7 Best Practices: Implementing BI Publisher with EBS

Brent Lowe, Manager of Product Development

STR Software
I’ve been working with BIP in EBS since 2004 and
have picked up a few things along the way.

Here are seven ways to improve

your BIP implementation
experience:

t ices! ”
P rac
Best
“I love
Best Implementation Practice #1

Get to the Latest Version of BIP for EBS

So shiny!
 Which version is right for EBS users?

10.1.3.4.1

5.6.3

BI Publisher

XML Publisher
11g
Though there are many versions of BI Publisher what you
want is

BIP for EBS : 5.6.3

Running 11i ?
See My Oracle Support Note 422508.1

for info about Oracle XMLP Release

5.6.3

Running R12 ?
Congrats, you already have 5.6.3!
 Good to know!

BI Publisher = XML Publisher

“XML Publisher” wasn’t sexy enough for Oracle, so they renamed it…
except in the application and documentation…but we don’t mind.

P ub lis h er
XMLBI Publisher
Best Implementation Practice #2

Know Oracle’s Published Best

Practices

beg in?
er e to
h
But w
Start here:
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/middleware/bi-publisher/overview/index.htm

Covers :
1. Lar ge dat a set st r at egi es
2. XML st r uct ur es
3. Lot s of gr eat t empl at e t i ps f or
per f or mance, consi st ency,
f or mat t i ng.
Best Implementation Practice #3

Utilize the Correct Tools for your version of

BIP

Call m
e Jack
Hand
y!
Tools include:

• BI Publisher Desktop
Latest version is 11.1.1.5.0
Use the version built with the same libraries as 5.6.3 -> 10.1.3.2

Patch 5887917

• BI Publisher Toolbox
http://bipublisher.blogspot.com/
Bursting Designer
Delivery Designer
Report Conversion
Best Implementation Practice #4

Know what BIP is Capable of Within

Different Modules

rm a, k arma,
ka
Karma, rma…
ka
karma,
 ay.”
w
wn Not all modules follow ATG’s lead
yo (i.e. their implementation is not
m
go “standard”).
“I

Will you be using any of these modules?

• Advanced Collections
• Payables
• Purchasing
• Order Management

You’ll need to do some digging.

(ATG = Application Technology Group, the folks responsible for BI Publisher in EBS)
Best Implementation Practice #5

Understand Your Delivery Options

Now that you’re generating BI Publisher documents,
how do they get where they need to go?*

*Disclosure statement: document delivery from EBS is an issue

close to our hearts. STR Software’s products overcome the
limitations of native delivery from Oracle. This stuff affects the
bottom line, so we think it’s pretty important.
Well, if you want to deliver documents internally, Oracle’s native
functionality is probably fine. You can generate documents using
BI Publisher and deliver them, no problem.

It gets the job done

But…

There are some deficiencies with native Oracle functionality when it

comes to external delivery. It doesn’t handle bursting and
delivering high volumes of reports well; can’t support attachments
to documents; and doesn’t provide a quick way to check on
delivery status without IT’s help.

If these features are critical to your business, a specialized third-

party application like AventX is your best option.
AventX:
•Makes delivery simpler with email, fax, and printing all in one
solution
•Keeps IT support to a minimum with easy installation and
troubleshooting
•Gives you peace of mind with email and fax delivery confirmation
and status checks
•Increases flexibility by allowing you to attach supporting
documents to reports

Check out our Quick Reference Guide for more information about
advanced document delivery from Oracle EBS.
Best Implementation Practice #6

Understand How To Troubleshoot

(It’s a brain)
Two places to look when troubleshooting:

1) Output Post Processor Log Files

2) Turn on debugging: xdodebug.cfg -> $AF_JRE_TOP/lib

LogLevel=STATEMENT
LogDir=<Directory>

Which will create log files as shown below. {gross}

xdo.log (main log file)
xdo_...xml (Especially helpful when bursting)
xdo_...out (output file)
xdo_...xsl (XSL-FO version of RTF)
xdo_...fo (temp file created when converting RTF to XSL-FO)
Best Implementation Practice #7

Know When, How and Where to Ask for

Help
 1) Get a cup of coffee and go to the documentation

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/middleware/bi-publisher/documentation/index.html
2) Ask a blogger – they’re helpful folks

• Tim Dexter/BIP Official Blog: http://blogs.oracle.com/xmlpublisher

• A BI Publisher developer’s diary: http://blogs.oracle.com/BIDeveloper/

• Oracle BI Publisher Consulting: http://bipconsulting.blogspot.com/

• BI Publisher Blog - Ike Wiggins: http://bipublisher.blogspot.com/

• In Depth Apps - eBusiness Suite - Gareth Roberts:

http://garethroberts.blogspot.com/
• STR Software Blog (Oracle Apps and BIP blog) –
http://www.strsoftware.com/blog

!
fu ll of useful info
My blog,
3) Use the Oracle Forums
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/forum.jspa?forumID=245

Tips for getting help on forums:

• Search First, Ask Second

• Be someone (not user8840234)
• Be Specific – version, OS, patch #, etc
• Reward others for their assistance
• Contribute! It is better to give than
receive
4) Utilize the Oracle Community

It’s like Facebook, but for Oracle geeks!

Search within Oracle E-Business Suite -> BI Publisher

5) Use ‘My Oracle Support’

After exhausting all other forms of help, open an official SR

pp ort folks
l y , Oracle su !
Friend standing by
Conclusion

With these seven best practices considered,

you will ensure that your implementation of BI
Publisher in EBS R12 will run more smoothie. smoothly.

oothie
Mmm…sm
 More questions, suggestions or feedback?

Contact me via email,

blog or twitter!
Email: brent.lowe@strsoftware.com
Blog: www.strsoftware.com/blog
Twitter: @brent_str

The end.

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