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Oracle Forms Record and Play - Editing a Load

Having recorded your actions in Oracle E-Business Suite to a file, that file will be edited in DataLoad to create a load which you will later playback.

Header Background

Every load consists of header and repeating sections. In many loads all fields will be in the repeating section and the header isn't used, but sometimes you may produce a load that has fields in the header section. The Header Value Selection form (see below) enables you to tell DataLoad what values are in the header and which are in the repeating section. The header consists of actions that are performed once at the start of a load. If these actions include fields then a special header spreadsheet is used so you can edit those fields. The repeating section is the record that you will later want to replay multiple times to load your data.

Header Example

A common load in Oracle E-Business Suite is to enter segment values. This load has the following steps:-

  1. Login to Oracle and open the segment values form.
  2. Enter the Application, Flexfield, Structure and Segment names then click 'Find'.
  3. Click into the Value field of the first record of the Values block. Execute a clear block (F7) regardless of whether or not there is existing data in the block. Why? - See The "Rules".
  4. Enter multiple segment value records. Each record consists of 'Value', 'Description' and 'Account Type' fields.
  5. Exit Oracle E-Business Suite.

The actions in steps 2 and 3 will be run just once whereas the actions to load a record in step 4 will be repeated multiple times, once for each record. Therefore steps 2 and 3 are part of the header. When this load is first opened in DataLoad the header section must be correctly defined otherwise the load will not be correctly edited.

Header Value Selection Form

When the file is first opened you will be prompted to help DataLoad identify the header and repeating section. This is done in the 'Header Value Selection' form. Once value(s) have been entered and the file saved you won't be prompted for this information again because DataLoad records the header details you selected. The Header Value Selection form consists of one or more drop lists. These contain the names of fields where values were entered during your recording and are in the order of use in the recording. The drop list(s) may also contain the value entered in the field to help you identify the fields correctly.

Header Selection - DataLoad V4.3.x and above

The first and last fields of the first repeating record must be specified in the Header Value Selection form. There is one drop list where the first field of the first record in the repeating section should be selected and a second drop list for the last field of that record. The value entered during recording into each field is also displayed to make it easier to determine which entry should be selected.

The header example given above was based on the segment values load. In that case the first field drop list (Step 1) should be set to the 'Value' field for the first record entered. The last field drop list (Step 2) should be set to the 'Account Type' field for the first record entered.

Also included in the Header Value Selection form is a check box selection section, which is Step 3 on the form. See below for details of how to use that section.

Header Selection - DataLoad V4.2.x

In the Header Value Selection form you must select the name of the first field in the repeating section. The name of forms fields are included in the drop list and these are the fields where values were entered during your recording. The fields are in the order of use in the recording. Where there is no header section, the first field in the drop list will also be the first field in the repeating section and that value should be used. However where there is one or more fields in the header the first repeating field must be selected in the drop list.

Check Box Selection - DataLoad V4.3.x and above

Step 3 on the Header Value Selection form requires you to select the check boxes (and radio buttons) that you may later want to edit. This step is required because it is not always possible for DataLoad to separate check boxes (and radio buttons) from other actions in an Oracle Form. To ensure accuracy DataLoad does not automatically make check boxes editable. However, if you wish to edit the setting of a check box then that check box must be selected in the list of possible check boxes, which is Step 3 on the Header form. By telling DataLoad that one or more check boxes are indeed check boxes DataLoad will make those available for you to edit. Multiple check boxes can be depressing by holding the Ctrl key while clicking on list entries.

Hint In order to be able to change the setting of a check box or radio button the check box must be clicked during the recording. That click could be to check or un-check the check box but the click must be made. The click can then be turned off for each record when the recorded file is edited in DataLoad. i.e., if a click during recording caused a check box to be un-set then that action can be turned off in DataLoad to keep the check box set, or if the click caused a check box to be set then that action can be turned off in DataLoad to not check the check box. If a check box (or radio button) is not clicked during the recording then it cannot later be used when the recorded file is edited. Therefore, if a check box is required to be clicked for some records during playback then the checkbox must be clicked during recording and the click turned off for the records that do not require it.

Edit the Recorded File

When the forms playback file is opened in DataLoad you will see the values that you entered in your Oracle session, but none of the navigation details will be visible. DataLoad will also attempt to create meaningful column titles, although these can be edited in the usual way if required.

Enter your data into the DataLoad fields and when you have finished doing this save your file. If you are familiar with the forms playback syntax then you can view the source that DataLoad will produce by selecting "View Source" on the "Tools" menu or clicking on the shortcut icon.

Only valid values can be entered for drop lists. (See Create a Load - 2 for more information). Any DataLoad cell that represents a drop list will display a valid list of values for that cell and that is based on the known valid values for the drop list.

If you want to change whether Oracle E-Business Suite exits after loading your data then this can be done using the DataLoad Options form. This form can also be used to change the username, password and responsibility that will be used to login to Oracle. (The username, password and responsibility are not relevant in Oracle E-Business Suite 11i/R12 when the Self Service Home Page is used.)