ORACLE BI PUBLISHER Interview Questions for freshers experienced :- :-
1. What is BI Publisher?
It is a reporting tool for generating the reports. More than tool it is an engine that can be integrated with systems supporting the business.
2. Is BI Publisher integrated with Oracle Apps?
Yes, it is tightly integrated with Oracle Apps for reporting needs. In 11.5.10 instances xml publisher was used, in R12 we can it BI Publisher
3. What is the difference between xml publisher and BI Publisher?
Name is the difference, initially it was released on the name of xml publisher( the initial patchset), later on they have added more features and called it Business Intelligence Publisher. In BI by default we have integration with Datadefinitions in R12 instance. Both these names can be used interchangeably.
4. What are the various components required for developing a BI publisher report?
Data Template, Layout template and the integration with Concurrent Manager.
5. How does the concurrent program submitted by the user knows about the datatemplate or layout template it should be using for generating the output?
The concurrent program ‘shortname’ will be mapped to the ‘code’ of the Datatemplate. Layout template is attached to the datatemplate, this forms the mapping between all the three.
6. What is a datatemplate?
Datatemplate is an xml structure which contains the queries to be run against the database so that desired output in xml format is generated, this generated xml output is then applied on to the layout template for the final output
7. What is a layout template?
Layout template defines how the user views the output, basically it can be developed using Microsoft word document in rft (rich text format) or Adobe pdf format. The data output in xml format (from Data template) will be loaded in layout template at run time and the required final output file is generated.
8. What are the output formats supported by layout template?
xls, html, pdf, eText etc are supported based on the business need.
9. Do you need to write multiple layout templates for each output type like html/pdf?
No, only layout template will be created, BI Publisher generates desired output format when the request is run.
10. What is the default output format of the report?
The default output format defined during the layout template creation will be used to generate the output, the same can be modified during the request submission and it will overwrite the one defined at layout template
11. Can you have multiple layout templates for a singe data template?
Yes, multiple layouts can be defined, user has a choice here to use one among them at run time during conc request submission
12. Where do you register data and layout templates?
- Layout template will be registered under xml publisher administrator responsibility>Templates tab.
- Data template will be registered under xml publisher admininstrator responsibility> Data Definitions
13. I want to create a report output in 10 languages, do I have to create 10 layout templates?
No, BI Publisher provides the required translation for your templates, based on the number of languages installed in your oracle apps environment requires outputs are provided
14. What is the required installation for using BI Pub report?
BI Publisher deskop tool has be installed. Using this tool you can preview or test the report before deploying the same on to the instance.
15. How do you move your layout or data template across instances?
xdoloader is the utility that will be used.
16. What is the tool to map required data output and layout templates so that they can be tested in local machine?
Template viewer will be used for the same.
17. Which component is responsible for generating the output in xml format before applying it to layout template?
DataEngine will take DataTemplate as the input and the output will be generated in xml format which will then be applied on layout template.
18. Can BI publisher reports be used in OAF pages?
XDO template utility helper java classes are provided for the same.
19. Name some business use cases for BI reports?
Bank EFT, customer documents, shipping documents, internal analysis documents or any transactional documents.
20. How do you pass parameters to your report?
Concurrent program parameters should be passed, ensure that the parameter name/token are same as in the conc prog defn and the data template.
21. What are the various sections in the data template?
- Parameter section
- Trigger Section
- Sql statement section
- Data Structure section
- Lexical Section
22. What does lexical section contain?
The required lexical clause of Key Flex field or Descriptive FF are created under this section.
23. What triggers are supported in Data template?
Before report and After report are supported
24. Where is the trigger code written?
The code is written in the plsql package which is given under ‘defaultpackage’ tag of data template.
25. What is the file supporting the translation for a layout template?
xliff is the file that supports the translation, you can modify the same as required.
26. How do you display the company logo on the report output?
Copy and paste the logo (.gif. or any format) on the header section of .rtf file. Ensure you resize per the company standards.
27. How to Upload RTF Template from Backend?
Using XDO Loader, we can upload an RTF from Backend.
28. How to Map RTF Template via Backend?
Using FND_PROGRAM.ADD_TEMPLATE api we can map.
29. What are the Executable and Concurrent Program used to develop a report without RDF?
XDODTEXE is used as Executable, Java Concurrent Program is used Concurrent Program for developing a report without RDF.
30. How to repeat the Header of the template on each and every page of the output?
Use in order to repeat that specific section in each page of the output.also to reset the page number.
31. How many ways we can display images in a BI Publisher Report?
It can be done in 5 ways
- Direct Insertion into RTF Template
- URL Reference
- OA_MEDIA directory reference
- Image from BLOB datatype from database
- Using UI Beans
32. How to do conditional formatting in XML Publisher?
Conditional formatting in BI Publisher/XML Publisher can be done in these some of the following ways :
1) if statements : your data
2) if then else statements :
3) choose statements : for multiple conditions
XDO_DS_DEFINITIONS_B
XDO_DS_DEFINITIONS_TL
XDO_DS_DEFINITIONS_VL
XDO_LOBS
XDO_TEMPLATES_B
XDO_TEMPLATES_TL
XDO_TEMPLATES_VL
XDO_TEMPLATE_FIELDS
XDO_TRANS_UNITS
XDO_TRANS_UNIT_PROPS
XDO_TRANS_UNIT_VALUES
33. What is the tool to map required data output and layout templates so that they can be tested in local machine?
34. What are the output formats supported by layout template?
35. How do I access BI Publisher reports using URL?
36. How do you create sub reports in BI Publisher?
37. What is a datatemplate?
38. I want to create a report output in 10 languages, do I have to create 10 layout templates?
39. What are key tasks for BI publisher?
40. Is BI Publisher integrated with Oracle Apps?
41. Can you have multiple layout templates for a singe data template?
42. What is a layout template?
43. What roles do we need to have for creating reports in BI Publisher?
44. Can BI publisher reports be used in OAF pages?
45. Which component is responsible for generating the output in xml format before applying it to layout template?
46. How are BI Publisher generated reports different from standard Oracle reports?
47. How do you move your layout or data template across instances?
48. What triggers are supported in Data template?
49. What are the different flavors of Oracle BI Publisher available?
50. What tertiary specifications have you got for BI publisher?