Few reader question..

1. What is the difference and theory behind Oracle terminal releases and terminal patchsets ?
2. What are Critical patch updates ?
3. What is the terminal release after 11.5.10 CU2? or Do you have 11.5.10 CU3/CU4?

Terminal release means that the version specified is the last point release of that product. For example, the “terminal release 11.5.10” for the 11i E-Business Suite would mean that there will not be any further releases of 11i after 11.5.10. Specifically, that would mean there will not be a release 11.5.11 for 11i.

The terminal patchsets means that would the last patchset provide on that particular release.

This is very simple as this example:
In 10g Release 2 the last patchset would be 10.2.0.4, upon further there won't be any more patchset will be released under this version.
In 9.2 release the last patchset is 9.2.0.8, upon further there won't be any more patchset will be released under this version.

In other word :Terminal meaning no more patchsets are going to be delivered, so you will be forced to either apply one-offs or upgrade.

Critical patch updates

Oracle provides critical patch updates (CPUs) to its customers to fix known bugs that are critical in nature also includes security fixes.

Critical Patch Updates are the primary means of releasing security fixes for Oracle products:(Adpoted-otn )

• A Critical Patch Update is a collection of patches for multiple security vulnerabilities. It also includes nonsecurity fixes that are required (because of interdependencies) by those security patches.
• Due to the threat posed by a successful attack, Oracle struongly recommends that fixes are applied as soon as possible.
• CPUs are released on the Tuesday closest to the 15th day of January, April, July and October each year

You can find information at Oracle Technology Network .

Q .What is the terminal release after 11.5.10 CU2? or do you have 11.5.10 CU3/CU4?

It's just a matter of terminology.There was the original 11.5.10 install (or upgrade maintenance pack).Then came 11.5.10.1CU (3240000), 11.5.10.2CU (upg from 1CU 3460000) and 11.5.10.2CU (upg from pre-11.5.10 3480000).

Since there was change in stretegy that why here are the details for ATG Rollup patchsets

• CU3 = ATGRUP3 (4334965)
• CU4 = ATGRUP4 (4676589)
• CU5 = ATGRUP5 (5473858)
• CU6 = ATGRUP6 (5903765) :This is the latest

Oracle EBS 11i Technology support Matrix

Metalink Notes

• 738923.1 :Oracle E-Business Suite Releases 11i and 12 Critical Patch Update Note (January 2009
• 315713.1 :Prior E-Business Suite Security Alerts
• 329689.1 :E-Business Suite (Oracle Applications) 11.5.1 through 11.5.6 Desupport Notice
• 363827.1 :Rebaselined Oracle Applications Technology Components for Releases 11.5.7, 11.5.8, 11.5.9, and 11.5.10

Refrence Link :

• ATG Blog for support ,desuuport and certify infohttp://blogs.oracle.com/schan
• Oracle Lifetime Support Policy

For new Implementation, certain things never focused by implementation team i.e user desktop configuration which might be a big reason that is reported by end user once Business switch to new system. This is specially true, when your client belong to SME's (Small and medium enterprise).

Lets me summarize few issue with File ->Export

1. User Unable to Export Data to TSV File
2. Export functionality does not prompt for saving the file.
3. Data export from Oracle form is missing some rows in the output file , specially from AP Invoice workbench , Gl account enquiry screen and AR Transaction workbench

Some of them are purely desktop issue, still you need to do such steps if such things being reported by remote users.

Do verify the following:

1. You should have the following Viewer Option entry: File Format Mime Type Description Allow Native Client Encoding
   -------------- -------------------------------- -------------------- -----------------------
   Excel application/vnd.ms-excel Microsoft Excel Checked
2. Check out the table FND_MIME_TYPES_TL entry. A row contains an entry for FILE_FORMAT_CODE = "EXCEL" and MIME_TYPE ="application/vnd.ms-excel"

Next you need to verify these details:

1. What is the windows OS on your computer (XP, W2000, etc...)? Which service pack?
   i.e.: Microsoft Windows XP - Profesionnel - Version 2002 - Service Pack 2 check the comptability matrix.
2. Version of excel on user computer.
3. Version of Internet Explorer in user computer.
4. Deactivate any pop-up blockers in windows XP or in Internet explorer
5. You need to do a try to compare the two computers? (The computer where you have the issue and the computer where the export is working)
6. Try the following as part of quick check:
   In the Tools -> Internet options, set the following:
   • Open Internet Explorer and choose Tools-->Internet Options
     • Click on the Security Tab
     • Click the Custom Level button
     • Scroll down to the "Downloads" options
     • Enable the option "Automatic prompting for file downloads"
     • Enable the option "File Download"

Once you done, close browser, open browser than try to export again.

If still getting an error , you need to verify these details too.

• In Internet Explorer select the Tools menu - Internet Options - Security - Custom Level
• Adjust all the settings for ActiveX Controls and Downloads to be either 'enable' for the following zones :
  • - Internet
  • - Local Intranet
  • - Trusted Zones
• Try to add the site of instance to Trusted Zone and adjusted Security level to Low protection.
• Restart the browser and now test.

99% chances that you can able to resolve 1 and 2 , else not, ask Oracle with SR and wait for a day.

For 3,you need to check with Oracle, there might be chances the version of form is bit lower.

Similar Post

• ‘File ->Export’ Function is troubling
• Setting default to Excel for Exported file from “File ->Export “
• File -> Export : Enabling or disabling

Well its been nearly more than a month since I last posted something here. I must have been busy because I dont know the reason why! Things simply went uncontrolled since last week of Dec '08. Well actually I have been a super busy, working on a client project in the office that was due to go live in first week of Jan'09 and wanted to make sure it went ok.

I don't know about you but I'm exhausted.So, it is time to relax.. festive season locally,a long weekend for Lunar New year therefore a perfect occasion to do some housekeeping for blog .

Thanks for everyone...

Moreover, Normally I pay so little attention to this blog since last one month, that I didn’t notice my page view count rolling over 1 million. It must have done somtime at least begining of this year. Therefore, I would like to thanks To all readers,visitors.

In the 19 months since I start counting, I think that’s a fantastic achievement (if I say so myself!)

But, I’m going to be slow blogger till end of March,09 because of some added responsiblity with new role , still keep you posted thats will help to support your daily life with Oracle.

I know I've been very behind in answering comments lately, but I hope to get back to it soon, so please be patient if you're waiting.If there's anything you'd like me to cover which I haven't already, just get in touch via comment, I will try to reach as much I can.

Wishing a very happy Chines new Year to everyone.

2009 will be the Year of the Ox, which symbolises prosperity through fortitude and hard work. In other words, persevere and work hard and steadily. Considering the world ecenomical fact, though it’s not the year to be outrageous or impulsive, but hard work will be rewarded, what you say..lets hope..

Gong Xi Fai Cai!

Thats all for now…And thank you all again.

• 100,000th Visitor
• OracleApps Epicenter :1,00,000+ and Counting

Withholding tax is an amount withheld by the party making a payment to another (payee) and paid to the taxation authorities, depending on the nature of the product or service being paid for. Local WHT is often used to counteract tax evasion and tax avoidance whereas overseas WHT is often used to collect tax from payers within the boundries rather than payees who may be outside the boundries.

WHT tax is often applied to

• Dividends and Interest payments: Tax may be deducted at source from dividend payments, in addition to Corporation tax.

In India, tax is not withheld at source from dividends since tax is paid by company on the profits (excluding dividends) and hence dividend income is tax free in hands of payee.

UK has imposed a 20% withholding tax on distributions from Real Estate Investment

• Payroll payments to employees: In most countries, employers are required to deduct tax from salary.
• Contract and consultancy work payments: Payments to contractors, consultancy firms, realty business etc are subjected to tax deducted at source Withholding Tax is applied as a part of local regulatory requirement, to reduce the final payment made to the supplier. WHT is then paid to the local tax authority as per the local regulations.

Sometimes WHT is applied to cross country payment, based on country-to-country relations. At other times, it is applied on Invoices from all Foreign Suppliers, to boost local business or to make them subjected to local VAT, which otherwise would be applicable for local suppliers. In few
countries, WHT is applied also on certain types of local vendors as well (eg. consultants).

This focus on the Product (product innovation…product profitability…product decisions…product lifecycle…product network)

"Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is the business activity of managing a company's products all the way across the lifecycle in the most effective way.” (source -*2PLM - Product Lifecycle Management Magazine)

In other word:

• PLM enables companies to accelerate product innovation and maximize product profitability
• …through the management of the information, processes and decisions about their products…
• …throughout the product lifecycle and across the global product network

Which kind of industry needs PLM

• Industrial manufacturing industry to track and manage engineering change orders .
• High technology
• Life sciences and pharma industry
• Food & beverage
• Retail

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Oracle iSupplier Portal enables secure, self-service business transactions between companies and their suppliers provides suppliers with the ability to directly manage business transactions and access secure information

Key business flows Include:

• Purchase Order Acknowledgement
• Create Advance Shipment Notice and Advanced Shipment Billing Notice
• Create Invoice

Core Functionality of this application are :

1) PO Collaboration

2) Shipment Notices

3) Inventory

4) Supplier Management

5) Buyer’s Internal view

6) For Invoice and Payments

Check out at link for Oracle Datasheet .

Oracle iProcurement enables internal corporate requesters to independently order items from both local (internal) and remote (external) catalogs. It is the starting point for the ordering process and provides powerful self-service requisitioning capability with an intuitive, Web shopping interface.

It is a key component of Oracle Advanced Procurement, the integrated suite that dramatically cuts all supply management costs.

In an efficient and automated manner, Oracle iProcurement:

• Constitutes a key component of the procure-to-pay business flow.
• Helps an enterprise process and manage requisitions.
• Helps an enterprise process and manage receipt of the requested goods or services.

As a part of Oracle Advanced Procurement, iProcurement

• Delivers measurable savings
• Reduced maverick spend
• Greatly simplified process for purchasing goods and services
• Requesters can quickly purchase the items they need with an easy to use interface that provides all the information they require to make purchases while directing them to preferred vendors and pricing
• For purchasing managers iProcurement provides powerful tools for managing catalogs in real time, stores and content zones

If you are planning to implement this application, here are the Core features & functionality of this application, boardly divided under these heads.

1.Catalog Management

2.Shopping

• Configure stores to include any combination of local catalogs, punchout catalogs, informational catalogs, and transparent punchout catalogs.
• Administrators can control which catalogs and stores are available to different classes of requesters.
• Powerful search Capability
• Shopping list- Create own favorite shopping list of frequently ordered items. Create public list that can be access by all requestor
• Saved shopping carts- Create n number of shopping carts in progress.
• Non Catalog request – Request for items and services which are not in catalog
• Automatic document creation- Supplier PO contracts and quotation generate PO and releases accordingly without buyer’s intervention.
• Center Led Procurement- Create global contract agreement and use it for all organization.

3. Checkout

• Delivery
  • Provide options to stock delivery option like multiple destination types, delivered at one time addresses location.
  • This also integrated with Enterprise asset management
• Billing
  • You can manage multiple account distribution and account generation workflow rules.
  • This is integrated with Oracle projects and Oracle Grants enables requesters to optionally reference projects, tasks, and award information about shopping cart order lines.
  • Encumbrance support lets user view funds online before submitting requisition.
• Notes and attachments
  • This Provide additional information to approvers, buyers, suppliers, and receivers by attaching text, URLs, and other file types to the requisition.
• Approvers
  • Approval and workflow setup determines the approver list for each requisition. During checkout, the requester can add approvers and change the first approver in the approver list. You can also customize it to meet your business needs.

4.Desktop Receiving

• From their desktop, a requesters can receive internally and externally sourced items or the entire requisition.
• View supplier advanced shipment notices (ASNs) as well as internal shipments
• Workflow-driven receipt confirmation mechanism that proactively sends a notification to requesters to confirm receipt on the due date.

5.Requisition Tracking & Management

• This enables you to track the status of all the requisitions and also Procure to Pay life cycle
• This will keep real time notification keeps you up-to-date

If your compnay or Procurement dept looking option to simplify and automate company’s flow of ordering for Services,Refill for inventory,CIP , Opex, Capex Purchasing then this application will drastically reduce employee and bookkeeper time spent in procurement process.