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Auto Accounting Rules - SQL statements in

Subject: Re: Oracle Projects - AA rules

Hi app. gurus,
We are using SQL statements in AA rules to determine appropriate account. Oracle Projects manual suggests to check for performance quality before proceeding. Requirements have forced us to use SQL statements in AA rules. We have tuned our sql statements in AA rules.

. Have you experienced any problems in using SQL statements in AA rules ?

. What are the issues to be considered before using SQL statements in AA rules ?

. From a performance perspective, what parameters need to be cheked in order to use SQL statments in AA rules ?

We are on Oracle Applications 10.7 SC Prod 16.1, HP-UX.

Any help is really appreciated. Thank you, Rama


From: Jpkozicki@aol.com
Subject: Re: Oracle Projects - AA rules
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 16:57:50 EDT

In response to your request regarding using SQL statements in AA rules, I have the following observations:

1.I have seen several clients use SQL statements in AA rules without too many problems.

2. The major design considerations involve trying to minimize the number of variables used and the number of tables used in individual queries. These factors determine performance.

3. Test each SQL statement in SQL*Plus prior to activating them in AA. If there is an error in a SQL statement, AA will fail dramatically and will be difficult to debug.

4. Those functions that use SQL statements will take a moderate performance hit. The more SQL statements you use and the complexity of the statements will affect the performance of individual functions. I would not be able to predict performance without a "stress test" of function.

Hope this helps.....


From: "Donna M. Armstrong" donnabsc@gte.net
Subject: Re: Oracle Projects - AA rules
Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 14:03:18 -0700

Hi Rama,
I have had to use SQL based rules alot. Never noticed any real performance degredation due to them. My only recommendation would be to make sure you're using as few joins as possible and to make sure the statement is tuned properly.

Not sure what you're asking in terms of the parameters part of your question. I did write a tip sheet that was published in the OAUG Insight Newsletter a while back (Probably about a year ago). The best tip from that one was that you don't have to use numeric parameter indicators like they use in the examples in the manuals. Instead of :1, :2, you can use a more desciptive label :Exp_Item_Id, :Exp_Type which makes the code much easier to understand. How it works is that the first time it hits a ":" when parsing the statement it looks to see what the first parameter name is, etc. It is not matching on the number to find which parameter to use.

Hope this helps! Donna Donna M. Armstrong Office: (310) 457-4200 Business Systems Consultant Voice Mail/Pager: (888) 886-1564 E-Mail: donnabsc@gte.net


Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 11:03:03 PDT
From: "rama gopal" ramagopalan_s@hotmail.com
subject: Oracle Projects - AA rules

. What are the issues to be considered before using SQL statements in AA rules ?


From: "Haseeb, Mohamed" Mohamed.Haseeb@Jacobs.com
Subject: RE: Oracle Projects - AA rules
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 14:36:41 -0700

One issue we had was a problem in the form where you enter the SQL. The form had a bug - which would truncate some parts of the SQL when you save it - Resulting in Autoaccounting errors. We have a open tar on this. Recent update from support is (couple of weeks back) - they have fixed the problem but the patch is not available yet.

Regards... Haseeb


From: rama gopal ramagopalan_s@hotmail.com
Date: Sunday, April 11, 1999 9:34 PM
Subject: Fwd: Re. Re. Oracle Projects - AA Rules

Hi all,
Thank you very much for giving useful information. (For convenience, i have combined all responses in this mail. )

These are the things we have done so far,

We have tested all the SQL statements in SQL*Plus before implementing in AA rules. We have tuned all the SQL statements. We have looked at parse time, executions time .... We tried to run distribute usage costs process, this process gave signal 11 error. (As you know signal 11 error could occur due to memory problem). We have reduced processing batch size to 30, error is gone but it is taking lot of time to process. We tried various batch sizes 50,100, 500 ... We were successful only at 30. We defaulted all the segments to constants while doing legacy-Projects data conversion. At that time we could successfully process 2000 lines in one batch. After adding SQL statements, we got signal 11 error. Batch size of 30 is not an acceptable solution due to constraint on processing time. We have looked at SHMMAX(shared memory), MAXDSIZ(maximum memory) parameters, looks like to we have to increase these parameters but not sure, how to arrive at a number for this process. Our SHMMAX and MAXDSIZ are over 500 MB.

One more process, Interface to GL process erred out, again it is due to stand alone SQL statements in AA rules. We could successfully execute the SQL statements from SQL*Plus. Since a database function gives more flexibility that a SQL statement, we have included these functions in a package and ran the process again. This time we could successfully run the process. We did not have improvement in processing time.

. Do we need increase shared memory or maximum memory, if SQL statements are used in AA rules ? If so, how to determine these for this process ( 5 sql statements, 50K byte size ...)

. What are your recommendations regarding use of stand alone SQL statements vs using database package in AA rules?

Any help is really appreciated. Thank you, Rama


Date: Sun, 11 Apr 1999 22:56:05 -0400
From: "Richard" oraapps1@prodigy.net
Subject: Re: Re. Re. Oracle Projects - AA Rules

I had the same problem, and support basically told me that as this was a customization they could not help. The manuals clearly state that SQL statements should not be too complex, otherwise it won't work. I eventually simplified my SQL statements, and now it all processes fine. Try replacing some of your more complex statements with lookup tables (I know they are a pain to maintain, but it might be your only solution). Otherwise, reduce your batch size, and run the processes overnight (this may not work in the long term, as your batch size of 30 may suddenly seem too big to Oracle, depending on what else is running causing everything to fail!)

I also found that reducing the size of the rule names and descriptions helped a bit, although this may have been a co-incidence.

Another method I have used (not recommended as Oracle says they do not support direct table updates in extensions!) is to use an extension to run the more complex sql statements and load the values into an attribute on the expenditure items table. Then change your autoaccounting rules to read the value of this attribute, which is a far less complex statement.

Another annoying thing I found was that once autoaccounting fails because the SQL statement is too complex, it seems to store that result in memory somewhere, and it will continue to fail even if you are only costing one expenditure item. To re-test the SQL statement, you need to copy the rule with a new name, and assign the new rule, then it will magically work again for a while (even though the same SQL is being used!)

Your best bet is to go back to the design phase, and reduce the complexity of your rules, and try to use as many constants as possible.

If anyone has any ideas on how you can increase the memory allocated to autoaccounting, I'd be interested in hearing the solution. I've had the problem occur with autoaccouting in AR before as well, and the solution was to pin certain packages into memory on database startup. Perhaps this may be the solution for this problem as well?

Let us know the outcome.


From: Jpkozicki@aol.com
Subject: Re: Oracle Projects - AA rules
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 16:57:50 EDT

In response to your request regarding using SQL statements in AA rules, I have the following observations:

1.I have seen several clients use SQL statements in AA rules without too many problems.

2. The major design considerations involve trying to minimize the number of variables used and the number of tables used in individual queries. These factors determine performance.

3. Test each SQL statement in SQL*Plus prior to activating them in AA. If there is an error in a SQL statement, AA will fail dramatically and will be difficult to debug.

4. Those functions that use SQL statements will take a moderate performance hit. The more SQL statements you use and the complexity of the statements will affect the performance of individual functions. I would not be able to predict performance without a "stress test" of function.

Hope this helps.....



Creating Historical Data in Oracle Projects

From: Rangaraju_Krishna@tmac.com
Subject: Projects: Creating Historical Data in Oracle Projects

We have a requirement for creating historical data from 1994 - 1997 (Labor, Expenses, Subcontractors, Overhead, G&A etc). We are in production from Jan, 1998 (Release 10.7 SC). The issue is we have all the information on the paper that we want to create in the system. We are looking at creating ONE entry for each revenue category (Labor -97, Overhead -97 ,Labor-96, Overhead-96 etc) per year. And we are planning to create "Events" for all these revenue categories, then recognize the revenue and invoice amounts.

We want to know if anyone has any other ideas or comments on this method for creating historical data. All we need is capturing the "Total" billed amounts for the year 1994-1997.

Thx Krishna


Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 11:49:32 -0700
From: "Haseeb, Mohamed" Mohamed.Haseeb@Jacobs.com
Subject: RE: Projects: Creating Historical Data in Oracle Projects

We did a similar conversion. We brought in data for each of the projects grouped by Revenue category.

Best way is to bring it thru events. We had the data in text file format. Since you have it only in paper, create a spread sheet with the info and load it into a staging table. The main advantage here is, event table needs very limited information - Project, Task (optional), date, event type, Org and Rev and billing $.

If you have any specific question on this conversion, feel free to write to me.

Regards.. Haseeb


Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 09:26:01 -0700
From: Eric Tegenfeldt eric_tegenfeldt@rand.org
Subject: Re: PA: Creating Historical Data in Oracle Projects

Hello Krishna,
Haseeb gives you some good advice. Here are a few more details which you may or may not have considered for a conversion of historical revenue based on a conversion I worked on in the past:

1) We created a special Manual event type "Conversion" for the historical events.

2) If your agreements have "Hard Limit" turned on, you'll need to verify that the funding is adequate to cover the historical revenue.

3) We ran the Streamline processes after generating revenue and invoices in order to post the data in PA but we then had to take extra steps to keep the historical revenue from doubling up in GL and AR. Since it is historical, I'm assuming the revenue you are converting is already in your General Ledger and has already been billed.

For GL, we just deleted the journals that were created in the Streamline process from PA and also the journals from AR.

For AR, I should state that we actually didn't run the "Streamline" process but rather did each step individually since we had to insert a couple custom steps into the process. Basically, we had to write a couple custom scripts that first copied all of our invoices from the RA_TRANSACTION_INTERFACE table, then converted them into credit memos and inserted them back into the Interface table after AutoInvoice had completed successfully for the original set of invoices. We then ran AutoInvoice for the credit memos and finally Tieback in PA for the original set of invoices.

4) And of course, last (and perhaps least) we had to set the calendar back while we did all of this processing so that the GL dates in PA would be accurate. To be safe, we did the conversion activity over the weekend in order to keep the users out while the old periods were opened up.

Happy Converting! Eric ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Eric B. Tegenfeldt Office: 310.393.0411 X7164 Oracle Projects Consultant Pager: 661.538.3896 Business Information Systems RAND Corporation


Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 12:10:27 -0700
From: "Haseeb, Mohamed" Mohamed.Haseeb@Jacobs.com
Subject: RE: PA: Creating Historical Data in Oracle Projects

Just to add to what Eric listed:

1. We also created 14 different 'Conversion' events for various categories - it helps in the long run to identify them seperately
2. To avoid it going to GL, we ran it upto the Tie-back process - then deleted the journal without posting them.
3. For AR - we did not convert any invoices directly into AR. For the paid invoices, we used Auto-lockbox to clear them out. For the Open invoices, we brought them from PA to AR individually with the original dates. This way, we had the same AR aging report. Also we were able to keep the AR Invoices invoices tied up to Project for Project status inquiry.



MRC - Project Connect and AMG

From: oraapps-l@cpa.qc.ca [mailto:oraapps-l@cpa.qc.ca]On Behalf Of Sylvain Fradette
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 1999 11:12 AM
Subject: MRC - Project Connect and AMG

Does anyone know if you can use Oracle Project Connect and Activity Management Gateway with a secondary reporting set of books under Oracle Project.

Sylvain


Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 10:09:22 -0600
From: "Martha McKillip" mmckillip@projectp.com
Subject: RE: MRC - Project Connect and AMG

Hi:
Current design for MRC (Multiple Reporting Currencies) effects the transaction tables rather than the project wbs, budget, and resource tables. In an MRC environment, projects and tasks are created in the primary set of books. When transactions are entered (through the forms, through import) records are created for those transactions for the reporting set of book(s). When processing such as the distribute processes, generate revenue/invoices, etc. occurs, additional lines are created in the reporting set of books. In short, MRC primarily effects transactions.

Project Connect (and AMG) are designed for creating and maintaining Project WBS information, Budgets, and Resource Lists. Therefore, the information from Projects Connect would be sent to the primary set of books. Projects created in Project Connect should be visible in your reporting set of books. In short, Project Connect (and AMG) do not effect transactions.

The place where Project Connect deals with transactional information is with interfacing actuals from Oracle Projects to Project Connect. This will be done from the primary set of books only. Currently, Project Connect pulls actuals from the summarization tables, not the transactional tables. MRC at this time, does not provide the summarization information in the reporting set of books.

Hope this information helps. Martha Anne McKillip Project Partners, LLC. http://www.projectp.com mmckillip@projectp.com



Projects/AR Auto Invoicing

Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 17:33:40 -0500
From: "nkumar" nkumar@se-tech.com
Subject: Fw: Projects/AR Auto Invoicing

I have created an invoice in PA and generated draft invoice, approved and released it. I have interfaced the invoice successfully to Receivables

However when I run the Auto Invoice in AR I get an error with a message " All enabled segments of Transaction Flexfield must have a value". I have not made any changes to the Invoice Transaction and Line Transaction Flexfield structures and have compiled them successfully. I think Segment 8 (pre-seeded Line Transaction FF - Line Type) is not getting populated

I would apprecciate any pointers on this

We are on Rel. 11.0.2 HP UX


Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 12:07:58 GMT
From: "Indrasen Kasireddi" indrasen98@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Projects/AR Auto Invoicing

Why don't you take a look into interface attribute columns of RA_INTERFACE_LINES and drive back to PA for further investigation for missing data.

Hope this helps!!! - Sen



PA-Commitment Status

Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 14:38:05 +0530
From: achattopadhyay@punjlloyd.com
Subject: PA-Commitment Status

Hi all,
We are interested to get the status of Commitment Amount for various Projects from Oracle Projects(10.7), through the Project Status Inquiry form. But the problem that we are facing with this new facility that the system shows for all type of transactions in the form of Open Requisitions or Purchase Orders or Invoices irrespective of the Approval Status of the documents (PR/PO/Invoice).

If the said documents are for any reason Incomplete (i.e not even submitted for approval), then the system should not take into account for such open documents.

Is there any facility or parameter in the PSI form which will filter for Approved documents only ? We would highly appreciate if anybody gives a feedback on the same or even suggest some workaround so as to get the commitment amount for "APPROVED" documents only.

Thanks and Regards, Arup


Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 08:15:20 -0700
From: Eric Tegenfeldt eric_tegenfeldt@rand.org
Subject: Re: PA-Commitment Status

Good morning Arup,
Have you looked at the Project Status Inquiry client extension? I have used this to generate a number of custom columns on the PSI form. I know that it will create values at the Project, Task, and Resource levels (although there is currently a bug in 10.7 affecting the Resource level) but I'm not sure about Commitments. However, even if you are unable to override the Commitment amounts, you could still add logic to the extension to calculate commitments using whatever criteria you like and send the result to Project and/or Task levels.

The name of the package for the client extension is PAXVPS2B.pls and you can find it at $PA_TOP/admin/sql. When you update it, remember to save the modified version in a different directory (preferably under your custom directory).

E-mail me directly if you have more specific questions.

Best wishes, Eric


Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 09:00:05 -0600
From: "Martha McKillip" mmckillip@projectp.com
Subject: RE: PA-Commitment Status

Hi:
Commitment values are based on a view (pa_commitment_txns_v) that Oracle allows to be customized. The file that contains the view definition is PACMTVW.sql. If you check on pages 11-420 to 11-422 in the 10.7 Projects Users guide, you will find information on this view and customizing it.

By default the view includes all open requisitions irrespective of approval status, all open purchase orders irrespective of approval status, and all supplier invoices not yet interfaced.

Martha Anne McKillip Project Partners, LLC. http://www.projectp.com mmckillip@projectp.com


Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 08:25:53 -0700
From: "Donna M. Armstrong" donnabsc@gte.net
Subject: Re: PA-Commitment Status

Hi Arup,
It sounds like you found a bug. If you can't wait for Oracle to fix it there is documentation in the Technical Reference Manual on customizing the commitment view. But Oracle's definition of a commitment has always been Approved Requisitions/POs and Invoices that are not yet transferred to PA.

Hope this helps, Donna Donna M. Armstrong Office: (310) 457-4200 Business Systems Consultant Voice Mail/Pager: (888) 886-1564 E-Mail: donnabsc@gte.net