In Oracle Apps Interfaces are generally tables, which act as a medium to transfer the data from one module to another module or to transfer the data from legacy system into Oracle Applications. There are 352 tables provided by the Oracle Package. Each module has its own Interface Tables.
A typical path to transfer the data from Legacy System to Oracle Apps:

What is Interfacing?

It is the process of converting the records from one format to another format. The main components of this interfacing are
• Transfer Program
• Interface Table and
• Import Program
A] Transfer Program:
If the source modules data are implemented in Oracle Applications then the Transfer Programs are integrated with the Package. If the source modules are implemented in external system (i.e. other than Oracle Applications) then we have to develop our own Transfer Programs. Generally these Transfer Programs are developed using PL/SQL, JAVA or SQL Loader.

What they do?

  • It maps the columns of source table with the columns of Interface Tables.
  • It performs Row Level and Column Level validations.
  • It transfers the data from Source to the Interface Table.

B] Interface Tables:
The Interface tables basically have 4 types of columns.

  1. Mandatory Columns.
  2. Conditionally Required Columns.
  3. Optional Columns.
  4. Internal Processing Columns.

Mandatory Columns:
These are the main columns which are required in the destination tables (i.e. Oracle Application Module Tables). With the help of mandatory columns only the Import Program will converts the records from source to destination.
Conditionally Required Columns:
The values for these columns are based on the values of Mandatory columns. For Example: If you are converting foreign currency transactions to INR then it as compulsory to provide conditionally required columns like Currency conversion rate, Conversion Time and Conversion Date.
Optional Columns:
These are used when a client wanted to transfer some additional information from source to destination. These are based on client’s requirement.
Internal Processing Columns:
Status and Error Message columns are called Internal Processing Columns. These are specific only to Interface Table. These columns are going to be used by the Import Program to update the status and error message, if the record fails its validation while importing from Interface Table to the Destination Table.
C] Import Program:
For all Interface Tables, Oracle Application Package is going to provide Import Programs. These are generally registered with destination modules. These Import Programs are designed using PL/SQL, JAVA, C, C++, etc.
What they do?

  • It maps the columns of the Interface Table with one or more columns in the destination table.
  • It performs row level and column level validation.
  • It imports the data from Interface Table to the Destination tables, if the records validated successfully.
  • It deletes all the successfully validated records from Interface Table.
  • If the record fails its validation then the Import Program will update the status and error message columns of Interface Table.

Interface Vs. Application Program Interface (API):

Interfaces are used to transfer the data from legacy system to Oracle Application system where as API is used to convert the data from one form to another form with in the Oracle Application Module.

This interface helps us to import vendor invoices into Oracle applications from external systems into Oracle Applications.

Interface tables: 

1] AP_INVOICES_INTERFACE
This is the open interface table for importing AP Invoices from external sources and stores header information about invoices. Invoice data comes from sources including:

  • EDI invoices from suppliers that are loaded through Oracle e-Commerce Gateway
  • Supplier invoices that are transferred through the Oracle XML Gateway
  • Invoices that are loaded using Oracle SQL*Loader
  • Lease invoices from Oracle Property Manager
  • Lease payments from Oracle Assets
  • Credit card transaction data that are loaded using the Credit Card Invoice Interface Summary
  • Expense Report invoices from Oracle Internet Expenses
  • Payment Requests from Receivables
  • Invoices that are entered through the Invoice Gateway.

There is one row for each invoice you import. Oracle Payables application uses this information to create invoice header information when Payables Open Interface program is submitted.
Data in the AP_INVOICES_INTERFACE table used in conjunction with AP_INVOICE_LINES_INTERFACE table to create Payables Invoice, Invoice lines, Distributions and Schedule payments. Data in this table can be viewed and edited using ‘Open Interface Invoices’ window. The Payables Open Interface program validates each record in this interface table selected for import, and if the record contains valid data then the program creates a Payables Invoice.

Important columns: 
INVOICE_ID (Required) : Unique identifier for this invoice within this batch. Same value should be populated in invoice’s lines in the AP_INVOICE_LINES_INTERFACE table to identify the data as belonging to the same invoice.
INVOICE_NUM (Required) :  Enter the invoice number that needs to be assigned to the invoice created in Payables from this record.
INVOICE_TYPE_LOOKUP_CODE (Optional) : Type of invoice: Credit or Standard.
INVOICE DATE (Optional) : Date of the invoice. If you do not enter a value, the system uses the date you submit Payables Open Interface Import as the invoice date.
PO_NUMBER (Optional)  : Purchase order number from PO_HEADERS.SEGMENT1. This column needs to be populated if invoice to be matched with an purchase order.
VENDOR_ID & VENDOR_SITE_ID (Required) : VENDOR_ID is unique identifier for a supplier and VENDOR_SITE_ID is Internal supplier site identifier. Supplier of the invoice to be derived by value in one of the following columns in this table: VENDOR_ID, VENDOR_NUM, VENDOR_NAME, VENDOR_SITE_ID or PO_NUMBER.
VENDOR_NUM & VENDOR_NAME (Optional) : Supplier number and name. You must identify the supplier by entering a value for one of the following columns in this table: VENDOR_ID, VENDOR_NUM, VENDOR_SITE_ID, VENDOR_SITE CODE, or PO_NUMBER.
INVOICE_AMOUNT (Required) : Amount of the invoice.
INVOICE_CURRENCY_CODE (Optional)  : Currency code for the invoice. If you want to create foreign currency invoices, enter a currency code that is different from your functional currency.
EXCHANGE_RATE (Optional) :  This column is required if you enter a foreign currency code in the INVOICE_CURRENCY_CODE column and you enter User as the EXCHANGE_RATE_TYPE.
TERMS_ID (Optional) : Internal identifier for the payment terms.
DESCRIPTION (Optional) : Enter the description that you want to assign to the invoice created from this record.
SOURCE (Required) : Source of the invoice data. If you import EDI invoices from the Oracle EDI Gateway, the source is EDI Gateway. For invoices you import using SQL*Loader, use a QuickCode with the type Source that you have defined in the QuickCodes window in Payables.
2] AP_INVOICE_LINES_INTERFACE
This is the lines interface table for the AP Invoice Open Interface and it is used in conjunction with AP_INVOICE_INTERFACE table. AP_INVOICE_LINES_INTERFACE stores information used to create one or more invoice distributions. Note that one row in this table may create, during the import process, more than one invoice distribution.
Important columns: 
INVOICE_ID (Required) :Enter the INVOICE_ID of the corresponding invoice in the AP_INVOICES_INTERFACE table. 
INVOICE_LINE_ID : This value is not required. You can enter a unique number for each invoice line of an invoice.
LINE_NUMBER (Optional) : You can enter a unique number to identify the line.
LINE_TYPE_LOOKUP_CODE (Required) : Enter the lookup code for the type of invoice distribution that you want Payables Open Interface Import to create from this record. The code you enter must be ITEM, TAX, MISCELLANEOUS, or FREIGHT. These lookup codes are stored in the AP_LOOKUP_CODES table.
AMOUNT (Required) : The invoice distribution amount. If you are matching to a purchase order, the AMOUNT = QUANTITY_INVOICED x UNIT PRICE. If the total amount of all the invoice distributions does not equal the amount of the invoice that has the same INVOICE_ID, then Payables Open Interface Import will reject the invoice.

Concurrent program:  

Payables Open Interface Import
Parameters:
Source: Choose the source of the invoices from the list of values. Use EDI Gateway, Credit Card, or a Source type QuickCode you defined in the Payables QuickCodes window.
Group: To limit the import to invoices with a particular Group ID, enter the Group ID. The Group must exactly match the GROUP_ID in the Payables Open Interface tables.
Batch Name: Payables groups the invoices created from the invoices you import and creates an invoice batch with the batch name you enter. You can enter a batch name only if you have enabled the Use Batch Control Payables option, and if you have enabled the Use Batch Control Payables option, you must enter a batch name. If you use a batch name and some invoices are rejected during the import process, you can import the corrected invoices into the same batch if you enter the exact batch name during the subsequent import.
Hold Name: If you want to place all invoices on hold at the time of import, enter an Invoice Hold Reason. You can define your own hold reasons in the Invoice Approvals window.
Hold Reason: Payables displays the Invoice Hold Reason Description.
GL Date: If you want to assign a specific GL Date to all invoices, enter a GL Date. If you do not enter a value here, the system will assign a GL Date based on the GL Date Payables option.
Purge: Enter Yes if you want Payables to delete all successfully imported invoice records that match the Source and Group ID of this import. Payables does not delete any invoice data for which it has not yet created invoices. If you want to purge later, you can use the Payables Open Interface Purge Program.
 Steps:
1] Firstly, let’s get a unique number to be used as INVOICE_ID to the invoice to be imported.  This method ensures that each invoice has a unique INVOICE_ID assignment.
 select ap_invoices_interface_s.nextval from dual;
NEXTVAL
————-
132277

 2] Then, create records in the Invoice Open Interface tables through SQL queries.

insert into AP_INVOICES_INTERFACE (
            invoice_id,
            invoice_num,
            vendor_id,
            vendor_site_id,
            invoice_amount,
            INVOICE_CURRENCY_CODE,
            invoice_date,
            DESCRIPTION,
            PAY_GROUP_LOOKUP_CODE,
            source,
            org_id
                )
values (
            132277,
            ‘INV100’,
            ‘7124’,
            ‘11792’,
            1200.00,
            ‘USD’,
            to_date(’01-31-2010′,’mm-dd-yyyy’),
            ‘This Invoice is created for test purpose’,
            ‘WUFS SUPPLIER’,
            ‘Manual Invoice Entry’,
            81
);

insert into AP_INVOICE_LINES_INTERFACE (
            invoice_id,
            line_number,
            line_type_lookup_code,
            amount
            )
values     (
            132277,
            1,
            ‘ITEM’,
            1200.00
);
3] You can go to Payables > Invoices > Entry > Open Interface Invoices to check the details of Invoice and Invoice Lines from the front end. If required you can do any modifications here. Alternatively you can use these forms to put invoice data in AP_INVOICES_INTERFACE and AP_INVOICE_LINES_INTERFACE tables.
4] Go to the front end and run the concurrent program “Payables Open Interface Import”  to submit a request for Invoice Import.

Output:

output of Payables Open Interface Import

5] The imported invoice becomes available for review in Invoices Workbench.

Interface Invoice through Invoice Bench