I was always excited to know ,what product would be used by ERP vendors like SAP, Oracle..Finally after long I got the answer atlaest for Oracle, when I found Steve shared some of the information in title “Oracle’s Own E-Business Suite Global Single Instance“.

• 6 TB of data
• 8 billion rows of data
• 120 organizations
• 431 sets of books
• 340 million GL lines
• 1.1 million customers
• 300,000 vendors
• 40 million AR invoice lines
• 193,000 projects

..what else,This simply make a Oracle proud of there own product, the product that they started for ERP worldd sometime early ninties.

Infact Bret Fuller shared learning experince. You can read the details to the link mention below.
http://www.oracle.com/technology/pub/columns/fuller_global.html
http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/applications/Events/OOW-2005/S1008_Bret_Fuller.pdf

Here is the one stop place for all documentation for Oracle Application.  

http://www.oracle.com/technology/documentation/applications.html

It is well know fact the EBS Suit has includes many different APIs and integration technologies,such as PL/SQL procedures, Java classes, XML Gateway messages, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) messages, open interfaces, concurrent programs, business events,and Web services.

Beginning with Oracle E-Business Suite 11i10, Oracle introduced a comprehensive online directory of Web services, interfaces, and integration points that act as the service broker for Oracle E-Business Suite. This directory functions as a catalog of all Oracle E-Business Suite integration points, including Web services, business-tobusiness (B2B) protocols, application programming interfaces (APIs), legacy integration technologies, and business events.

Then the next question is who can benifited if this would be the source of truth for all integration project, the answer would be it is open to:

•  Customers
•  Consultants
•  Integrators

And we can conclude this as powerful user interface for searching and viewing details all available Interfaces and other API’S.

The integration repository includes screens for searching and viewing all available integration points with just a Web browser.This is link which can be point to :http://irep11i10.oracle.com

What is Data Synchronization ?

Data Synchronization is a process in which some setup data would be synchronized, and this would be more important when you are working in oracle application development/implementation project? The equally important that AOL data Migration takes place necessary to synchronize the data across databases instance during

• Installations (New desc. flex field creations etc)
• Upgrades (Apps upgrade etc)
• Maintenance (Value set changes etc)

Then… What.. FNDLOAD

Yes, that is one and only oracle solution. It can be defined as a concurrent program that can move Oracle Applications data between database and text file representations. Or this can be defined as FNDLOAD can download data from an application entity into an editable text file, which can be uploaded to another database.

How it works

Conversion between database format and text file format is specified by a configuration file. Oracle does provide confirmation file and it is important to just pass the configuration file name and then just call the loader and leave everything .The schematic visual representation of the loader is like:

What can be done?

These are the extensive list which can be done through FNDLOAD

• Concurrent Programs, Executables
• Request Groups, Request Sets
• Profile Options
• Key and Descriptive Flexfields
• Menus and Responsibilities
• Forms and Form Functions
• Attachments
• Messages
• Value Sets and Values
• Lookup Types
• User Responsibilities
• Printer Definitions
• FND Dictionary
• Help Configuration
• Document Sequences
• Concurrent Manager Schedules

Then…what are advantages when using FNDLOAD are :

1. Because downloaded data is stored in a text file, version administration is possible
2. There is nothing to worry to go to purchase because..Investment = 0$
3. No learning curve. this is relief for developer/dba’s
4. Fully supported and recommended by Oracle
5. Capture the migrations in a file and use it during installations, clones etc. to migrate in batch
6. Pin-point when something happened and where (database) easily
7. Your AOL data migration process is now simplified and streamlined – goal attained!!

And these are some Disadvantages also :

1. Applications patching mechanisms use FNDLOAD heavily – possibility of negative impact is not zero
2. UPLOAD_MODE=REPLACE only for menus
3. No validation against migrating database/instance sensitive data

The Syntax

To use FNDLOAD, the following syntax is needed.

FNDLOAD apps/appspwd 0 Y mode configfile datafile entity [parameter1…..]

As you can see, some info is needed.- First you will need to know the Apps password.

• The mode is either DOWNLOAD or UPLOAD.
• The configfile is the file that Fndload needs to download on upload data.
• T he data file is the output file, in which the downloaded data is written
• The entity is the entity you want to download,
• Parameters van is passed to download a certain Alert

Modes of Operation

This is important because it would drive the whole flow, and it always be two mode .. Upload and Download…

Example of download:

FNDLOADapps/pwd 0 Y DOWNLOAD ${FND_TOP}/patch/115/import/afcpprog.lct myfile.ldt \ PROGRAM CONCURRENT_PROGRAM_NAME= concurrent_program_short_name> APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=<application_short_name>

Example of Upload

FNDLOAD apps/pwd 0 Y UPLOAD ${FND_TOP}/patch/115/import/afcpprog.lct myfile.ldt - CUSTOM_MODE=FORCE undocumented parameter

WHAT IS FNDLOADLoad Options:

Then ..Where is Config File Located

By default Oracle delivers most of configuration files you can use to download certain entities.

• Configuration files with extension .lct
  • On Unix - all the configuration files are in $FND_TOP/patch/115/import directory
  • On Unix – Oracle also places the original configuration files in $FND_TOP/admin/import directory
• Data files with extension .ldt

and..FNDLOAD File Structures is

• The config files (.lct) are delivered and maintained by Oracle
• It has entity definitions, parent-child relationships and user input parameters identified by :NAME
  • Downloading a parent automatically downloads all children - (Example) Concurrent Program download

Take a note FNDLOAD File Structures

• The data files (.ldt) have both entity definition and the data
• It also shows the version and the location of the config file (.lct) that was used
• Without the config file, data file is useless
• Without the data file, config file is meaningless

..Remember regarding FNDLOAD Files

• Key files: .lct and .ldt
• You must run the FNDLOADas apps user not as applsys or any other, otherwise you will receive Ora-6550
• Both are easily readable, editable and portable
• DO NOT MODIFY Oracle’s .lct files
• Use your favorite editor (I would suggest Textpad or Editplus) to manipulate only the .ldt files but be cautious about data type, length, delimiter placements etc.
• Use the log file outputs or .ldt file contents creatively for quick file comparisons and answer questions faster (Why can’t I access that? What is that profile option name, value and level? What is the value set used for that DFF segment attribute10 etc.)
• Partial string searches (which value set has Priority “something” in its where clause? etc)

Sample Script Code for these Objects :

1 - Printer Styles

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afcppstl.lct file_name.ldt STYLE PRINTER_STYLE_NAME=”printer style name”

2 - Lookups

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/aflvmlu.lct file_name.ldt FND_LOOKUP_TYPE APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod” LOOKUP_TYPE=”lookup name”

3 - Descriptive Flexfield with all of specific Contexts

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afffload.lct file_name.ldt DESC_FLEX P_LEVEL=?COL_ALL:REF_ALL:CTX_ONE:SEG_ALL? APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod” DESCRIPTIVE_FLEXFIELD_NAME=”desc flex name” P_CONTEXT_CODE=”context name”

4 - Key Flexfield Structures

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afffload.lct file_name.ldt KEY_FLEX P_LEVEL=?COL_ALL:FQL_ALL:SQL_ALL:STR_ONE:WFP_ALL:SHA_ALL:CVR_ALL:SEG_ALL? APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod” ID_FLEX_CODE=”key flex code” P_STRUCTURE_CODE=”structure name”

5 - Concurrent Programs

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afcpprog.lct file_name.ldt PROGRAM APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod” CONCURRENT_PROGRAM_NAME=”concurrent name”

6 - Value Sets

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afffload.lct file_name.ldt VALUE_SET FLEX_VALUE_SET_NAME=”value set name”

7 - Value Sets with values

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afffload.lct file_name.ldt VALUE_SET_VALUE FLEX_VALUE_SET_NAME=”value set name”

8 - Profile Options

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afscprof.lct file_name.ldt PROFILE PROFILE_NAME=”profile option” APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod”

9 - Requset Group

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afcpreqg.lct file_name.ldt REQUEST_GROUP REQUEST_GROUP_NAME=”request group” APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod”

10 - Request Sets

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afcprset.lct file_name.ldt REQ_SET APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod” REQUEST_SET_NAME=”request set”

11 - Responsibilities

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afscursp.lct file_name.ldt FND_RESPONSIBILITY RESP_KEY=”responsibility

12 - Menus

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afsload.lct file_name.ldt MENU MENU_NAME=”menu_name”

13 – Forms/Functions

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/affrmcus.lct file_name.ldt FND_FORM_CUSTOM_RULES The Upload syntax for all styles: FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 0 Y UPLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/affrmcus.lct file_name.ldt

14. User/Responsibilities

FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 0 Y DOWNLOAD @FND:patch/115/import/afscursp.lct file_name.ldt FND_USER Then UPLOAD FNDLOAD apps/apps@seed115 0 Y UPLOAD [UPLOAD_PARTIAL] @FND:patch/115/import/afscursp.lct file_name.ldt FND_USER [<USER>]

References:

• Oracle Applications Systems Administrator’s Guide
• Metalink Notes: 117084.1, 228614.1 232029.1 , 274667.1