A journey from Oracle E-Business Suite R12.1 to R12.2:

I will try to analyze architectural overview of the latest updates, installation and upgrade options, new configuration options, and new tools for hot-cloning and automated “lights out” cloning in R12.2.

Oracle E-Business Suite 12.1 Architecture
Oracle E-Business Suite 12.2 Architecture

Release 12.2 will replace Oracle Containers for Java (OC4J) 10g with WebLogic Server 11g

Release 12.2 Database tier will run RDBMS 11gR2 to support online patching

There will be number of updates coming in release R12.2, from a technology stack perspective, EBS 12.2 will be notable for two things:

1-Replacing Oracle Containers for Java (OC4J) 10g with WebLogic Server 11g

EBS 12.2 will use WebLogic Server from Fusion Middleware 11g in place of OC4J 10g as part of the release’s internal technology stack. Other additional new Fusion Middleware 11g components used will include WebLogic JSP and UIX 11g

2-Online Patching support via 11gR2 Edition-Based Redefinition

EBS 12.2 will use the 11gR2 Database’s Edition-Based Redefinition features to provide support for Online Patching. Edition-Based Redefinition is really exciting new technology. From the 11gR2 Application Developer’s Guide:

“Edition-based redefinition enables you to upgrade the database component of an application while it is in use, thereby minimizing or eliminating down time.

“To upgrade an application while it is in use, you copy the database objects that comprise the application and redefine the copied objects in isolation. Your changes do not affect users of the application—they continue to run the unchanged application. When you are sure that your changes are correct, you make the upgraded application available to all users.”

It is not released yet but It will include significant changes to the Application Server architecture, It will use RDBMS Version 11gR2 or higher, It will change Patching, Cloning, the User Experience

Comparison of Oracle E-Business Suite 12.1 vs 12.2 Installation Steps
Oracle E-Business Suite 12.1 installation

Database Technology Stack
Database
Apps Technology Stack
Apps File System

Oracle E-Business Suite 12.2 installation
Following will be main features planned for R12.2 installations:
Native Technology Stack Install
Database RMAN Restore
Dual File System
Optional 11g Home for Upgrades
WebLogic Server (WLS)

Graphical UI to manage WLS Domain
Administration (Start/Stop WLS Instances)
Configuration (Config and Deploy, Cluster, Host, JDBC, JMS Messaging)
Monitoring (Server & Application Performance)
Troubleshooting (Performance Tuning, Log Viewer)

Following will be main features planned for R12.2 Native Technology Stack Install:
Better integration with Oracle
Universal Installer
Faster Technology Stack Installation
Silent-mode calls to install and configure Oracle Database 11.2, WebLogic Server (WLS) and Oracle HTTP Server (OHS)
AutoConfig Integration

Following will be main features planned for R12.2 Database RMAN Restore:
Simplifies Integration with Grid Infrastructure
Seamless integration with different storage methods (OCFS2, NFS, etc)
Faster integration with Automatic Storage Management (ASM)

Following will be main features planned for R12.2 Dual File System:
Online Patching allows users to continue using the application while patching
Dual File System allows replacing files with minimum downtime
Improves High Availability

Dual Port Pool configuration
Easier port assignments
Allows port customization in runtime and patching file systems

Following will be main features planned for R12.2 Optional 11g Home for Upgrades:
Allow integration with an existing 11gR2 Oracle Home
Simplified Technology Stack Upgrade
Reduced Upgrade time

Following will be main features planned for R12.2 WebLogic Server (WLS):
Graphical User Interface
WebLogic Scripting Tool (WLST)
High Availability & Failover
Consolidated Administration, Configuration and Deployment
Monitoring & Messaging
Troubleshooting framework
Integration with OAM

Flex fields – Order Management
  1. What are the Key flex fields owned by Order Management
Ans: Nil. OM Does not own any key flex fields.

OM System Parameters:-

  1. What is Item Validation Organization in Order Management
Ans: In Order Management, the Item Validation Organization parameter indicates the Oracle Manufacturing organization against which items are validated.
You set the Item Validation Organization parameter in the Parameters window, and can only set the value to the operating unit associated with your current sign on responsibility. You must also define all transact able items in this organization.
  1. What is the Navigation to set up Item Validation Organization.
Ans: Order Management > Setup > System Parameters > Values
Under above: In Generic Parameters : Item Validation Organization
  1. What is the purpose of setting up OM System Parameters?
Ans: Setting up parameters enable to Validate items, to enable customer relationships and to provide operating unit defaults.
New parameters can be defined and values to those parameters can be defined using different sources like SQL and Constant values.
  1. What is the navigation to Define OM System Parameters
Ans: Order Management > Setup > System Parameters > Define
  1. What are the possible Value sets that can be associated with the OM System Parameters
Ans: None or Table .
For seeded parameters make sure that you use a value set that begins with “ONT.”
  1. Which look up type controls the OM Sys Parameters category
Ans: “OM_PARAMETER_CATEGORY.”
To create a new category, add the lookup code in the lookup type “OM_PARAMETER_CATEGORY” and then enter that lookup type in your parameter definition window.
  1. In which level OM System Parameter values are set?
Ans: Parameter values are set at the operating unit level
  1. What are the seed System parameter categories provided by Oracle
Ans:

Parameter Categories Parameters

Approval Parameters: 1) No Response from the Approver
Default Value: Reject
Alternative Value: Continue
Note: If the approver is the final approver on the list and does not respond, the transaction will be rejected regardless of the parameter value.
Copy Parameters 1Call line DFF extension API in COPY
Default value for Action- Copy Complete Configuration

Generic Parameters 1) Audit Trail 2) Customer Relation Ships
3) Default Hint for Pricing and Availability
4) Enable Freight Ratings 5) Enable Ship Method
6) Item Validation Organization 7) Margin Calculation
8) OM: Configuration Date Effectively
Payment parameters 1) Allow Multiple Payments
Yes: Allows multiple payments per order AND to use the full/partial down payment feature. Enables navigation to the Payments window from the Sale Order form using the Payments Action.
2) Authorize first installment only
Retro billing Type 1) Default Order Type 2) Enable Retro billing
3) Retro Bill Reason Code
Scheduling Parameters 1)Allow Partial Reservations
2) Firm Demand Events
3) Latest Acceptable Date
4) Promise Date Setup
5) Reschedule with request Date change
6) Reschedule with Ship method change

OM – Tax features:-

  1. What are the Tax Related Processing Constraints
Through the use of seeded processing constraints, Order Management does not allow a user to:
• Enter/Change Tax Code on Order Line if the profile option Tax: Allow Override of Tax Code is set to NO.
• Enter/Change Tax Handling, Tax Exemption Number and Tax Exemption Reason when the profile option Tax: Allow Override of Customer Exemptions is set to NO.
• Update Tax Exempt Number, Reason, or any other tax related .fields once an invoice has been generated.
If your business process allows tax information to be updated after an invoice has been created, you must modify the seeded processing constraints that affect updating tax information.
  1. At what stages tax calculation can occur in OM
Ans: Entry, Booking Or Invoicing
Tax calculation for the above events can only be controlled at the order level (not at the order line level). You specify when to calculate the tax for an entire order when you create Order Types within the Order Management transaction Types window.
Tax Calculation at Entry
With tax calculation at Entry, tax is calculated as each order line is entered. This tax calculation is used, for example, in businesses that requires the user performing order entry to view the total of the order, including tax, so it can be quoted to a customer. To include tax in Commitment Applied Amount, set the tax event to Entry.
Tax Calculation at Booking
When tax calculation occurs at Booking, tax is calculated on each of the booked order lines. This tax calculation option is used, for example, in business that require tax visibility for booked orders, but who want to increase order entry input times by not calculating tax at entry.
Tax Calculation at Invoicing
When tax calculation occurs at Invoicing, no tax calculations will occur within Order Management. Tax calculation will occur in Oracle Receivables when the order or order line is invoiced.
  1. How you will calculate tax for an order while entering sales order?
Ans: To calculate tax at any time, select Calculate Tax from the Actions button menu within the Sales Order or Order Organizer windows.
  1. What are OM Tax security options
Ans: Order Management enables you to update the tax security information on an order or return by setting the Tax: Allow Override of Customer Exemption profile option. This profile option controls the modification of the Tax Handling Status, Reason & Certificate .fields at the order header and order line levels. Standard tax calculations can be overridden by setting the profile option to Yes. The Tax: Allow Override of Tax Code profile option determines whether the defaulted tax code on an order line can be updated.

Quick Codes(Order Management Lookups):-

  1. What are various set ups for which we can create Quick Codes
Ans: Cancellation Codes • Credit Cards • Freight Terms • Hold Types • Note Usage Formats • Release Reasons • Sales Channels • Shipment Priorities, etc.
  1. What is the navigation to define Quick codes
Ans: Order Management > Setup > Quick Codes > Order Management.

Document Sequences for Order Numbering:

  1. What is document sequence:
Ans: A document sequence is a range of numbers that can be used for an order type and is defined by a numbering method (automatic, manual or gapless) and the beginning order number.
  1. Can you assign a Single document sequence to all your Sales documents
Yes
  1. Can sales documents contain alphabetic characters
No
  1. What are various types of Document sequence numbering methods
Automatic: The system automatically increment document numbers. Automatic sequences do not guarantee contiguous numbering.
• Gapless: The system guarantees that the numbers returned are contiguous. Order Management prevents deletion of orders that have been numbered using the gapless numbering sequence.
• Manual: The user must specify a unique document number.
  1. Which profile option should be considered while implementing Document Sequence Numbering
Ans: Set the profile option Sequential Numbering to Always Used at the Order Management Application level.
  1. What is the navigation to define Document sequence
Ans: Order Management > Setup > Documents > Define.
  1. What Document sequence category ?
Ans: A document category is a specific type of document such as a sales order or a purchase order. These are used in many Oracle applications for key entities. In Order Management when you create an order transaction type the system automatically creates a document category with the same name. This is used to assign the numbering sequence to the order type.
  1. What is the navigation to assign Document sequence to Order Transaction Type
Ans: To assign your order type to a document sequence navigate to Setup -> Documents -> Assign.
  1. Can you change the Document sequence assignment for an order type
Ans: No. you cannot change the assignment for an order type and set of books. To change the assignment you must assign an end date to the existing assignment and create a new one for the new assignment. You cannot have more than one assignment for the same date range, document type and set of books.

Transaction Types (Order Types)

  1. What is transaction type?
Ans: The transaction types determine what workflow the order and line will have and also it acts a source for defaulting and to establish processing controls. For each order type, you can assign a default price list, defaulting rules, order lines, return lines, line types, workflow assignments, payment terms, and freight terms, etc.
It also controls order numbering, credit check rules and workflow of header and line
Main : Document – Agreement type, Whether agreement required, PO required
Default return line type, default order line type
Pricing – Enforce Price list , Default price list, Minimum margin percentage
Credit Check rule – Ordering, Picking, Picking/Purchase release, Shipping
Shipping: None of the fields in the shipping tab are applicable to BSAs
Warehouse , Shipment Priority, FOB, Demand Class, Inspection Required, Line
Shipping method, freight terms, Shipping source type, Scheduling Level, Auto Schedule, and Fulfillment set
Finance: None of the fields in the Finance tab are applicable to BSAs
Rule: Invoicing Rule , Accounting Rule
Source: Invoice Source, Non Delivery Invoice Source
Credit Method for: Invoice with Rules: , Split Term Invoices
Receivable Transaction type, Tax event, COGS Account, Currency, Conversion type
  1. Assignment of line flows are required for Quotes
No.
  1. Can you change the existing line flow assigned to a order type
No. Once you have created a document using an order type you cannot change the existing line workflow Assignments. Instead, enter an end date for the existing assignment and enter a new Assignment for the for the new workflow.
Defaulting Rules:-
  1. What is defaulting rules
Ans: Defaulting rules enables to define rules to determine the source and prioritization for defaulting order information to reduce the amount of information you must enter manually in the Sales Orders window For most fields, you can assign one or more defaulting sources in a priority sequence, or, if the default is always the same, you can define a constant value.
  1. Which program to be run after updating defaulting rules?
Ans: Defaulting Generator concurrent program must be run to generate new defaulting packages. This can be run from Tools menu while updating parameters
  1. What is the navigation to define Defaulting rules?
Order Management > Set Up > Rules ? Defaulting
  1. What do u mean by Entity in Defaulting rules
Ans: The Entity field displays the name of the object for which defaulting rules and conditions are being defined such as the order line.
Entity means a group of related attributes that correspond to a table or forms in Order Management. Examples of Entities : Line Payment, Order Header, Order Line, Order Payment,
An ‘Attribute’ is a field or column that belongs to that entity. Fox example: Ordered Quantity UOM is an attribute of Order Line Entity
  1. Can you create new record in Attribute Region
No. You are not allowed to enter new record
  1. What is defaulting source and mention those sources
A defaulting rule source is the location from which you obtain a defaulting value; Defaulting sources: Constant Value, Application Profile (Profile Options), Same record, Related record, System Variable, PL/SQL API, WAD Attribute, WAD Object Attribute
  1. Defaulting are set at which responsibility? ***
Ans: Defaulting rules are defined at Application Level.

Credit Checking Rules

  1. How the credit checking is implemented?
Ans: To implement credit checking, set the following
Use the Profile classes, Payment Terms that are checked credit check box and
Assign the credit-checking rule in OM Transaction type
  1. What are Credit checking rules?
Ans: Order Management credit check rules enable you to determine what credit checking criteria is used when determining credit exposure during the credit checking process.
Credit check rules defines the following:
credit check level – whether Sales Order level or Sales line level
Credit hold Level – whether Sales Order level or Sales line level
Whether to include tax and freight charges ,whether to include un invoiced Orders, etc.
Order Management transaction types determine when credit checking actually occurs, and when used in conjunction with credit checking rules.
  1. What is credit profile?
Ans: Organization Credit Profiles are a set of criteria that define an operating unit’s credit policy for credit control and order credit checking. Credit Profiles include the credit limit and pertinent data needed to determine total credit exposure for orders undergoing credit checking.
Credit usage rules are assigned to Credit profiles.
  1. What is the navigation for defining credit profiles?
Order Management > Set Up > Credit > Define Credit Profiles
  1. What are Credit Usage Rules?
Ans: Credit Usage Rule Sets define the set of currencies that will share a predefined credit limit during the credit checking process, and enable the grouping of currencies for global credit checking.
Navigation: Order Management > Set Up > Credit > Define Credit Usage Rules
  1. What are various Credit Profile types and What is their Hierarchy when performing credit checking?
Ans:
• Customer: Enables you to define credit limits by currency for Customers.
• Customer Site: Enables you to define credit limits by currency for Customer Sites.
• Operating Unit Default: Enables you to set credit limits and terms, by currency, within a given operating unit
Credit Profile Limits Hierarchy when performing credit checking:
• Customer Site Profile
• Customer Credit Profile
• Operating Unit Default Credit Profile
  1. What is the purpose of Credit Profile Window?
Ans: The Credit Profile window enables users to create and maintain credit information for Operating Units and Item Categories and assigning credit usage rules to that profile.
You cannot define Credit Profiles for Customer or Customer Site by directly navigating to the Credit Profile window. Credit Profiles for Customer and Customer Sites are initially defined when entering credit information in the Credit section of theProfile-Transactions tab of the Customer and Customer Site windows. You must then assign a Credit Usage Rule to your Customer or Customer Site if you want to enable multi currency credit check.
42. What are the methods to deactivate Credit Checking
Ans: There are three ways to deactivate Credit Checking on an order:
• Use an order type that does not have an assigned credit rule
• Define the Customer Profile so that the Credit Check box is not checked
• Use payment terms for which the Credit Check box is not checked
Deactivating Credit Checking does not automatically release orders previously on credit hold. However, the next time you attempt to Book, Pick Release or Purchase Release (for drop shipments), Pack, or Ship Confirm an order which utilizes a Order Management Transaction type that enables credit checking to occur at the specified order points, or you perform an order change that trigger credit checking in the Sales Orders window, Order Management will releases the credit check hold if the order or line meets the requirements for successful credit check
43. Which hold will be applied while checking credit/
Ans: Credit check failure hold will be automatically applied when he credit check evaluation fail on orders set up to be credit checked.
Holds:
44. What are holds?
Ans: When you prevent further processing on an order through an exception, you are placing a hold on the order.
For each hold, you can specify hold security by responsibility to control which responsibilities have authority to apply and/or remove the holds you define. Holds can be defined to be specific to pick, pack, ship, or invoice interface activities. Order Management Hold database tables are striped by organization ID. Therefore, you will need to define holds for each operating unit within your enterprise structure. However, hold type quick codes only need to be defined once.
  1. Which profile options enables to modify seeded hold attributes.
Ans: OM: Modify Seeded Holds : This profile enables you to modify seeded hold attributes. Options are Yes or No. The default is No or Null.
  1. How many ways you can create holds?
Ans: You can create holds based on a combination of two criteria, such as customer and item, or item and warehouse.
  1. Can Generic Hold applied at line level?
No. Generic hold can be applied at header level only.
  1. What are various profile options that are to be considered while setting up holds
OM: Prevent Booking for Line Generic Holds : This profile controls whether a transaction will fail booking if a generic hold has been applied.
OM: Schedule Line on Hold This profile controls whether scheduling should attempt to schedule lines that are on hold. The default is set to No.
OM: Promotion Limit Violation Action : This profile controls how and where holds are placed on order lines and headers when promotion limits are exceeded in Advanced Pricing or Trade Management. Available options are: Place holds where violated, place order on hold when any violation occurs, or no holds applied. No holds applied is the default.
OM: Schedule Line on Hold This profile controls whether scheduling should attempt to schedule lines that are on hold.
OM: Modify Seeded Holds This profile, when set to yes, allows a user to modify seeded hold attributes. Use caution when activating this profile as other system parameters may interact with the seeded hold values.
  1. What is hold source
Ans: A hold source allows you to apply a particular hold to a group of existing orders, returns or lines and to new orders and lines meeting your hold criteria. Hold Sources are created to hold all current and future orders for an item, customer, order, warehouse or customer site (Bill to or Ship To locations), Blanket Sales Agreement No or a combination two attributes.
To define a hold source, navigate to (N) Order Management > Orders, Returns > Order Organizer.
Select the Tools menu, and choose Create Hold Source.
Order Management supports Hold Sources with up to two entities. The combinations of two supported entities are as follows:
• Item > Customer : • Item > Ship To Site : • Item > Bill To Site
• Item > Warehouse • Item > Blanket Number • Warehouse > Customer
• Warehouse > Ship To Site • Warehouse > Bill To Site
• Blanket Number > Ship To Site • Blanket Number > Bill To Site
• Blanket Number > Warehouse • Blanket Number > Ship To Site
• Blanket Line Number
Attachments:
50. What is the navigation to create attachments?
Order Management: Setup > Orders> Attachments >Documents
51. Defining Attachment Addition Rules
Using standard Oracle Attachment functionality, you can specify rules for automatically attaching of all types of documents to orders and order lines. You can specify that documents be applied to orders or lines for a certainCustomer, Bill To customer, Ship To customer, item, order type, and/or purchase order.
For Order Management, you can specify attachment addition rules at the order level for the following attributes for orders, quotes, or returns:
• Customer • Customer PO • Invoice To • Order Category • Order Type • Ship To
At the order line level, you can specify your attachment addition rules by specifying values for the following attributes on the order, order line, quote line, or return line:
• Customer • Inventory Item • Invoice To • Line Category Line Type • Purchase Order • Ship To
52. How you will enable automatic attachments to Sales Orders?
Ans: By setting the profile option OM: Apply Automatic Attachments: to Yes
Order Management Work Flows:
  1. What is Workflow?
Ans: Workflow technology supports routing information of any type according to user defined business rules. Business transactions, such as order placements or purchase requests, which involve various controls, routings, and approvals, can be managed more efficiently by leveraging Workflow technology.
· An order and each of its lines can follow different workflow processes,
· Different lines on an order can follow different line flows,
· Order Management provides you with seeded workflows with functional activities and sub processes. Using the Workflow Builder, you can define new function activities and notifications.
· The product comes seeded with several order and line flows. If these seeded flows do not meet your requirements you can define your own. You can use these for processing your orders and lines, by assigning them to order and line transaction types.
· Line level workflow processes are assigned based on an order type, line type, and item type combination.
  1. What are setups for using workflow in Order Management
Set up : Here are the things you need to do before using Workflow with Order Management:
· Setup “Order Management WF Administrator” Workflow item attribute
You need to assign a responsibility (role) to the Order Management Workflow item attribute “Order Management WF Administrator” for unexpected error handling. . Whenever an unexpected error occurs, a notification is sent to the responsibility assigned to “Order Management WF administrator” item attribute.
You can set this item attribute via the WF builder.
· Review seeded OM WF data and define Workflow processes via the Workflow builder: Review the seeded flows, activities, notifications, etc. Check whether the seeded data meets your business needs. 2. Create custom activities, notifications, and any other components needed to build flow processes to meet your specific business requirements. 3. Use the seeded runnable flows as examples to create your own flows, using seeded and/or custom sub-processes/activities. OR Copy a seeded workflow process to create a new workflow process and modify this newly, copied workflow process according to your business requirements.
· Setup approval notifications and OM: Notification Approver
· Setup Workflow assignments for order/line transaction types
Both order and line types are setup using the Transaction Types form.. When you define an order type, you need to assign a header workflow to it. Line level workflow processes are assigned based on an order type, line type, and item type combination.
· Setup the WF background Engine
The Workflow Background Engine processes deferred activities, wait activities and timed out activities. You need to schedule the “Workflow Background Process” concurrent program to re-submit periodically. When scheduling the concurrent program, please specify Order Management work item types as parameter so that it only picks up activities specific to Order Management work items.
  1. What is workflow Builder
Oracle Workflow Builder is used to define new workflow processes.
  1. What is workflow Engine
The Oracle Workflow component that implements a workflow process definition. The Workflow Engine manages the state of all activities for an item, automatically executes functions and sends notifications, maintains a history of completed activities, and detects error conditions and starts error processes. The Workflow Engine is implemented in server PL/SQL and activated when a call to an engine API is made.
  1. What is Purchase release?
The seeded Purchase Release sub-process interfaces information to Purchasing when order lines need to be drop-shipped.
  1. How you will see the workflow status in Order Management
To view processes for specific orders within Oracle Order Management, complete the following steps:
· Open the desired order in Oracle Order Management.
· Navigate to the Tools menu and select Workflow Status.
· A new window opens and displays the workflow status as an activities list.
· From the Activities List window you can select the order header workflow Process or the order line workflow processes associated with the order. Selecting an order line workflow process opens a new activities list for thatprocess.
· Select View Diagram under the activities list to view the actual workflow diagram.
  1. What are various work flow item types
Ans: Order Management (OM) comes seeded with the following workflow item types:
1) OM Order Header (OEOH) – All Order Header level activities and sub-processes, are seeded under this WF Item type. Header flows are started using this item type, with the header ID as the Item Key. An order flow is started when an order header is created and saved.
2) OM Order Line (OEOL) – All order line level activities and sub-processes, are seeded under this WF item type. Line flows are started using this item type, with the line ID as the item key. An order line flow is started when an order line is created and saved.
3) OM Standard (OESTD) – Common functions and lookups are seeded under this item type. No flows are started using this item type.
4) OM Change Order (OECHGORD) – Change Order Notification flows are started using this item type.
  1. What are workflows associated with OM Order Header Item Type
· Order Flow – Generic
· Order Flow – Generic with Header Level Invoice Interface
· Order Flow – Return with Approval
  1. What is Order Flow – Generic
The Order Flow – Generic workflow process is the most often used workflow in Oracle Order Management. This process includes activities that book and close the order header. This can be used with any line flow for any item type with outbound lines and return lines
Sub Process: Book – Order Manual, Close –Order
  1. What is Order Flow – Generic with Header level Invoice Interface
Ans: This work flow is used when business requires that all lines on the order invoice together at the header level. Order Flow – Generic with Header Level Invoice Interface first ensures that the order is booked before generating the invoice. After booking is complete, the process interfaces with Oracle Receivables to generate an invoice for the order. Upon completion of the invoice interface, the process closes the order.
This process must be used in conjunction with Line Flow – Generic with Header Level Invoice Interface.
Sub Processes: Book Order Manual, Header Level Invoice Interface, Close
  1. What is Order Flow- Return with Approval
Ans: This workflow is used when all lines on the order are returns and header level approval is required.
  1. What are various item types for which line flows can be assigned
1) ATO Models, Classes, Options, Items 2) Configured Item 3) Kits 4) Included Items 5) PTO Models, Classes, Options 6) Standard Items 7) Service Items
If the item type code is left blank, the specified workflow assignment applies to all item types for which there is no specific assignment. Specify an assignment for the configured item type if you plan to use the line type for ATO configurations.
  1. What are seeded line item flows associated with OM Order Line Type.
Ans The Oracle seeded processes associated with OM Order Line include the following:
Generic Processes:
1) Line Flow – Generic 2) Line Flow – Generic with Header Level Invoice Interface
3) Line Flow – Generic, With Export Compliance 4) Line Flow – Generic, Bill Only
5) Line Flow – Generic, Bill Only with Inventory Interface
6) Line Flow – Generic, Ship Only
Assemble To Order (ATO) Processes:
1) Line Flow – ATO Item 2) Line Flow – ATO Model 3) Line Flow – Configuration
Oracle Release Management Processes:
1) Line Flow – Generic with Authorize to Ship (RLM)
Inbound or Return Processes:
1) Line Flow – Return for Credit Only
2) Line Flow – Return for Credit Only with Approval
3) Line Flow – Return for Credit with Receipt
4) Line Flow – Return for Credit with Receipt and Approval
Service Item Processes:
1) Line Flow – Standard Service
  1. What is Order header flow and Line flow
Header flow consists of information about customer such as price lists, shipping parameters, Ship Methods, Warehouses etc., and these values can be used as default information for line flows.
Line flow consists of information about items, quantities ordered, price, request date, schedule ship date, schedule arrival date, source, etc.,
  1. Explain various line level Generic processes:
1) Line Flow – Generic Use this process for all items except for service items, including assemble-to-order (ATO) items, ATO models, kits, and pick-to-order (PTO) models. If, however, you are a high volume ATO user, specific Assemble to Order (ATO) Processes can improve performance.
Sub Processes: Enter Line, Schedule – Line, Create Supply Order – Line Manual, Ship Line, Manual, Invoice Interface Line,. Close-Line.
2) Line Flow – Generic with Header Level Invoice Interface :Use this process when all order lines must invoice simultaneously. Invoice is controlled by the Auto Invoice concurrent program. Set up grouping rules in Oracle Receivables if only one invoice for the order is necessary. This process must be used in conjunction with Order Flow – Generic with Header Level Invoice Interface.
Sub Processes: Enter Line, Schedule – Line, Create Supply Order – Line Manual, Ship Line, Manual, Header Level Invoice Interface-Line, Deferred, Close-Line.
3) Line Flow – Generic, With Export Compliance Select this process when products exported to a denied party must be checked. This process is commonly used in the defense industry,
Sub Processes: Enter Line, Schedule – Line, Export Compliance Screening-Line, Create Supply Order – Line Manual, Ship Line, Manual, Invoice Interface Line,. Close-Line.
4) Line Flow – Generic, Bill Only Use this process when scheduling and shipping are not necessary for an ordered item. This process fulfills the order line, then proceeds with invoice interface. For example, this process might be used if an invoice was incorrect and an adjustment must be made visible in Oracle Order Management
Sub Processes: Enter Line, Invoice Interface- Line, Deferred
5 ) Line Flow – Generic, Bill Only with Inventory Interface Use this flow when products are not shipped but inventory decrement is required. For example, some distributors have customers who pick up products in person. The inventory transaction must be accounted for, so the process line moves to invoice interface. The product is picked up, so shipping is not necessary.
Sub Processes: Enter Line, Invoice Interface- Line, Deferred
6) Line Flow – Generic, Ship Only Use this process if you must ship a product but an invoice is not necessary. This flow decrements inventory. For example, this process Selecting Workflows could be used when shipping free samples for a new product, or for shipping a non-billable toolset to repair a previously invoiced item.
Sub Processes: Enter Line, Schedule Line, Create Supply Order – Line. Maual,
Ship – Line, Manual, Close-Line
  1. Explain various line level processes used for inbound or return processes:
Ans: The following line level workflow processes are used for returns or inbound lines:
1) Line Flow – Return for Credit Only This process is used only for incoming lines. The process runs an activity that issues credit without waiting for a receipt of goods or an approval. This flow could be used, for example, if you give credit for a product shipped on a CD, but you do not want the CD to be returned.
2) Line Flow – Return for Credit Only with ApprovaThis processes is used only for incoming lines that requires approval. This process could be used, for example, when a return must be approved by a manager or a customer service representative before credit is issued.
3) Line Flow – Return for Credit with Receipt This process is used only for incoming order lines that require receipt of goods before credit can be issued. Once the returned items are received by Oracle Purchasing, the process continues through invoicing and credit is issued. This process is useful when the returned items are expensive; credit should not be
issued until the items are received.
4) Line Flow – Return for Credit with Receipt and Approval This process is the most restrictive for incoming lines. The process requires both receipt of goods and an approval. This process is commonly used when items such as modems are returned. The modem is received then inspected to ensure that no mistreatment or neglect of the item occurred. Once inspected and approved, credit is issued.
  1. Which line flow is used for service and support items
Ans: Line Flow – Standard Service Use this process for service items such as support. Once the line is fulfilled, invoice interfacing occurs.
  1. What is ATO Item
Ans: It is an item you make in response to a customer order.Also know as Assemeble to Order
  1. What is ATO Model
Ans: A configuration you create for customer order that includes optional items.
  1. What do you mean by Available to Promise (ATP)
Ans: ATP (Available to Promise) typically refers to the ability to promise finished goods availability based on a statement of current and planned material supply.
Ans: The quantity of on-hand stock, outstanding receipts and planned production which are not committed through a reservation or placing demand. In Oracle Inventory, you define the types of supply and demand that should be included in your ATP calculation.
  1. What is the difference between Item and Model
Model : An item whose bill of material lists options and option classes available when you place an order for the model item.
Order Entry:
  1. What is standard Order process?
Ans: A Standard Sales order can contain the following process steps:
Order Entry:
Order Booking:
Pick Release:
Ship Confirm
Invoicing
Closing
These are dependent upon Order type and Line type that are associated with appropriate work flow process
  1. What do you mean Booking of Order in OM
Ans: Booking a sales order indicates that the order entry process is complete and that the customer has committed to the order. Booking is required before the order or return can advance to the next workflow activity.
  1. What is schedule arrive date
Ans: Schedule arrival date means the date returned by the system on which your customer can receive the products.
  1. What is scheduling
Ans: Order scheduling includes assigning demand or reservations, warehouses, shipment dates, and lots or subinventories to an order line. This will cause the demand to be planned in Material Planning Systems.
  1. What is schedule date
Ans: For Order Management, it is considered the date the order line should be ready to ship, the date communicated from Order Management to Inventory as the required date any time you reserve or place demand for an order line.
  1. Various Terms
Ship to contact: This is the person that Customer Service and Shipping Personal should be contacting to make delivery appointments and pass rescheduling notifications.
  1. What is Internal Sales Order
Ans: A request within your company for goods or services. An internal sales order originates from an employee or from another process as a requisition, such as inventory or manufacturing, and becomes an internal sales order when the information is transferred from Purchasing to Order Management.
Activities
Order Header Status
Order Line Status
Delivery Lines
Remarks
Entry
Entered
Entered
—–
Information is entered but Sales order line are not available for shipping processes
Booked
Booked
Awaiting Shipping
Ready to Release
a) All the relevant information is entered
b) Delivery Lines are created with ready to release status and
delivery lines are eligible for pick release
Pick Release
Booked
Picked
Picked Partially
Staged/Pick Confirmed
Released to Warehouse
Back Ordered
Deliveries are in open status
Pick Release completed normally and full quantity picked. Inventory moves from sub inventory to staging area
If the pick release not completed normally
Quantity is not picked fully for delivery lines.
Ship Confirm
Booked
Shipped
Shipped or Interfaced
Back Ordered
Deliveries are in closed status
For Shipped quantities
For non shipped and back ordered quantities
Invoicing
Booked
Interfaced to receivables
Awaiting fulfillment
If all the lines are completed
If all the lines are not fulfilled or not interfaced to receivables
Closed
Closed
Closed
Workflow processes are closed
Picking – Shipping
  1. What is Picking
Ans: The process of withdrawing items from inventory to be shipped to a customer.
  1. What is pick release rule
Ans: A user-defined set of criteria to define what order lines should be selected during pick release.
  1. What is pick release sequence rule?
  1. What is pick slip
Ans: Internal shipping document used by pickers to locate items to ship for an order.
  1. What is pick slip grouping rules?
Criterion for grouping together various types of pick slips. The rule dictates how the Pick Slip Report program groups released lines into different pick slips.
  1. What is RMA
    Ans: Return Materials Authorization: Permission for a customer to return item,
  1. What is back order and back ordered lines>
Ans: Back Order: An unfulfilled customer order or commitment.
Backordered lines: Unfulfilled order line details which have failed to be released at least once by Pick
Release or have been backordered by Ship Confirm.
  1. What is delivery
A set of order lines to be shipped to a customer’s ship-to location on a given date in a given vehicle. Multiple deliveries can be grouped into a single departure. A single delivery may include items from different sales orders and may include back orders as well as regular orders.
  1. What is delivery line
Ans: Delivery line means a shippable and booked line
  1. What is drop shipment
Ans: A method of fulfilling sales orders by selling products without handling, stocking, or delivering them. The selling company buys a product from a supplier and has the supplier ship the product directly to customers.
  1. What is fulfillment set
Ans: Items in a fulfillment set will be available for scheduling and shipping only when all the items are available and ready to be scheduled/shipped.
  1. What is Outbound and Inbound Lines
In the Oracle Order Management, lines on a header are either outbound (sales order lines in which material on the header is leaving the warehouse to go to a customer) or inbound (return lines in which material on the header is arriving at the warehouse to be credited back to the customer). In Order Management, headers can be Return (all inbound), Order (all outbound), or Mixed (both inbound and outbound lines).
  1. What is scheduling
Order scheduling includes assigning demand or reservations, warehouses, shipment dates, and lots or sub inventories to an order line.
  1. What is ship confirm
A process in Shipping Execution which allows you to identify shipped quantities, assign inventory control information for released lines, assign freight charges, and specify whether or not to back order unfulfilled quantities of released line items.
  1. What are the general activities involved in Ship confirm?
Ans: Preparing the orders for shipment
· Includes the packing the items
· Includes the weighing the shipment
· After the Quality Inspector finishes with her/his inspection: Confirm the delivery in Oracle
Includes additions of any special charges
After shipment documents print, after labels to containers or pallets
· Seal Containers
· Release shipments to Carrier
· Submit request for Bill of Lading copy
· Forward copy of Bill of Lading to accounts payable for reconciliation of carrier invoices
· File Shipping documents
  1. Various Shipping terms
Ship Set A group of order lines, linked by a common number, for which you want the full quantity to ship all together.
Shippable lines: The lines that have pick released and are now eligible for Ship Confirm.
Ship Method: It is the combines of carrier, mode, and level of service.
Shipping documents: Shipping related reports, such as the Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Mailing
Label, Pack Slip, Vehicle Load Sheet Summary, and Waybill.
Shipping instructionsNotes that print on the pick slip. These instructions are intended for internal use.
Sold to contact: This is the person that the Customer service representative will contact at the Customer Site in the event of Ordering queries.
Sub inventory: Subdivision of an organization, representing either a physical area or a logical grouping of items, such as a storeroom or receiving dock.
Locator: Physical area within a sub inventory where you store material, such as a row, aisle, bin, or shelf.
Serial number control : A manufacturing technique for enforcing use of serial numbers during a material
transaction.
Waybill A document containing a list of goods and shipping instructions relative to a shipment.
  1. What is Revenue Recognition ?
Ans: The schedule for which revenue for a particular transaction is recorded in your general ledger.
  1. What is Sales group
Ans: Sales Group represents a managerial unit for sales resources and can be defined as a team of sales people. Sales groups make up enterprise sales organizations.
  1. What is sales tax structure
Ans: The collection of taxing bodies that you will use to determine your tax authority.’ State.County.City’ is an example of a Sales Tax Structure.
  1. What is Standard Item
Ans: Any item that can have a bill or be a component on a bill except planning items, option classes, or models. Standard items include purchased items, subassemblies, and finished products.
  1. What is bill of lading
A carrier’s contract and receipt of goods transported from one location to another.
  1. What is invoicing rules
Ans: Rules that Oracle Receivables uses to determine when you bill your invoices. You can bill In Advance or In Arrears.
Pricing
103. What is list price : Ans: In Oracle Pricing, the base selling price per unit of the item, item category or service offered. You define the list price on a price list. All price adjustments are applied against the list price.
Modifier: Defines the terms of how Oracle Pricing will make adjustments. For example, a modifier can take the form of: discounts, or surcharges. In Oracle Pricing, when you setup modifiers, you define the adjustments your customers may receive. You control the application of modifiers by the pricing engine by also setting up rules that specify qualifiers and attributes governing their use.
Modifier list A grouping of modifiers in Oracle Pricing.
Price list A list containing the base selling price per unit for a group of items, item categories or service offered. All prices in a price list are for the same currency.

104.  what is the allocation process? 

 Oracle Shipping Execution’s pick release procedure creates move order lines. In order to release those lines to the warehouse and print pick slips, the lines must be allocated. The process by which the Oracle Inventory picking engine generates transaction line suggestions is called allocation. The allocation process for a pick wave move order line also creates a high-level (organization-wide) reservation on the material if no reservations previously existed.
You can choose to have the system automatically allocate move order lines, or you can postpone this step and manually allocate the move order lines at a later time. In either case, pick release creates move orders in an approved status, so that no additional approval process is required in order to transact them. Postponing the allocating process can be useful to organizations that pick release across multiple warehouses but prefer to allow each warehouse to determine when to release its order lines to the floor. You use a shipping parameter in Oracle Shipping Execution to specify whether the allocating process is automatic or manual


105. What is pick confirmation?
The move order line allocations (transaction lines) created by the allocation process must be transacted to confirm the material drop-off in staging. This process is called pick confirmation. Pick confirmation executes the subinventory transfer that moves the material from its source location in the warehouse into the staging location. Pick confirmation automatically transfers any existing reservation to an allocated reservation (including lots, revision, subinventory, and locators) in the staging location. At pick confirmation, you can report a missing quantity or change the transaction line if the picker chooses to use material from a different lot, serial, locator, or subinventory. If an organization’s picks rarely deviate from the suggested picking lines and the overhead of requiring a pick confirmation is unmanageable, the pick confirm transactions can occur automatically, immediately after the lines are allocated. 


You use an Oracle Inventory parameter to specify whether pick confirmation occurs automatically or whether you want your picker to pick confirm move order lines manually

Product family
Product Code
Step No
Step name






1
Order Management (OM):




Order Management
ONT
1.1
Complete the sales orders
Order Management
ONT
1.2
Import Sales Order
Order Management
ONT
1.3
Pre-Billing Acceptance
Shipping
WSH
1.4
Complete the shipping transactions
Order Management
ONT
1.5
Prepare the link with AR




Order Management
ONT
1.5.1
Check run of Workflow background engine
Receivables
AR
1.5.2
Run the Invoice Interface/Autoinvoice
Receivables
AR
1.5.3
Verify the Autoinvoice Exceptions






2
Receivables (AR):




Receivables
AR
2.1
Complete all Receivables transactions for the period being closed
Subledger Accounting
SLA
2.2
Create accounting
Subledger Accounting
SLA
2.3
Transfer to GL
Receivables
AR
2.4
Manage the Receivables Period






3
Purchasing (PO):




Purchasing
PO
3.1
Complete all transactions for Oracle Purchasing
Subledger Accounting
SLA
3.2
Create accounting for Payables
Subledger Accounting
SLA
3.3
Transfer to GL
Purchasing/Payables
PO/AP
3.4
Purchasing Period management




Payables
AP
3.4.1
Close the Payables period
Purchasing
PO
3.4.2
Run the Receipt Accruals – Period-End Report
Purchasing
PO
3.4.3
Manage the PO Periods
Payables
AP
3.4.4
Open next AP Period






4
Transactions control:






4.1
Enter all transactions in eBS:




Inventory
INV
4.1.1
Enter the pending cycle counts
Inventory
INV
4.1.2
Check run of the Material Transaction Manager
Inventory
INV
4.1.3
Check run of the Move Transaction Manager 
Inventory
INV
4.1.4
Check run of the Lot Move Transaction Manager    
Inventory
INV
4.1.5
Check run of the Cost manager (mandatory)




Inventory
INV
4.2
Check the pending or in error transactions
Inventory
INV
4.3
Unprocessed Material (resolution required)
Inventory
INV
4.4
Uncosted material transactions (resolution required)
Costing
CST
4.5
Pending LCM Interface Transactions (resolution required)
Work In Process
WIP
4.6
Pending WIP Costing transactions (resolution required)
Shop Floor Management
WSM
4.7
Pending WSM interface (resolution required)






4.7.1
Run the Import WIP Lot Transactions


4.7.2
Run the (WSM) Pending Transactions Report




Shipping
WSH
4.8
Unprocessed Shipping Transactions (by default, resolution required)




Shipping
WSH
4.8.1
Search delivery line with the status Shipped
Shipping
WSH
4.8.2
Run the Interface Trip Stop SRS




Inventory
INV
4.9
Pending material transactions for this period (resolution recommended)
Work In process
WIP
4.10
Pending Shop Floor Move (resolution recommended)
Purchasing
PO
4.11
Pending Receiving Transactions (resolution recommended)
Project Manufacturing
PJM
4.12
Project Manudacturing – Cost Collector




Project Manufacturing
PJM
4.12.1
Run the Cost Collection Manager
Project Manufacturing
PJM
4.12.2
Import the transactions in Projects






5
Cost Management:




Costing
CST
5.1
Cost Of Goods Sold




Costing
CST
5.1.1
Record the Order Management Transactions
Costing
CST
5.1.2
Collect the Revenue Recognition information
Costing
CST
5.1.3
Generate the COGS Recognition events




Costing
CST
5.2
Create accounting
Costing
CST
5.3
Transfer to GL






6
 Inventory Open / Close period:




Inventory
INV
6.1
Open the next period
Inventory
INV
6.2
Close the period
Inventory
INV
6.3
Open or Close several periods in the same time




Inventory
INV
6.3.1
Hierarchy of Organizations
Costing
CST
6.3.2
Open several periods
Costing
CST
6.3.3
Close several periods
Here is how the Due date calculation works:
—————————————————————
-> Generally,  Due date get calculated based on the most recent of the available start dates. Most recent available start date is derived based on the following formula.

Greatest( Goods_Received_Date + Receipt_Acceptance_Days, Invoice_Date, Terms_Date ).

->In the algorithm above, Goods_Received_Date is a date that gets populated on the invoice based on terms_date_basis at supplier/site level.

a. If terms_date_basis = ‘Goods Received’ then, Goods_Received_Date get populated.

b. If terms_date_basis = ‘Invoice Received’ or anything else then, Goods_Received_Date is null.

-> Receipt_Acceptance_Days is the number of days defined for ‘Receipt Acceptance Days’ under the Invoice tab in Payables Options.

->So, the due date basis is the most recent of INVOICE DATE, TERMS DATE, GOODS RECEIVED DATE+RECEIPT ACCEPTANCE DAYS.

->In case of a matched invoice, the system considers the Receipt Transaction date from the
Receipt for the calculation of a recent start date, because sometimes the GOODS RECEIVED DATE is null.  This functionality exists from 11i beginning only. Check bug#1655225 for details.

a.So first system determines recent date of GOODS RECEIVED DATE+RECEIPT ACCEPTANCE DAYS and RECEIPT TRANSACTION DATE.

b.After that again checks most recent date again from the formula defined.

—————————————————————————–
If the customer doesn’t want the system to use ‘Receipt dates’ then disable ‘Recalculate Payment Schedules’.

If  the customer wants recalculation, then the system considers ‘Receipt date’ for a matched invoice.