Warning About Changing Data (User, System Administrator, and Flexfields Help)


	Previous	Next		Contents	Index	Navigation	Glossary	Library

Warning About Changing Data

Warning: Do Not Use Database Tools to Modify Oracle Applications Data

Oracle provides powerful tools you can use to insert, update, and delete information in an Oracle7 database. But, if you use Oracle tools like SQL*Plus or Oracle Data Browser to modify Oracle Applications data, you risk destroying the integrity of your data and you lose the ability to audit changes to your data.

Because Oracle Applications tables are interrelated, any change you make using an Oracle Applications form can update many tables at once. But when you modify Oracle Applications data using anything other than Oracle Applications forms, you may change a row in one table without making corresponding changes in related tables. If your tables get out of synchronization with each other, you risk retrieving erroneous information and you risk unpredictable results throughout Oracle Applications.

When you use Oracle Applications forms to modify your data, Oracle Applications automatically checks that your changes are valid. Oracle Applications also keeps track of who changes information. But, if you enter information into database tables using database tools, you may store invalid information. You also lose the ability to track who has changed your information because SQL*Plus and other database tools do not keep a record of changes.

Warning: Oracle Applications does not support any customization of Oracle Application Object Library tables or modules, even by Oracle consultants. Oracle Application Object Library table names begin with "FND_".

Do not write data directly into or change data in FND_ tables through any custom program or using any tool, including SQL*Plus, Oracle Data Browser, database triggers or other programming tools. You risk corrupting your database and damaging all your applications.

Consequently, we STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you never use SQL*Plus, Oracle Data Browser, database triggers, or any other tool to modify Oracle Applications tables, unless we tell you to do so in our installation, implementation, or open interface guides.

Warning About Changing Data

See Also