In Fusion Applications, we have various methods of extracting data. The most commonly used methods are:

1. HCM Extracts

2. Fusion Reporting Tools (BIP, OTBI , OBIA also referred to as OTBI-E)

A common question for technical consultants is which tool, out of the two, to choose for data extraction. Before going into details, letus try to understand these terms in detail.

BIP

BIP stands for Business Intelligence Publisher and BIP Reports stands for Business Intelligence Publisher Reports

For a technical consultant with Reports 6i or more advanced versions, it is just a new name in Fusion Applications. These kinds of reports comprise of:

1. Data Model:

This is typically a name given to a Data Set which comprises of (various/other/smaller) Data Sets (which in turn is a name given to a Data Source which could be  of SQL Query, LDAP Query, XML Query, Static Data)

A Data Model has provisions for adding separate placeholder columns, formula columns, and other features in a data set.

2. Layout

Layout is the page/graphical area which show how the report would look. .

It can comprise of Table, Letters, Logos, Icons, Images and much more.

It can have repeating and Non-Repeating Segments, XML Tags, Dynamic Values, Summary Columns…..

The layout can be in any output format like PDF, RTF, Excel, E-text, CSV etc.

SQL Used:

select to_char(sysdate,'DD-MM-YYYY') DateValue,to_char (sysdate, ‘DAY') WhichDayofWeek from dual

UNION

select to_char(sysdate+1,'DD-MM-YYYY') DateValue,to_char(sysdate+1,'DAY') WhichDayofWeek from dual

UNION

select to_char(sysdate+2,'DD-MM-YYYY') DateValue,to_char(sysdate+2,'DAY') WhichDayofWeek from dual

UNION

select to_char(sysdate+3,'DD-MM-YYYY') DateValue,to_char(sysdate+3,'DAY') WhichDayofWeek from dual

Sample Date (Tree View):

Sample Data (Table View):

Actual Sample Data (Using Export Option)

Create Report

Create Layout

Choose Blank (Portrait)

Insert Layout Components

For this example, let us take a “Data Table”

Save as XXLayout

Report Output

OTBI

OTBI Stands for Oracle Transactional Business Intelligence

It is typically referred to as Drag and Drop Reporting (similar to Discoverer Reports)

These kinds of Reports are created from specific subject areas (basically a specific folder structure made up of logical data attributes, clubbed together and  associated with some specific areas of application, like for Payroll we have Payroll Real Time, Workforce Management Real Time etc.)

OTBI Agents are new features which work similar to Oracle Alerts in EBS

There are also ways to combine 2 different subject areas using a common attribute (called facts)

OBIA

OBIA stands for Oracle Business Intelligence Applications

OBIA are pre-seeded Analytics Reports

They contain details about Trends, Historical Analysis, and Predictions

On-Premise Applications  have these features enabled

Off late, Oracle has planned to release them to Cloud Customers also, renaming them as OTBI-E

Non Real Time Reports (Does not have “Real Time” mentioned in Subject Area names). Refer to screenshot below

HCM Extracts

These are the Oracle recommended way of transferring data from Fusion Applications to other 3rd party systems.

This tool comprises of:

1. Define

Comprises of Define Tab (here we name the Extract Names and the parameters)

2. Design

This is the section where we define the Extract Definition (HCM Data Objects as well as the Extract Attributes)

3. Delivery Options

We define the different ways of delivery in this section (File Naming, Output Type, Delivery Frequency, Output Format, Layout )

Screenshots of Define, Design, Delivery and Validate

In essence, while it is not impossible to create data extract for integration from either of the above mentioned options, HCM Extracts  are preferred because of the following reasons:

1. It is a mix and match of all above options

Design is OTBI + OBIA [you drag and drop extract attributes and they could be both real time attributes (OTBI) or historical extract attributes (OBIA)]

                    Deliver is BIP (you create layout, report and template)

                    Define is again BIP (allows you to have custom parameters)

2. This has DELTA extract features

So each new run can compare itself with previous run (depending on parameter value passed during define extract phase) and provides only the changed data.

Ashish Harbhajanka

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