EBS Toolbox Installation and Configuration

Introduction

The More4apps Wizards architecture includes server and client components.

The server components must be installed by a DBA. The server-side installation consists of a servlet, a shared database package, and product specific database packages that enables web-based communications through the Oracle E-Business Webserver. The shared database package and Servlet are one time installations required on each instance. The product specific database packages are also required on each instance and may need to be updated from time to time. However for the most part new releases do not require changes to the server components.

The client-side installation consists only of the spreadsheet; no additional software apart from Microsoft Excel is required on the PC.

The More4apps Wizards are very secure as they utilize the existing Oracle Applications security and login mechanisms for user authentication and authorization. Users connect using their regular E—Business Suite usernames and passwords. Single Sign-on (SSO) is supported.

Key Features

  • Full integration with the Oracle E-Business login and security functionality

  • Respect for session timeout rules

  • Single Sign-On integration

  • Supports non-APPS schemas i.e. Oracle Managed Cloud Services (OMCS)

Compatibility

Server

  • Database Version 11gR2 and above

  • E-Business Suite 11.5.10.2, 12.1, 12.2

  • Any hardware platform

  • We only support environments with the database initialization parameters set as per MOS notes 216205.1 for 11i and 396009.1 for R12.

Client

  • The recommended minimum operating system is Windows 10.

  • Minimum Office version is the Office 2013 desktop version. The cloud edition of Excel is not supported. Macros need to be enabled while running the solutions in the EBS Toolbox. NOTE: No additional software is required (e.g., ODBC, JRE). Our products may work with earlier versions of Windows or Excel, but we do not test or formally support these releases. Apple Mac versions of Excel are not supported.

Components

Server and Database Packages

The More4apps Database Packages are installed into the APPS schema (or BOLINF schema for OMCS). The M4APS_XML package is for core communication. Most, but not all Wizards require a product-specific package (e.g. M4APS_BUDGETWIZARD). Exceptions are noted below.

Application Interface Wizard will only contain product-specific packages when required for specific Loaders.

The following Wizards do not require a product specific database package (the package will not be included among the installation files):

  • Agreement & Funding Wizard

  • Application Interface Wizard

  • Budget Wizard

  • Customer Wizard

  • Event Wizard

  • General Ledger Wizard

For Release 12 instances a mid-tier servlet is installed to facilitate communication between the spreadsheet and the database.

Application Settings

When the Wizard logs into an instance for the first time it will automatically create several Profile Options. Many of these are for internal use by the tools (e.g. to store the license key). Some tools have Profile Options used to enable/disable functionality. These profile options are documented in the product-specific online documentation. Other settings are sometimes required, such as ensuring the AMG framework for Oracle Projects is enabled for Project Wizard.

Excel Spreadsheet

For example, BudgetWizard.xlsm which is deployed to each client PC.

Communication Technical Description

The communication protocol between the Excel workbook and the E-Business server is HTTP(S) and XML. The spreadsheet authenticates then communicates with the E-Business webserver in the same way that an end user does when using the browser-based UI for E-Business.

The calls to the webserver are made using the standard HTTP POST method. Each call will do the following:

  1. Verify the authentication of the calling spreadsheet by examining the E-Business cookie on the local PC. If the calling spreadsheet has not yet logged in, then an error is returned to the spreadsheet and the E-Business login screen is presented to the user. If SSO is enabled then the user is automatically forwarded to the SSO login screen. The user then logs in with their usual E-Business username/password and the local cookie is set. The cookie will expire if the user logs out or closes the spreadsheet, or if they are idle for a long period.

  2. If the spreadsheet is authenticated, then the call will generate the requested information in XML format and return it as a web response. If any errors occur, then the error message is generated in XML format. The spreadsheet will listen for the XML response from the server and interpret the returned XML as appropriate.

Support

If you have any questions regarding the installation steps, you can inquire in the More4apps Community