orangewise (nerdy stuff)

Oracle JInitiator is definitely in its sunset phase now.  JInitiator 1.1.8 will no longer receive any new bug fixes as of December 31, 2008.  Similarly, official Error Correction Support for JInitiator 1.3 will end as of July 31, 2009.

I don't have statistics on how many E-Business Suite customers have converted their desktop clients from Oracle JInitiator to the native Sun Java (JRE) client.  Given the impending desupport dates for these two client codelines, I hope that all of you have already switched over -- or, at minimum -- are in the process of migrating your end-users' desktops to the native Sun Java plug-in.

In these final days of support for Oracle JInitiator, I'm pleased to announce that JInitiator 1.3.1.30 is now certified with the E-Business Suite Release 11i.  Oracle JInitiator 1.3.1.30 is released via Patch 7410076.  It requires Apps Interoperability Patch 6169479.

Prerequisites

• Oracle E-Business Suite Release 11i 11.5.10.2
• Developer6i Patchset 12 (Forms version 6.0.8.21.x) or higher
• Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP SP 2 and higher

For details, see:

• Upgrading Oracle JInitiator with Oracle Applications 11i (Metalink Note 124606.1)

Related Articles

• JInitiator 1.3 To Be Desupported for Apps 11i in July 2009
• JInitiator 1.1.8 To Be Desupported for Apps 11i
• Sun Java Plug-in 1.6.0_10 Certified with the E-Business Suite
• New Sun Java JRE Plug-In Certification Policy for Apps 11i & 12

As an enthusiastic Apple iPhone user, I am very pleased to see that our Applications Unlimited team has released their newest iPhone application:  Oracle Business Approvals for Managers.  This free (!) iPhone application allows managers to handle pending E-Business Suite actions related to expense reports, purchase order requisitions, human resources vacancies, and HR job offers.  Managers can use this mobile app to evaluate pending EBS approvals, request more information, and approve or reject pending requests.

This iPhone app builds on the Oracle Business Indicators iPhone application.  Oracle Business Approvals for Managers provides optional access to analytic reports related to the type of approval that users are reviewing.  This configuration retrieves data from Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition Plus (OBIEE) or Oracle Business Intelligence Applications.  All communications are secured via SSL encryption and may be optionally integrated with Oracle Identity Management components, too.

iPhone + Apps R12 Integration Architecture

There's a lot of technical wizardry going on under the surface: 

As you can see from the architecture diagram, this application requires the following prerequisites:

• Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12 version 12.0.4 and higher
• Oracle SOA Suite 10.1.3.3 and higher
• Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition Plus (if you wish to use the optional OBIEE reports)

The Oracle SOA Suite, running on the Oracle application server, uses BPEL to handle the main worklist functionality and the subsequent back-end integration with Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.  Web Service calls are intercepted and authenticated by the Oracle Web Service Manager (OWSM).  It uses the Oracle Application Adapter for its integration with the E-Business Suite.   In addition, if access to analytic reports is enabled, Oracle BI EE Plus handles the request for business intelligence data that supports each worklist item.

For complete details about configuration and features, see:

• Oracle Business Approvals Connector for Managers Configuration Guide (PDF, 1.3 MB)
• Oracle Business Approvals for Managers User Guide (PDF, 2 MB)

A Word About Licencing

Although the iPhone app itself is free from the Apple iTunes store, Oracle Business Approvals for Managers requires licensing of a server product called Oracle Business Approvals Connector for Managers.  This connector provides secure integration with Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12 using Oracle SOA Suite and the optional OBIEE technologies.  This connector can be licensed directly from Oracle.

Feedback is Welcome

Like the previously-announced Oracle Business Indicators app, this application breaks new ground for mobile support for the E-Business Suite.  I know that our Applications Unlimited development team is eager to hear your feedback about this product.  If you post any comments or questions here, I'll make sure that they're passed directly to that team.

In conjunction with last week's release of the Applications 12.0.6 Release Update Pack, the sixth major update for the Apps Release 12 technology stack is now available for download from Metalink:

• Oracle Applications Technology Update Pack 12.0.6 (Patch 7237006)

Family Pack Updates vs. Release Update Packs

New readers might have missed previous discussions about naming standards. To recap: in Release 11i, we have these things called Rollup Patches, which inexplicably became known as "RUPs." Release 11i Rollup Patches contain patches for a single product family (e.g. ATG Family Pack H Rollup 4).

In Release 12, we're now shipping these things called Release Update Packs. Given the way that neologisms form, it's inevitable that these will be called "RUPs" too. The difference is that the R12 Release Update Packs combine patches created across several E-Business Suite product families.

The patch that we're announcing today only includes updates for the Applications Technology family of products, that is, the technology stack for the E-Business Suite Release 12. This patch does not include updates to the functional applications like Financials or HRMS. For information about the broader Apps 12.0.6 Release Update Pack, see:

• Apps 12.0.6 Release Update Pack Now Available

The Oracle Applications Technology Family Pack for Release 12.0.6 includes all fixes released on top of ATG Family Pack A, including those released in the following updates:

• Apps 12.0.1 Release Update Pack
• Apps 12.0.2 Release Update Pack
• Apps 12.0.3 Release Update Pack
• Apps 12.0.4 Release Update Pack

Since this is the sixth update to the Release 12 technology stack, its official (admittedly cryptic) name is: R12.ATG_PF.A.DELTA.6.

Prerequisites

This ATG Family Pack update can be applied on top of the following:

• Apps 12.0.1 Release Update Pack
• Apps 12.0.2 Release Update Pack
• Apps 12.0.3 Release Update Pack
• Apps 12.0.4 Release Update Pack

What's Been Fixed?

This update contains fixes for the following areas, each of which have now sprouted their own standalone Metalink Notes:

• Oracle Alert:  Note 741527.1
• Oracle Application Framework:  Note 740246.1
• Oracle Application Object Library (AOL):  Note 741973.1
• Oracle Applications Manager (OAM):  Note 741974.1
• Oracle Applications Technology Stack:  Note 742110.1
• Oracle CRM Technology Foundation:  Note 741975.1
• Oracle E-Business Suite Diagnostics:  Note 741976.1
• Oracle E-Business Suite Secure Enterprise Search:  Note 740499.1
• Oracle e-Commerce Gateway:  Note 741529.1
• Oracle Integration Repository:  Note 741525.1
• Oracle iSetup:  Note 741977.1
• Oracle Report Manager:  Note 741767.1
• Oracle Web Applications Desktop Integrator (WebADI):  Note 741765.1
• Oracle Workflow:  Note 741769.1
• Oracle XML Gateway:  Note 741524.1

There are far too many fixes and new features to recount concisely or meaningfully here, but here are some highlights from the Oracle Applications Technology Stack Release Notes, Release 12.0.6 (Metalink Note 742110.1):

• AutoConfig: Parallel Run Option
• AutoConfig: Profiler
• AutoConfig: Enhanced Check Configuration Tool
• AutoConfig: Support for new Oracle Database 11g Features

I'm hoping that I'll be able to get some in-depth articles about these new AutoConfig features posted soon; stay tuned.

Related Articles

• Apps Release 12.0.6 Release Update Pack Now Available

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