5 Overview of Functional Configuration in Oracle BI Applications

This section includes an overview of how to configure Oracle Business Intelligence Applications, and contains the following topics:

• Section 5.1, "Terminology"
• Section 5.2, "Overview of BI Applications Configuration Manager and Functional Setup Manager"
• Section 5.3, "Getting Started With Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager"
• Section 5.4, "About Users and Roles in Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager"
• Section 5.5, "About Setup Objects in Configuration Manager"
• Section 5.6, "About Functional Setup Tasks in FSM"
• Section 5.7, "About the Main Task Areas in Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager"
• Section 5.8, "About the Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager Work Area"

5.1 Terminology

This section lists terminology that relates to configuration in Oracle Business Intelligence Applications.

• Source Instance - The name given by the BI Applications Administrator to the Fusion Applications transactional system that serves as the source of data for the Oracle Business Analytics Warehouse. A Source Instance is registered in the System Setups > Define BI Applications Instance > Source Systems screen of BI Applications Configuration Manager.
• BI Application Offering - The BI Application product you have purchased. For example, Oracle Financial Analytics or Oracle Sales Analytics. A BI Application Offering can have one or more Modules and Functional Areas.
• Functional Area - A component part of a BI Application Offering. For example, Workforce Effectiveness, Leave & Accrual, Workforce Development are Functional Areas in Oracle Human Resources Analytics. A Functional Area is the smallest unit of a BI Application Offering that can be implemented.
• BI Application Module - A component part of a Functional Area. One or more BI Application Modules may comprise a BI Application Offering. For example, the Oracle Financial Analytics Fusion Edition offering consists of the Financial Analytics module and the Employee Expense functional area from Procurement and Spend Analytics module.

5.2 Overview of BI Applications Configuration Manager and Functional Setup Manager

Functional Configuration for Oracle Business Intelligence Applications is done using the following tools:

• BI Applications Configuration Manager:
  • Contains the setup objects for Oracle BI Applications.
  • Provides administrative GUIs for BI Applications Setup and Configuration
  • Recommended for on going administration and maintenance of functional setups.
  • Quick review of the setup values and for troubleshooting.

  For more detailed information about BI Applications Configuration Manager, see Section 5.2.1, "What is Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager?" .

  • Configuration Manager leverages FSM to provide Task based implementation, with guided set of sequenced tasks and dependency management.
  • Provides phased implementations capability.
  • BI Applications FSM is different from the Fusion Functional Setup Manager: - BI Applications FSM Includes only the features applicable for BI applications functional setups and BI Applications specific setup tasks. - BI Applications FSM has lighter Tech stack dependencies.
  • FSM can be launched from Configuration Manager to perform functional configurations.
  • FSM is recommended for initial implementation.
  • FSM invokes BI Applications Configuration Manager UI for setup tasks.

  For more detailed information about BI Applications FSM, see Section 5.2.2, "What is Functional Setup Manager?" .

  5.2.1 What is Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager?

  Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager is a Web application for setting up and maintaining an Oracle Business Intelligence Applications environment.

  Figure 5-1 Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager Main Page

  For Functional Configuration, Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager works in conjunction with Functional Setup Manager to provide guided Tasks to configure Offerings and Functional Areas. For more information about using FSM in conjunction with Configuration Manager, see Section 6.1, "What is Functional Configuration?".

  Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager enables you to do the following:

  • Launch Functional Setup Manager to configure Offerings and Functional Areas ( for example, for Domain Mappings, Data Load Parameters, and Reporting Parameters). Functional Setup Manager provides a list of guided Tasks that enable you to configure BI Application Modules and Functional Areas. For example, a Functional Developer might use a Task named 'Set Default Continent' to set the value of DFLT_CONTINENT to 'North America'. For more information, see Chapter 6, "Performing Functional Configuration".
  • Monitor and manage setup data, and extend the data warehouse where necessary. For example, a Functional Developer might have set the value of DFLT_CONTINENT to 'North America'. If you want to change this value to 'Europe', then you might use the Manage Data Load Parameters tab in Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager to edit the value. For more information, see Section 7.2, "Roadmap for Setup Data Maintenance and Administration".
  • Migrate configuration data across environments, using the Import and Export options. For more information, see Section 7.12, "About Exporting and Importing Setup Data for Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager".

  5.2.2 What is Functional Setup Manager?

  Functional Setup Manager (FSM) enables you to manage and perform functional configuration tasks for configuring Offerings.

  FSM is installed and deployed as part of Oracle BI Applications. In FSM, you select the BI Applications Offering and Functional Areas that wish to deploy. FSM generates a list of configuration tasks specific to the Offering and Functional Area(s) that were selected. These tasks can be assigned to different functional developers and the status of the BI Applications implementation project can be monitored in FSM. Setup UIs guide functional developers through the performance of each task.

  In Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager, clicking on the Perform Functional Configurations link launches FSM.

  Figure 5-2 Performing Functional Configuration

  When you launch FSM as a user with the BI Applications Administrator role or the BI Applications Implementation Manager role and open an Implementation Project, you see the Tasks that relate the Offering being deployed by that Implementation Project.

  The example screen shot below shows the Functional Tasks for Oracle Financial Analytics.

  5.3 Getting Started With Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager

  This section explains how to log into Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager and how to access the User Assistance, Help, Documentation, and other resources that are available.

  5.3.1 About Starting Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager

  For information about how to start Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager, see Appendix A.4, "How to Start Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager".

  5.3.2 About Getting Help

  Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager provides the following Help and User Assistance features:

  • Context-sensitive Help - Click the Help icon on any dialog to view context-sensitive Help for that dialog. When the context-sensitive Help is displayed, use the Table of Contents, Index, and Search facilities to locate User Assistance on other areas of the product. Tip : To maximize the text viewing area in the Help window, use the Collapse Pane arrow to hide the tabs (see screenshot below), or use the vertical sizing bar (above the Collapse Pane arrow) to reduce the width of the tabs.
    
  • Inline Help, such as Mouse-over Tool tips - Hold the cursor over an object to view a tool-tip for that object.

  5.3.3 About Setup Data Migration in Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager

  Use the Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager Import and Export facilities to migrate your setup data across environments (for more information, Section 7.12, "About Exporting and Importing Setup Data for Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager").

  5.4 About Users and Roles in Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager

  To access Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager or Functional Setup Manager, you must log in as a user with one of the following BI Applications Duty Roles:

  • BI Applications Administrator Users with the BI Applications Administrator Duty Role have access to all Configuration Manager UIs and all FSM UIs. For Configuration Manager, only users with this duty role can perform System Setups.
  • BI Applications Developer Users with the BI Applications Functional Developer Duty Role have access to Configuration Manager UIs except for the System Setup screens. In FSM, these users have access to the list of functional setup tasks assigned to them, and can execute setup tasks (that is, using the Go to Task option in FSM).
  • BI Applications Implementation Manager Users with the BI Applications Implementation Manager Duty Role have access to the Configuration Manager Overview page and dialogs for the Export and Import of Setup Data. In FSM, these users have access to Configure Offerings and Manage Implementation Projects UIs, but they cannot execute setup tasks (that is, they do not have access to the Go to Task option in FSM).

  For more information about security in Oracle Business Intelligence Applications, refer to the security chapter in Oracle Fusion Middleware Reference Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Applications .

  5.5 About Setup Objects in Configuration Manager

  Configuration Manager data includes the following Setup objects:

  • Data Load Parameters - Parameters used to control the nature of data loaded from the transactional system into the Business Analytics Warehouse. Examples: INITIAL_EXTRACT_DATE, TIME_GRAIN.
  • Domain Mappings and Member Mappings - Maps Source column List of Values to Warehouse column List of Values. Example: Domain Maps for the Employee Dimension: COUNTRY -> W_COUNTRY.
  • Reporting Parameters - Correspond to Dynamic Repository Variables in the RPD and allow these variables to be set using BI Applications Configuration Manager. Example: FSCM_MASTER_ORG.

  5.6 About Functional Setup Tasks in FSM

  There are four types of Functional Setup Tasks in FSM:

  • Tasks to configure Data Load Parameters. For example, Example: task Configure Initial Extract Date displays Data Load Parameter INITIAL_EXTRACT_DATE.
  • Tasks to manage Domains and Mappings. Example: task Manage Domains and Member Mappings for Employee Dimension displays Domain Maps for the Employee Dimension.
  • Tasks to configure Reporting Parameters - Example, task 'Configure Reporting Parameters for Master Organization' displays Reporting Parameter FSCM_MASTER_ORG.
  • Tasks that provide information. These tasks might be:
    • Set of instructions for configurations to be performed in Informatica, DAC, RPD or elsewhere outside of Configuration Manager. These Tasks are named 'How To….'. Example, task 'How to Configure Group Account Numbers' provides instructions to complete this setup.
    • Conceptual, overview or supporting information. Example, task 'Overview of Financial Analytics Fusion Edition' provides information on the Financial Analytics offering.

    5.7 About the Main Task Areas in Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager

    Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager has the following main task areas:

    • System Setups - use this area to set up Source Systems, Target Databases, Warehouse Languages and so on.
    • Functional Configuration - use the Perform Functional Configuration link to perform Functional Configuration using Oracle Functional Setup Manager.
    • Setup Data Maintenance and Administration - use this area to monitor the configuration settings that your Functional Developers have made using Oracle Functional Setup Manager, and make changes where required. For example, a Functional Developer might have used a Task in FSM to set the value of DFLT_CONTINENT to 'North America'. If you want to change this value to 'Europe', then you might use the Manage Data Load Parameters tab in Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager to edit the value directly, instead of reassigning the Task in FSM.
    • Export and Import Configuration - use this area to backup your setup data and migrate your setup data to a separate environment.

    5.8 About the Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager Work Area

    This section explains the work area in Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager.

    5.8.1 About the Work Area

    The figure below (Figure 5-3) shows the main Tasks bar and the Functional Configuration work area for Domains and Mappings.

    To set accessibility preferences, click the Accessibility link in the top right hand corner to display the Enable Accessibility Preferences dialog. For example, you might want to display high contrast colors, or use large fonts.

    Figure 5-3 Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager Working Area

    
    a. Tasks Bar, which provides links to all BI Applications Configuration Manager options.
    b. Work Panel, which displays the currently selected option.
    c. The Perform Functional Configurations option starts FSM.
    d. Resize bar for the Tasks Pane.
    e. Collapse Tasks Pane. Tip : Use the Collapse Task Pane arrow to hide the Tasks bar and maximize the screen area for displaying the Setup Data pages.
    f. Expand/Collapse Contextual Pane arrow (for Data Load Parameters and Reporting Parameters only).
    Note : Some pages (for example, the Manage Data Load Parameters page) have an additional Contextual Pane at the right hand side that can be expanded (and resized), or collapsed. The screenshot below shows the Expand/Collapse Pane arrow in the bottom right hand corder of the work area.

    Figure 5-4 Data Load Parameters tab with Contextual Pane

    5.8.2 About the Menu Options

    Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager uses the following menus and options:

    Table 5-1 Menu Options in Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager

    Use the Actions menu to display a list of available options for the currently selected object. For example, common actions are Enable, Disable, Add, and Edit.

    Use the Detach icon to view a table tab in a separate larger pane.

    For example, use this option to view data in wide columns more easily. To re-attach a separated pane, click Detach again.

    Note : If you are editing a master-detail table, the Detach option does not detach the master-detail relationship.

    Use the View menu to select which columns to view, and re-order columns.

    5.8.3 About the Icons

    Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager uses the following icons:

    Table 5-2 Icons and Menu Options in Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager

    Use the Add icon (or + symbol) to add an object.

    For example, click the Add icon on the Define BI Applications Instance - Source Systems tab to add a new Source System.

    Set parameter value before full data load

    This icon indicates that the value of a Data Load Parameter must be set before you perform a full load of data from the source instance to the data warehouse.

    Use the Edit icon (or pencil symbol) to edit the object that is currently selected in the table.

    For example, click the Edit icon on the Define BI Applications Instance - Source Systems tab to edit the currently selected Source System details.

    Alternatively, click on the value in the Parameter Value column to edit the value.

    This icon denotes a global parameter that applies to all Offerings.

    Use this icon to display the all nodes in the domain hierarchy.

    Use this icon to display the next highest level of nodes in the domain hierarchy.

    This icon indicates that you can edit the value of the Group Specific Parameter, which overrides the value specified in the Data Load Parameters list. For more information, see Section 7.5.2.1, "About Overridable and Non-Overridable Application-Specific Parameter Values".

    This icon denotes a reporting parameter or data load parameter.

    Use this icon to display only the currently selected parent node and child nodes.

    Note : This icon is only active for child nodes.

    Read Only Parameter

    This icon indicates that you can cannot edit a parameter value in Oracle BI Applications Configuration Manager.

    This icon denotes a grouping of related parameters, for example, the Configure Time Dimension category is a group of parameters that are related to calendars.

    To expand a Parameter Category, click Expand:

    To collapse a Parameter Category, click Collapse:

    Query By Example

    Use the Query By Example icon to toggle the display of the Query By Example fields above each display column.

    When Query By Example fields are displayed, enter a value into a Query By Example field and press [Enter] to search for records that match that value. To clear a query, clear the text in the Query By Example field and press [Enter] again.

    For example, to search for parameters with names beginning with Global, type Global in the query box above a Name column, then press [Enter]. To clear the query, clear the text 'Global' from the query box above the Name column, then press [Enter].

    For more information about how to use Query By Example, see Section 5.8.4, "How to use Query By Example".

    Use the Select Date icon to toggle the Calendar pane, which enables you to select a date. For example, on the Export Setup Data tab, select January 1 2010 to display only files that were exported on that day.

    Use the Start Search icon to display parameters matching the value or wildcard specified in the adjacent text box.

    To see a tool tip for an icon, mouse-over the icon. In the example screenshot below, mousing-over the Edit icon displays the tool tip 'Edit Data Source Information'.

    5.8.4 How to use Query By Example

    Query By Example enables you to locate parameter values using a free-text search.

    To use Query By Example:

    1. If the Query By Example fields are not displayed, click the Query By Example icon (see screenshot below).
       For information about menus, see Section 5.8.3, "About the Icons"
    2. Enter a value into each Query By Example field on which you want to search. For example, to search for domains with a code beginning with 'AP', type AP into the box above the Code column (see screenshot below).
       
    3. Press [Enter] to start the query.
    4. To clear a query, clear the text in the Query By Example field and press [Enter] again.