18
The Financial Analyzer Web Interface

Chapter summary

This chapter describes how to access, navigate, and exit Financial Analyzer in the Web environment.

List of topics

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Accessing Financial Analyzer through the Web Interface

• Financial Analyzer Page

• Document Workspace

• Navigation List

• Online Help

• Closing a Financial Analyzer Web Session

Accessing Financial Analyzer through the Web Interface

Description: Financial Analyzer Web interface

The Financial Analyzer Web interface provides access to reports, graphs, and data entry forms through a browser.

System requirements

In addition to the standard Financial Analyzer server components, the following server components must be installed:

• Express Server, including Oracle Express Web Agent. The following configuration options must be selected in Express Configuration Manager:
  • The WebAuthenticationType property on the Web Agent tab must be set to FORM.

  • The RequirePasswordEncryption property on the Security tab must be set to NO and the RequiredSecurityLevel property must be set to HOST or NONE.

• A supported Web server such as Apache.

For more information, refer to Express Server and Express Web Agent documentation.

Browser requirements

Users must have an appropriate browser installed on the PC. For information about browser requirements, refer to the release notes for Oracle Express Web Agent.

User requirements

To access Financial Analyzer through the Web interface, you must have a valid user ID. You must also be set up as a user in Financial Analyzer.

Methods of access

Financial Analyzer can be configured for direct access, or for access through Oracle Applications. Your Express system administrator will tell you which method to use and will provide the required URL and login information.

Login tips

Following are some guidelines for logging in:

• If the system prompts you to download certain files to your machine for local storage, accept the files. This will enable the browser to load Web files only once.

• Check that cookies are enabled for your browser. If you do not accept cookies, you cannot access the Financial Analyzer database.

• Ensure that Java and JavaScript are enabled for your browser.

• If you encounter errors, try clearing your browser's cache and resetting the browser.

• Bookmark your start page for easy access.

• Maximize your browser window. This ensures that the application will run at full size.

• If you will be using a language other than English, ensure that your browser is set to that language. The browser's language setting determines the language in which the application is displayed.

Note: Login sessions have a maximum idle time set by an Express system administrator for the Express Web Agent timeout parameter. A session will terminate automatically if it is idle for this time period.

Financial Analyzer Page

Description: Financial Analyzer page

The Financial Analyzer page appears when you access Oracle Financial Analyzer through a browser. The Financial Analyzer page is comprised of two frames: the navigation list in the left frame and the document workspace in the right frame.

Example: Financial Analyzer page

The following illustration shows the Financial Analyzer page.

Text description of the illustration ofa11i.gif

Navigation List

Description: Navigation list

The navigation list, located in the left frame of the Financial Analyzer page, enables you to work with Financial Analyzer objects such as reports, graphs, data entry forms, folders, and saved selections that have been distributed to you. If you are an analyst user, you can also use the navigation list to create, save, and view personal reports, graphs, folders, and saved selections.

Example: Navigation list

The following illustration shows how the Financial Analyzer navigation list might appear to an analyst user. The Navigation toolbar is at the top; Financial Analyzer objects populate the list.

Text description of the illustration navlist.gif

Navigation tools

The Navigation toolbar appears at the top of the navigation list. The toolbar buttons enable you to perform the following tasks.

Button	Name	Function
Text description of the illustration toolnew.gif	New	Create a new report, graph, folder, or saved selection. Note: Only analyst users have access to this command.
Text description of the illustration toolfind.gif	Find	Search for documents and saved selections by name.
Text description of the illustration delete.gif	Delete	Delete a personal report, graph, folder, or saved selection. Note: Only analyst users have access to this command.
Text description of the illustration toolrfsh.gif	Refresh View	Refresh your view of the shared database. If there are pending data submission tasks, you will be warned that the associated data will not be visible until these tasks have been processed.
Text description of the illustration tooltask.gif	View Pending Updates	View information about pending submission tasks.
Text description of the illustration toolexit.gif	Exit	Exit Financial Analyzer.
Text description of the illustration help.gif	Help	Access Financial Analyzer HTML Help.

Navigation list icons

The icons that appear in the navigation list depend on your user privileges and the objects that have been distributed to you. The following table illustrates objects that might appear in your navigation list. The table also lists the commands that are accessible when you right-click an object.

Object	Description	Right-click Commands
Text description of the illustration flddoco.gif	Main Documents folder; contains documents and document folders	New Report New Graph Paste New Folder Find Documents Note: Only analyst users can create new reports, graphs, and folders and use the Paste command.
Text description of the illustration mobjfldr.gif	Public (shared) documents folder	Find Documents Properties
Text description of the illustration mobjrep.gif	Report that has been distributed to you	Open Print Properties
Text description of the illustration mobjgrph.gif	Graph that has been distributed to you	Open Print Properties
Text description of the illustration mobjwrk.gif	Data entry form that has been distributed to you	Open Print Properties
Text description of the illustration objfldr.gif	User-defined folder Note: Only analyst users see this object.	Rename Delete Paste Find Documents Properties
Text description of the illustration objrep.gif	User-defined report Note: Only analyst users see this object.	Open Rename Delete Print Cut Copy Submit documents Properties
Text description of the illustration objgrph.gif	User-defined graph Note: Only analyst users see this object.	Open Rename Delete Print Cut Copy Paste Properties
Text description of the illustration fldsselc.gif	System folder for saved selections	New Saved Selection Find Note: Only analyst users can define new saved selections.
Text description of the illustration fldaggsb.gif	System folder for saved selections within a dimension	New Saved Selection Find Note: Only analyst users can define new saved selections.
Text description of the illustration mobjssel.gif	Saved selection that has been distributed to you	View Properties
Text description of the illustration objssel.gif	User-defined saved selection Note: Only analyst users see this object.	Edit Rename Delete Properties

Document Workspace

Description: Document workspace

When you open or create a document, the document is displayed in the document workspace. You can work with the following types of Financial Analyzer documents:

• Reports -- Display data in tabular format. For information about working with reports in the Web environment, see Chapter 19.

• Graphs -- Display data in graphical format. For information about working with graphs in the Web environment, see Chapter 19.

• Data Entry forms -- Enable users to enter data and submit the data to the shared database. For information about working with data entry forms in the Web environment, see Chapter 20.

Adjusting the document workspace for reports and graphs

By default, when you open a report or graph, the document appears in the right frame of the workspace, while the navigation list appears in the left frame.

You can adjust the size of the document workspace for an open report or graph as follows:

• Use the minimize button at the top of the navigation list to minimize the navigation list.

  
  
  Text description of the illustration min.gif

  The current document expands to full screen size and overlays the navigation list.

• Use the restore button at the top of the navigation list to restore the navigation list.

  
  
  Text description of the illustration norm.gif

  The current document returns to its default size.

Example: Document in expanded workspace

The following example illustrates a sample report as it would appear after the document workspace has been enlarged. Note how the document overlays the navigation list. This contrasts with the default display shown in "Example: Financial Analyzer page.

Text description of the illustration bigpage.gif

Data entry forms always display in an expanded workspace

A data entry form always occupies the entire document workspace. You must close the form in order to access the navigation list.

Online Help

Accessing help

Use the Help button, located on the Navigation toolbar to access the Financial Analyzer HTML Help system.

Text description of the illustration help.gif

When a document is open, you can also click the Help button on the Document toolbar to access help.

Displaying Help for a specific task

Each function includes a Help button. Click this button to view instructions for the task at hand.

Printing Help

You can use your browser's print function to print Help files.

Closing a Financial Analyzer Web Session

Procedure: Closing a Web session

To close Financial Analyzer, click the Close button on the Navigation toolbar.

Text description of the illustration toolexit.gif

Alternatively, you can click the Windows close button (X), located in the upper right corner of the screen. This closes the browser as well as the application.

What happens when you close Financial Analyzer?

Exiting terminates the application immediately. If you are an analyst user and you have modified an open document, you will be prompted to save the document.