Understanding of FNDLOAD program

Data Synchronization?

Data Synchronization is a process in which some setup data would be synchronized, and this would be more important when you are working in Oracle application development/implementation project. The equally important that ATG data Migration takes place necessary to synchronize the data across databases instance during
· Installations (New descriptive flex field creations etc)
· Upgrades (Apps upgrade etc.)
· Maintenance (Value set changes etc.)

Generic Loader (FNDLOAD)
The Generic Loader (FNDLOAD) is a concurrent program that can move Oracle Applications data between database and text file representations. The loader reads a configuration file to determine what data to access. For information on specific configuration files consult the Open Interfaces Guide for your product group.

From an FNDLOAD perspective, there is absolute no limitation on parallel execution. Parallel upload of concurrent programs and responsibilities should through fine unless upload logic in LCT file restrict the same.

There is no way to limit the download of the value hierarchy data with the existing flexfield loader logic.
If this data is removed manually from the .ldt file generated when downloading data, the upload might error out as a result and this is NOT a supported method of using fndload and the corresponding generated data.

Overview
The Generic Loader can download data from an application entity into a portable, editable text file. This file can then be uploaded into any other database to copy the data. Conversion between database store and file format is specified by a configuration file that is read by the loader.

The Generic Loader downloads data from a database according to a configuration (.lct) file, and converts the data into a data file (.ldt file). The Generic Loader can then upload this data to another database using a configuration file.

The loader operates in one of two modes: download or upload. In the download mode, data is downloaded from the database to a text file; in the upload mode, data is uploaded from a text file to the database.

Data structures supported by the loader include master-detail relationships and foreign key reference relationships.

In both downloading and uploading, the structure of the data involved is described by a configuration file. The configuration file describes the structure of the data and also the access methods to use to copy the data into or out of the database. The same configuration file may be used for both uploading and downloading.

When downloading, the Generic Loader creates a second file, called the data file that contains the structured data selected for downloading. The data file has a standard syntax for representing the data that has been downloaded. When uploading, the Generic Loader reads a data file to get the data that it is to upload. In most cases, the data file was produced by a previous download, but may have come from another source. The data file cannot be interpreted without the corresponding configuration file available.

What can be done?
These are the extensive list which can be done through FNDLOAD
· Concurrent Programs, Executables
· Request Groups, Request Sets
· Profile Options
· Key and Descriptive Flexfields
· Menus and Responsibilities
· Forms and Form Functions/Personalizations
· Attachments
· Messages
· Value Sets and Values
· Lookup Types
· User Responsibilities
· Printer Definitions
· FND Dictionary
· Help Configuration
· Document Sequences
· Alerts
· Concurrent Manager Schedules

The FNDLOAD: Concurrent Program – FNDLOAD can be executed as a concurrent program.

Some advantages when using FNDLOAD
1. Because downloaded data is stored in a text file, version administration is possible
2. There is nothing to worry to go to purchase because Investment = 0$
3. No learning curve. this is relief for developer and dba
4. Fully supported and recommended by Oracle
5. Capture the migrations in a file and use it during installations, clones etc. to migrate in batch
6. Pin-point when something happened and where (database) easily
7. Your AOL data migration process is now simplified and streamlined goal attained

Some disadvantages when using FNDLOAD
1. Applications patching mechanisms use FNDLOAD heavily possibility of negative impact is not zero
2. UPLOAD_MODE=REPLACE only for menus
3. No validation against migrating database/instance sensitive data

Syntax
The Generic Loader is a concurrent program named FNDLOAD. The concurrent executable takes the following parameters:

FNDLOAD apps/pwd 0 Y mode configfile datafile entity [ param ...]
where

pwd>
The APPS schema and password in the form username/password[@connect_string]. If
connect_string is omitted, it is taken in a platform-specific manner from the environment
using the name TWO_TASK.

< 0 Y >
Concurrent program flags.

mode
UPLOAD or DOWNLOAD. UPLOAD causes the datafile to be uploaded to the database. DOWNLOAD causes the loader to fetch rows and write them to the datafile.

The configuration file to use (usually with a suffix of .lct, but not enforced or supplied by the loader).

The data file to write (usually with a suffix of .ldt, but not enforced or supplied by the loader). If the data file already exists, it will be overwritten.

The entity(ies) to upload or download. When uploading, always upload all entities, so specify a “-” to upload all entities.

< [param] >
Zero or more additional parameters are used to provide bind values in the access SQL (both UPLOAD and DOWNLOAD). Each parameter is in the form NAME=VALUE. NAME should not conflict with an attribute name for the entities being loaded.

Modes of Operation
This is important because it would drive the whole flow, and it always be either Upload or Download.

Example of download
FNDLOAD apps/pwd 0 Y DOWNLOAD ${FND_TOP}/patch/115/import/afcpprog.lct myfile.ldt \ PROGRAM CONCURRENT_PROGRAM_NAME= concurrent_program_short_name> APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=

Example of Upload
FNDLOAD apps/pwd 0 Y UPLOAD ${FND_TOP}/patch/115/import/afcpprog.lct myfile.ldt – CUSTOM_MODE=FORCE undocumented parameter

What are FNDLOAD Options?
· Application level OR single entity level download
o (Example) Download all the profile options of Inventory or just the INV: Default Primary UOM
· Entire OR Partial upload of a data file
o (Example) Upload the entire myfile.ldt or just a single entity indicated by – and mode UPLOAD or UPLOAD_PARTIAL
o Entity name required for UPLOAD_PARTIAL mode
· Custom mode force update
o To override Oracle’s upload algorithm and update the custom AOL data regardless, use CUSTOM_MODE= FORCE
o UPLOAD_MODE= REPLACE (only for menus)
· Support for NLS uploads
o NLS data uploads for translated columns are supported, use UPLOAD_MODE= NLS

Where is Configuration File Located
By default Oracle delivers most of configuration files that can be used to download certain entities.
· Configuration files with extension .lct
o On Unix – all the configuration files are in $FND_TOP/patch/115/import directory
o On Unix Oracle also places the original configuration files in $FND_TOP/admin/import directory
· Data files with extension .ldt
FNDLOAD File Structure
· The configuration files (.lct) are delivered and maintained by Oracle.
· It has entity definitions, parent-child relationships and user input parameters identified by :NAME.
· Downloading a parent automatically downloads all children – (Example) Concurrent Program download.
· The data files (.ldt) have both entity definition and the data.
· It also shows the version and the location of the configuration file (.lct) that was used.
· Without the configuration file, a data file is useless.
· Without the data file, a configuration file is meaningless.

FNDLOAD Files
· Key files: .lct and .ldt
· FNDLOAD must be run as the apps user not as applsys or any other user, otherwise an Ora-6550 error will be received.
· Both are easily readable, editable and portable.
· Do not modify Oracle .lct files.
· Use a favorite editor to manipulate only the .ldt files but be cautious about data type, length, delimiter placements etc.
· Use the log file outputs or .ldt file contents creatively for quick file comparisons and answer questions as: (Why can this be accessed? What is that profile option name, value and level? What is the value set used for that DFF segment attribute10 etc.)
· Partial string searches (which value set has Priority something in its where clause, etc)

Some sample examples

1 – Printer Styles


FNDLOAD apps/pwd@seeddb 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afcppstl.lct file_name.ldt STYLE PRINTER_STYLE_NAME=”printer style name”

2 – Lookups

FNDLOAD apps/pwd@seeddb 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/aflvmlu.lct file_name.ldt FND_LOOKUP_TYPE APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod” LOOKUP_TYPE=”lookup name”

3 – Descriptive Flexfield with all of specific Contexts

FNDLOAD apps/pwd@seeddb 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afffload.lct file_name.ldt DESC_FLEX P_LEVEL=?COL_ALL:REF_ALL:CTX_ONE:SEG_ALL? APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod” DESCRIPTIVE_FLEXFIELD_NAME=”desc flex name” P_CONTEXT_CODE=”context name”

4 – Multiple Flexfields

Use a combination of APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME and DESCRIPTIVE_FLEXFIELD_NAME names ie. APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=PER >> will download all PER flexfields DESCRIPTIVE_FLEXFIELD_NAME=PER_% >> will download all flexfields that start with ‘PER_’.

FNDLOAD apps/apps O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afffload.lct
file_name.ldt DESC_FLEX DESCRIPTIVE_FLEXFIELD_NAME="PER_%"

5 – Key Flexfield Structures

FNDLOAD apps/pwd@seeddb 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afffload.lct file_name.ldt KEY_FLEX P_LEVEL=?COL_ALL:FQL_ALL:SQL_ALL:STR_ONE:WFP_ALL:SHA_ALL:CVR_ALL:SEG_ALL? APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod” ID_FLEX_CODE=”key flex code” P_STRUCTURE_CODE=”structure name”

6 – Concurrent Programs

FNDLOAD apps/pwd@seeddb 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afcpprog.lct file_name.ldt PROGRAM APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod” CONCURRENT_PROGRAM_NAME=”concurrent name”

7 – Value Sets

FNDLOAD apps/pwd@seeddb 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afffload.lct file_name.ldt VALUE_SET FLEX_VALUE_SET_NAME=”value set name”

8 – Value Sets with values

FNDLOAD apps/pwd@seeddb 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afffload.lct file_name.ldt VALUE_SET_VALUE FLEX_VALUE_SET_NAME=”value set name”

9 – Profile Options

FNDLOAD apps/pwd@seeddb 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afscprof.lct file_name.ldt PROFILE PROFILE_NAME=”profile option” APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod”

10 – Request Group

FNDLOAD apps/pwd@seeddb 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afcpreqg.lct file_name.ldt REQUEST_GROUP REQUEST_GROUP_NAME=”request group” APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod”

11 – Request Sets

FNDLOAD apps/pwd@seeddb 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afcprset.lct file_name.ldt REQ_SET APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=”prod” REQUEST_SET_NAME=”request set”

12 – Responsibilities

FNDLOAD apps/pwd@seeddb 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afscursp.lct file_name.ldt FND_RESPONSIBILITY RESP_KEY=”responsibility"

13 – Responsibilities with all Security Groups

FNDLOAD apps/ 0 Y DOWNLOAD FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afscursp.lct .ldt
FND_USER USER_NAME="" SECURITY_GROUP=% DATA_GROUP_NAME=%

14 – Menus

FNDLOAD apps/ pwd@seeddb 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afsload.lct file_name.ldt MENU MENU_NAME=”menu_name”

15 – Forms/Functions/Personalizations: Refer to the System Administrator’s Guide on dependencies

FNDLOAD / 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/affrmcus.lct
FND_FORM_CUSTOM_RULES form_name=

OR

FNDLOAD / 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afsload.lct file_name.ldt FUNCTION FUNCTION_NAME=

OR

FNDLOAD / 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afsload.lct file_name.ldt FORM FORM_NAME=

OR

FNDLOAD / 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/affrmcus.lct FND_FORM_CUSTOM_RULES function_name=

16 – User/Responsibilities

FNDLOAD apps/ pwd@seeddb 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afscursp.lct file_name.ldt FND_USER

17 – Alert

FNDLOAD apps/pwd 0 Y DOWNLOAD
$ALR_TOP/patch/115/import/alr.lct my_file.ldt ALR_ALERTS
APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=FND ALERT_NAME=Alert name to downloa

18 – Blob

With Release 12.1.1, FNDLOAD supports BLOB data (upload / download ) to better serve content-rich applications.

FNDLOAD apps/pwd 0 Y mode configfile datafile entity [ param ... ]

19 – Overwrite custom definitions

FNDLOAD apps/apps 0 Y UPLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/.lct $
XX_TOP/import/.ldt CUSTOM_MODE=FORCE

20 – Load an NLS Language

FNDLOAD / 0 Y UPLOAD \
- UPLOAD_MODE=NLS CUSTOM_MODE=FORCE WARNINGS=TRUE


21 – Migrate the role registration process from one instance to another

a. Please navigate to the path: $FND_TOP /patch/115/import/US/umxrgsvc.ldt

b. The following command can be used to download:

FNDLOAD apps/@(instance name) O Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/umxrgsvc.lct umxrgsvc.ldt UMX_REG_SERVICES REG_SERVICE_CODE UMX

c. The following command can be used to upload:

FNDLOAD apps/@(instance name) O Y UPLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/umxrgsvc.lct umxrgsvc.ldt UMX_REG_SERVICES REG_SERVICE_CODE UMX

22 – Transfer Custom Messages to another Instance

a. Download the message from the source instance.

FNDLOAD apps/apps 0 Y DOWNLOAD @FND:patch/115/import/afmdmsg.lct password.ldt FND_NEW_MESSAGES APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=FND MESSAGE_NAME=PASSWORD-INVALID-NO-SPEC-CHAR

b. Move the custom LDT file (password.ldt) over to the destination instance.

c. Upload the custom message to the destination instance.

FNDLOAD apps/apps 0 Y UPLOAD @FND:patch/115/import/afmdmsg.lct password.ldt FND_NEW_MESSAGES APPLICATION_SHORT_NAME=FND CUSTOM_MODE=FORCE

23 – Download UMX Roles and Role Assignment data from one instance and upload to another.

To download from one instance:

FNDLOAD 0 Y DOWNLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afrole.lct
umxroles.ldt WF_ROLE ORIG_SYSTEM=UMX%

To upload to another instance:

FNDLOAD 0 Y UPLOAD $FND_TOP/patch/115/import/afrole.lct
umxroles.ldt

References:

· Oracle Applications Systems Administrator Guide – Configuration

Notes:

1. Give special attention when downloading Menus or Responsibilities. In the case for several developers modifying Responsibilities and Menus, then be very careful. Not being careful will mean that untested Forms, Functions, and Menus will become available in the clients Production environment besides the tested Forms, Functions, and Menus.

2. Be very careful when downloading flexfields that reference value sets with independent values for GL Segment Codes. By doing so, downloading and extracting all the test data in GL Codes that might not be applicable for production.

3. There are several variations possible for FNDLOAD. For example, restricting the download and upload to specific segments within Descriptive Flexfields.

4. FNDLOAD is very reliable and stable, if used properly.

5. Please test the FNDLOAD properly, so as to ensure that no unexpected data occurs.

6. As the name suggests, FNDLOAD is usedful for FND related objects. However, in any implementation, it’s required to migrate the Setups in Financials and Oracle HRMS from one environment to another. Oracle iSetup can be used for this. Some of the things that can be migrated using Oracle iSetup are GL Set of Books, HR Organization Structures, HRMS Employees, Profile Options Setup, Suppliers, Customers, Tax Codes & Tax Rates, Financials Setup, Accounting Calendars, Chart of Accounts, GL Currencies.