Release 12.1
Part Number E12902-04
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This chapter covers the following topics:
Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator brings Oracle E-Business Suite functionality to the desktop where the familiar Microsoft Excel, Word, and Project applications can be used to complete your Oracle E-Business Suite tasks. This guide provides instructions on using the Microsoft Excel functionality. For further information on using the Word and Project features, see the Oracle HRMS Configuring, Reporting, and System Administration Guide and the Oracle Projects Implementation Guide.
The Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator integration with Microsoft Excel enables you to bring your Oracle E-Business Suite data to a spreadsheet where familiar data entry and modeling techniques can be used to complete Oracle E-Business Suite tasks. You can create formatted spreadsheets on your desktop that allow you to download, view, edit, and create Oracle E-Business Suite data. Use data entry shortcuts (such as copying and pasting or dragging and dropping ranges of cells) or Excel formulas to calculate amounts to save time. You can combine speed and accuracy by invoking lists of values for fields within the spreadsheet.
After editing the spreadsheet, you can use the Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator validation functionality to validate the data before uploading it to Oracle E-Business Suite. Validation messages are returned to the spreadsheet, allowing you to identify and correct invalid data.
The fields that appear in the spreadsheet, their positions, and their default values can all be customized through the Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator Layout functionality. This allows you to create a more productive work environment by removing unnecessary fields from the spreadsheet, and by organizing the spreadsheet in a way that conforms to your practices.
Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator includes the following features:
Works Via Internet
Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator uses Internet computing architecture to lower the total cost of ownership by having the product centrally installed and maintained. No installation is required on client machines; you need only a Web browser and Microsoft Excel. This architecture also provides superior performance over a WAN or dialup connection, since the exchange between client and server is simplified through the use of HTML.
Presents Oracle E-Business Suite Data in a Spreadsheet Interface
Spreadsheets provide a familiar interface that is common in the business environment. You can use familiar editing capabilities such as copying and pasting data, and moving ranges of cells to create or edit large amounts of data. Recurring data entry is possible by saving a spreadsheet, and then uploading it at needed intervals, such as every month or every quarter. Spreadsheets offer additional flexibility in the way work is done; they can be sent to others for approval or review, and they can be edited when disconnected from a network.
Validates Data
All data in the spreadsheet can be validated against Oracle E-Business Suite business rules before it is uploaded. This includes validation against key and descriptive flexfields. Data is validated against accounts, segment security rules, and cross validation rules. If any errors are found, messages are returned directly to the spreadsheet, enabling you to correct the errors and successfully upload the data.
Enables Customizations
You can use the layout functionality to determine what fields appear in your spreadsheet, where they appear, and if they contain default values. These definitions can be saved, reused, and modified as needed.
Automatically Imports Data
Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator automatically imports data into your Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator spreadsheets whenever you create them. This information can come from the Oracle E-Business Suite or from a text file. Imported information can be quickly modified in Excel, validated, and uploaded to the Oracle E-Business Suite. This feature can be useful when migrating data from a legacy system to the Oracle E-Business Suite.
The Oracle E-Business Suite task you perform on the desktop is determined by the integrator you select in Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator. Each seeded integrator is delivered with the Oracle E-Business Suite product that provides the functionality being integrated with the desktop. Additional information specific to each seeded integrator can be found in the product-specific documentation. For additional information about any custom integrators developed at your site using Oracle E-Business Suite Desktop Integration Framework, consult your system administrator.
You can access Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator functionality through a Self Service link on your personal home page.
The following are the prerequisites for Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator:
Client PC with Windows NT 4.0 (with Service Pack 3 or later), Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Vista installed on it.
A Web browser supported by Oracle E-Business Suite installed on the client PC.
See My Oracle Support Knowledge Document 389422.1, Recommended Browsers for Oracle E-Business Suite, for the list of supported browsers.
Microsoft Excel 2000, 2002, 2003, or 2007 installed on the client PC.
In Microsoft Excel 2002 and higher, you must select the macro security settings that you want to enable the macros used by Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator. You can choose to set a medium macro security level, in which case you are prompted to enable the macros each time you open an Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator spreadsheet. Alternatively, you can set the BNE Enable Digital Signature profile option in Oracle E-Business Suite to have Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator affix a digital signature to the spreadsheets you create. In this case, you can select a high macro security level in Microsoft Excel. After you initially identify the Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator macros as coming from a trusted source, Microsoft Excel automatically allows the macros to run.
If you choose not to use digital signatures in Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator, then you must set your Microsoft Excel macro security to let you enable macros on a case by case basis. The steps to do so may vary depending on your version of Microsoft Excel. For example:
For Microsoft Excel 2002 or 2003:
From the Tools menu, select Macro, then Security, and then Security Level.
In the Security Level tab, select the Medium option.
In the Trusted Sources tab, select the Trust access to Visual Basic Project option.
For Microsoft Excel 2007:
Choose the Microsoft Office button, and then choose Excel Options. In the Trust Center category, choose Trust Center Settings, and then the Macro Settings category.
Select the Disable all macros with notification option.
Select the Trust access to the VBA project object model option.
If you want to use digital signatures in Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator, set the BNE Enable Digital Signature profile option to Yes. When this option is set, Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator affixes a digital signature to the spreadsheets you create. You can then select a macro security level in Microsoft Excel that requires digital signatures. The steps to do so may vary depending on your version of Microsoft Excel. For example:
For Microsoft Excel 2002 or 2003:
From the Tools menu, select Macro, then Security, and then Security Level.
In the Security Level tab, select the High option.
In the Trusted Sources or Trusted Publishers tab, select the Trust access to Visual Basic Project option.
For Microsoft Excel 2007:
Choose the Microsoft Office button, and then choose Excel Options. In the Trust Center category, choose Trust Center Settings, and then the Macro Settings category.
Select the Disable all macros except digitally signed macros option.
Select the Trust access to the VBA project object model option.
If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer as your Web browser, select the following downloads setting so that you can download the spreadsheets created by Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator to your desktop.
From the Tools menu, select Internet Options and then select the Security tab.
Select the zone in which you are working, such as Trusted Sites, and select the Custom level button.
In the Downloads settings, select Enable for the File download option.
Additionally, if you use Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or 8, select the following scripting setting so that Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator can complete the spreadsheet creation process.
From the Tools menu, select Internet Options and then select the Security tab.
Select the zone in which you are working, such as Trusted Sites, and select the Custom level button.
In the Scripting settings, select Enable for the Allow status bar updates via script option.
Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator uses the following process to upload data to Oracle E-Business Suite:
Define a layout that determines what fields appear in your spreadsheet (conditional).
Note: Layouts may already be defined for your spreadsheet. See the product-specific documentation to determine if you are required to define the layout.
Define a mapping to allow data to be imported into the spreadsheet (conditional).
Note: A mapping may already be defined for your spreadsheet. See the product-specific documentation to determine if you are required to define a mapping.
Create the spreadsheet.
If the spreadsheet integration allows upload, you can upload the data to the Oracle E-Business Suite.
Monitor the progress of your upload.
System Administrators can access Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator functionality from the Desktop Integration responsibility. Use this responsibility to access the following functionality:
Create Document
Define Layout
Define Mapping
Setup Options
Define Stylesheet
Manage Document Links
System Administrators can also edit mappings and layouts for all integrators.
Because Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator can be integrated with Oracle E-Business Suite applications according to product-specific business flows, end user access depends on individual product implementations.
Generally, the product implementation follows one of two methods:
The product integrates the generate spreadsheet functionality within its own functional page flow. Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator is used in the background to generate the spreadsheet. This is the most common method.
The product provides a self-service menu item that invokes the Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator Create Document page flow.
See the product-specific documentation for details on accessing the Desktop Integration functionality.
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