What you need to know about spreadsheet-driven transactions in Oracle Fusion
There is a growing need to access accurate information fast and in real-time to facilitate decision-making in organizations across the globe. This calls for a more integrated system that offers reliable data for all departments within an organization. In order to boost productivity, productive teams need access to accurate data as, and when needed. The Oracle Fusion system enables different departments to collaborate as they all work with information from the same data set.
The application of advanced Excel in Oracle Fusion makes data manipulation and analytics easier through automation and integration. A good data management tool should allow you to harness the power of Excel, a tool that most of your staff is already with, facilitating inter-departmental collaboration.
Excel-based transaction: How it works
Simplified Loader provides one of the best Excel-based mechanisms to upload or download data from Oracle Fusion. Simplified Loader’s Excel templates connect seamlessly with Oracle Fusion to create, upload, download, or delete transactions from Oracle Fusion Cloud. The templates are easy to use and come with a toolbar that contains operations specific to the template.
How does it work?
Simplified Loader Excel templates are digitally signed. The simplified Loader digital certificate is stored on your computer. It is a simple process that you only need to do one time.
Simplified Loader Toolbar
Each Excel template contains a Simplified Loader toolbar. The toolbar is divided into four sections: Log in, Operations, Lookups, and Setup. All the sections are identical in each template, except the operations section.
Log in enables the user to log in or log out from the Oracle Fusion.
Operations contain actions that are specific to that particular template.
Lookups section is used to update the Lookup values contained in the Lookups worksheet.
Setup contains operations that enable the user to connect to Oracle Fusion Environments, choose validation options and conduct administrative tasks.
Worksheets
All Simplified Loader templates contain three worksheets: About, DataSheet, and Sample datasheet.
The About worksheet contains the master list of data fields available in the datasheet. These fields are derived from the relevant Oracle web services. All data fields have an associated field description and are uniquely named. for all the operations that can be conducted within a template, the about worksheet spells out the data fields utilized by each. Where an operation utilizes a field, it is indicated by the “Relevant Field” Value.
DataSheet is the principal area for the user in the Simplified Loader template. It is where operations are completed and exchanged with Oracle Fusion. The title of some of the columns in the Data Sheet is highlighted in green, indicating that the data entered has been validated against an associated list of values in the Lookup sheet.
Sample – DataSheet is where you can find examples of how data should be entered for each operation. You will also see examples of how data is returned as a result of executing each operation. You can delete the Sample – DataSheet worksheet when you no longer need it.
Handling data
To perform operations on data, go to the Simplified Loader Toolbar’s operation section from where you can upload or download data from the DataSheet.
- If you want to upload data selectively, highlight the entire row or rows you wish to upload by clicking on the row number in the worksheet. Simplified Loader will only process the data in the selected rows.
- If you want to upload all the data in the worksheet, do not select any rows. You will receive a pop-up message to confirm that you want to act on all rows in the worksheet. Click yes to send all the transactions in the datasheet to Oracle Fusion.
Status operation
The DataSheet contains load status and error message columns that show whether the operation was successful or not. In case it failed, you will see an error message stating the reason for the failed transaction.
Language support
Simplified loader template supports the Unicode character set. This implies that you can enter data in any language.
Excel-base templates vs File-based templates
Comparison in functionality
Functionality
File-based template. (FBDI)
Excel-based template. (Simplified Loader)
Layout
-Columns sequence are rigid
-rigid date format
-An additional Macro is needed to format data because you are required to organize data in separate sheets means
- You can adjust column layout to suit your needs(add, hide or delete columns).
-Flexible date format
Support for data input by end-users
-Too Technical to share with end-users
-Needs macro to convert data
-No Lookups
- Supports Unicode character set
Data download
-Not supported
-Template support data download from Oracle Fusion using SQL queries.
-SQL queries can be customized.
Single Sign-On
-Not applicable
-Supported
Custom Validation
-Not possible
-Possible. Admin can turn the validation on or off at the template level or user level
Selective upload
Not supported
Error Reporting and Resolution
-Time-consuming
-Errors must be fixed in the source CSV file.
-After fixing an error, you need to complete the entire upload process again to confirm if the error has been resolved
-The error message is part of the actual transaction.
- Error is fixed within the same file
Steps involved to upload
-It is an extended process involving seven steps
-Single click upload
Processing
-Batch-processing
Benefits of Excel templates over file-based templates.
Excel templates are easy to use. It is not code-intensive and therefore suitable for use by the end user responsible for data entry. File-based templates are designed to suit technical users.
Excel templates process data in real time, allowing you to maintain a single source of truth. File-based templates process data in batches.
In Excel templates, error messages appear as part of the transaction and can be resolved on the spot while in file-based templates, the feedback mechanism is difficult and resolution is time-consuming.
Excel templates: - Eliminate the need for customized tools
- It enables self-service across departments
- End-users are familiar with it
- Flexible as you can add, delete, hide, or move columns as needed.
Conclusion
Spreadsheet-driven transactions in Oracle Fusion create a mechanism for organizations to harness the power of data by creating a reliable, accurate, real-time, single source of truth for all players at all times. Simplified Loader, one of the best Excel-based tools provides varied functionalities. It is user-friendly, flexible, and provides excellent support.
