s) by replacing the hard-coded password or the variable to point to the password file (path and file).

Syntax per Oracle documentation:

epmautomate encrypt P@ssword1 myKey C:\mySecuredir\password.epw

It actually works!!

Encrypt

Screenshot with password reference in a script:

Ecrypt1

Check the URL for details:

http://docs.oracle.com/cloud/latest/pbcs_common/CSPGS/apbs05s01.html

Regards,

Scott Williams

Oracle PBCS – Data Load Toolset #2 – Export & Import Data/Meta Data through the web interface

Hello,

Welcome to installment #2 in my series on loading data to Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service (PBCS).

In this installment I will cover the exporting and importing of both data and meta data to PBCS from flat files through the web interface.

Series:

Installment #1 – Smart View to load data and meta data

Installment #2 – Export Data/Meta Data and Import Data/Meta data from the web interface

Installment #3 – FDMEE data loads

Installment #4 – Automated loads

Data and Meta Data:

I will cover four topics:

  1. Meta Data Export
  2. Meta Data Import
  3. Data Export
  4. Data Import

——————-Meta Data——————-

Meta Data Export

Meta Data can be extracted from the web into a file.

Helpful hint: If I need to load Meta Data from file and I don’t know the file layout I will run an extract to get it.

Exporting Meta Data is very simple.

In this example I am using the Standard (soon to be legacy) Interface instead of the Simplified Interface.

MetaExport1

Select the Dimension and then run it.
MetaExport2

The file is saved to the default directory for downloads defined in my web browser.

MetaExport3

File layout (and template for load)

MetaExport4

Meta Data Import

(Using the file I just exported)

Edit and save the file.

MetaImport1

Select Import Metadata from File

MetaImport2

  1. Select the Dimension to import.
  2. Map to the file to load.
  3. Then Validate to verify syntax.

MetaImport3

Run the load:

MetaImport4

Summary of results are displayed.

MetaImport5

Errors can be viewed by clicking on the “View Status” button.

MetaImport6

MetaImport7

Also with a Meta Data load, you need to remember to refresh Essbase..
MetaImport9

MetaImport10

MetaImport11

——————-Data——————-

Exporting Data

Exporting data is almost as simple as exporting meta data.

Helpful hint: If I need to load data from file and I don’t know the file layout I will run an extract.

Leveraging the Simplified Interface:

DataExport1

The Create button allows me to create a job or one time process.

DataExport2

On the options screen if I select “Planning Outbox” as my Location, then I can save this process as a Job. If I intend to run this process through the scheduler or scripting then I need to save this as a Job.  I will cover the use of jobs and automation in installment #4.

I selected “Local” which tells PBCS that I want to save the file to my computer.

Straight forward selection:

  • Plan types
  • File Type – Delimiter

DataExport3

Selecting the dimension members is a little more involved.

DataExport4

You can select members or use functions.

DataExport6

From the screen shot below you can tell that I selected “Level 0 Descendants” by looking n the left hand panel.

DataExport7

The Point of View selection:

Go through each tab for the remaining dimensions and select the member(s) &/or function(s).

DataExport12

The main page shows all member and function selections.

DataExport8

Then Export

DataExport9

File is downloaded to my computer.

DataExport10

Output:

DataExport13

Importing Data

Finally we load a data file through the web.

Navigate to the Console:

DataImport1

Under Actions select Import Data

DataImport2

Select Create

DataImport3a

Import Data Options:

Location:

Local – Allows you to map to a file. You will use this more often when doing a manual load.

Planning Inbox – The planning inbox is a location on the cloud. You would need to load your data there prior to running a manual load. I used the inbox for automation.

Source Type: There are different file layouts. Screens shots are pasted below.

Planning layout

Note: Able to choose delimiter

DataImport5

Sample Layout

Note:

  • 1 dimension on rows
  • 1 dimension on columns
  • The rest of the dimensions are assigned POV.

DataImport6

Essbase layout

Note: The delimiter option is gone.

Unhelpful hint: We are no longer able to export data in the Essbase layout.  Which tells me that there is a chance that it may not be supported layout for load in the future.

DataImport7

Each column represents a dimension.

DataImport8

This is an “out of the box” currency application, which is why HSP_InputValue is present in the Essbase file load.

Loading the data:

After selection the Location, Source Type then select the file for load.

DataImport10a

DataImport10

Run the Validate step to verify file syntax.

DataImport12

Select the Import button to begin the load process.

DataImport13

Viewing status of a load:

The status of the file load can be viewed by selecting the Jobs tab (left hand panel).

DataImport14

The Validate and Import Data are visible on the right hand side.

DataImport15

If there is an error the status will read Error. Click on the item to view the errors.DataImport17

Errors are displayed in the following format.

I hope you found this installment informative and helpful.

Coming soon FDMEE on PBCS.

Regards,

Scott Williams

Oracle PBCS – Data Load Toolset – Smart View to load data and meta data

Hello,

Welcome to installment #1 in my series on loading data to Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service (PBCS).

In this series I will cover the current Oracle supported methods for loading data and meta data to PBCS.

How do we load data to the cloud?

  • We either input data or load a file.

Can we source from a table or view?

  • At this time we either input data directly or load a file.

Let me show you the options.

Installment #1 – Smart View to load data and meta data

Installment #2 – Export Data/Meta Data and Import Data/Meta data from the web interface

Installment #3 – FDMEE data loads

Installment #4 – Automated loads

Series 1 – Smart View

Direct loads:
Depending on your application size manual maintenance may be the most efficient.

The Oracle Smart View add-in for MS Excel is an extremely powerful tool for both users and administrators.

Meta Data (Administrators only)

1. Select the dimension(s) to edit

SmartViewDim1

2. Make your updates

Updates:

  • Parent/Child layout
  • Type or past in member names
  • Active drop down menus for selecting member properties

Advantages:

  • Move members just by changing the parent in the spreadsheet
  • Create alternate hierarchies

Current Smart View limitations (These task can be completed through the web interface):

  • Attribute assignment
  • Member renaming
  • Member deletion

SmartViewDim2

Member Properties drop down menu.

PropertySmartView

3. Submit the updates to the relational database

SmartViewDim4

4. Don’t forget to refresh the Essbase application

SmartViewDim3

Data (Administrators and Users)

Data can be entered through Forms and Ad hoc connections.

1. Select your vehicle for data entry

Open a Web Form (data entry template)

  • Forms may have Business Rules attached to them.  (Be sure  you know your companies business process for data entry)

Or create your own input sheet using Ad hoc analysis.

SmartViewDim5

2. Enter the data

Since this is a planning connection we can enter data and non-numerical data.

SmartViewDim7

3. You need to Submit

SmartViewDim4

This is the end of this installment.

Coming soon:

Installment #2 – Export Data/Meta Data and Import Data/Meta data from the web interface

Installment #3 – FDMEE data loads

Installment #4 – Automated loads

Best Regards,

Scott Williams