XML Publisher – A Real World Experience

Presented by:

Senthil Thangavelu

AgendaAgenda

• IntroductionIntroduction• XML Publisher ConceptXML Publisher Concept• AR Customer StatementAR Customer Statement

• Development OverviewDevelopment Overview

• Design and SetupsDesign and Setups

• AP ChecksAP Checks• Development OverviewDevelopment Overview

• Design and SetupsDesign and Setups

Ask JeevesAsk Jeeves

• 7’th largest global web property7’th largest global web property• Owns ask.com, ajkids.com, bloglines, Owns ask.com, ajkids.com, bloglines,

excite.com, iwon.com, myway.com, Eviteexcite.com, iwon.com, myway.com, Evite• Part of Interactive Corp(IAC) which also Part of Interactive Corp(IAC) which also

own TicketMaster, HSN, Match.com, own TicketMaster, HSN, Match.com, citysearch, LendingTree,citysearch, LendingTree,

• Oracle Apps version 11.5.10Oracle Apps version 11.5.10

XML Publisher Concept

Data logic Layout

TranslationReport file

Less flexibility

Classic Reporting Tools IssueClassic Reporting Tools Issue

XML PublisherXML Publisher

• Template based publishing solution delivered with Template based publishing solution delivered with E-Business SuiteE-Business Suite

• New approach to report design and publishingNew approach to report design and publishing• Report template in MS Word or PDFReport template in MS Word or PDF• Easy to generate customer ready PDF documents Easy to generate customer ready PDF documents

like Invoices, Purchase Orders, Financial like Invoices, Purchase Orders, Financial Statements, Checks etcStatements, Checks etc

• Output in PDF, Excel, HTMLOutput in PDF, Excel, HTML

XML Publisher ConceptXML Publisher Concept

Separate data / layout / translationSeparate data / layout / translation

Reportoutput

More flexibilityReduced maintenance

Data Logic

Layout

TranslationXML Publisher

AR Customer Statement

Challenges in seeded statementChallenges in seeded statement

• Not customer readyNot customer ready• Includes all activitiesIncludes all activities• Not Easily customizableNot Easily customizable

• Less flexibleLess flexible

Development overviewDevelopment overview

Layout Design ExecutionData Design

Custom Oracle Report

MS Word using XML Publisher Template

builder

Oracle Application

XML Output

Data DesignData Design

• Used Oracle ReportsUsed Oracle Reports• Set output Set output

(DESFORMAT) to XML(DESFORMAT) to XML• Used Invoice print view Used Invoice print view

(ar_invoice_header_v, (ar_invoice_header_v, ar_invoice_lines_v). See ar_invoice_lines_v). See Metalink Note: Metalink Note: Note:68149.1 for more Note:68149.1 for more detailsdetails

Layout DesignLayout Design

• Used Microsoft Word and Used Microsoft Word and XML Template builderXML Template builder

• Need XML data for testingNeed XML data for testing• Preview available in PDF, Preview available in PDF,

HTML, EXCEL and RTF HTML, EXCEL and RTF formatformat

Setups in ApplicationsSetups in Applications

• Register the report as concurrent program Register the report as concurrent program with output format as XMLwith output format as XML

• Using XML publisher Administrator Using XML publisher Administrator responsibility, create a data definition. The responsibility, create a data definition. The code must be same as concurrent program code must be same as concurrent program short nameshort name

• Register the templateRegister the template

Checks

IntroductionIntroduction

• Historically required 3Historically required 3rdrd party software for party software for formattingformatting

• Expensive in implementation, maintenance Expensive in implementation, maintenance and complexityand complexity

• Design checks in MS Word using XML Design checks in MS Word using XML publisherpublisher

Development OverviewDevelopment Overview

Layout Design ExecutionData Design

Standard Oracle Report

MS Word using XML Publisher Template

builder

Oracle Application

XML Output

Tip: Set output of the format

program to XML

Major FeaturesMajor Features

• Check Amount – Both as number and wordsCheck Amount – Both as number and words• Multiple addresses – Both payee and payer Multiple addresses – Both payee and payer

addressaddress• Banking Information – Bank routing Banking Information – Bank routing

number, payer’s account number and check number, payer’s account number and check number in specific MICR fontnumber in specific MICR font

• Signature block – Secure dynamic imagesSignature block – Secure dynamic images

Setups in Oracle ApplicationsSetups in Oracle Applications

• Change output format of check format Change output format of check format program to XMLprogram to XML

• Register the report as Data Definition with Register the report as Data Definition with XML PublisherXML Publisher

• Register the template in template managerRegister the template in template manager

MICR PrintingMICR Printing

• Freeware and commercial MICR fonts are Freeware and commercial MICR fonts are availableavailable

• Needs to installed as font in the client Needs to installed as font in the client machine for unit testingmachine for unit testing

• In the template, make the field type to In the template, make the field type to MICR fontMICR font

MICR Printing – Server changesMICR Printing – Server changes

• It can be done in 2 waysIt can be done in 2 ways• Configuration file – Change Configuration file – Change

configuration file to include the configuration file to include the font path eg.font path eg.

<fonts> <font family="MICR"

style="normal" weight="normal"> <truetype path="/usr/fonts/MICR.ttf"/>

</font> • All inclusive template – Add the

font path as custom property. Property should be prefixed with xdo- . This works only with XML Publisher 5.0 or later

Secure signature printingSecure signature printing

• Dynamic signature image at run timeDynamic signature image at run time• Create dummy image with URL location Create dummy image with URL location

pointing to image location eg. pointing to image location eg. url:{SIG_LOC} where SIG_LOC is signature location in the server

• Conditional logic if different people to sign different check based on conditions

ConclusionConclusion

• XML publisher offers customers to design XML publisher offers customers to design their own documents using familiar desktop their own documents using familiar desktop toolstools

• Reduces the complexity of the systemReduces the complexity of the system• Reduces overall cost of ownershipReduces overall cost of ownership

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