To customize OTBI (Oracle Transactional Business Intelligence) reports in Oracle Fusion, you primarily work within the Analysis Editor to define data, apply filters, and design the report's presentation. This process allows you to tailor standard reports or create new ones from scratch to meet specific business requirements.
Customizing OTBI reports involves defining the data you want to see, applying specific conditions, and then arranging that data in an easy-to-understand format.
Creating a New Custom OTBI Report
The most common way to customize is by building a new analysis (report) using Oracle's powerful ad-hoc reporting tools. Here's a step-by-step guide:
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Navigate to Reports and Analytics:
Begin by logging into Oracle Fusion and navigating to the Reports and Analytics work area, typically found under the Tools menu or a relevant functional area dashboard. From there, select Browse Catalog. -
Start a New Analysis:
Within the Oracle Business Intelligence (OBI) Catalog, click on the New dropdown menu and select Analysis. This opens the Analysis Editor, prompting you to choose a subject area. -
Select a Subject Area:
Choose the appropriate Subject Area that contains the data relevant to your report. Subject areas organize data into logical groups (e.g., "Workforce Management - Worker Assignment Real Time," "Financials - Payables Invoices Real Time"). This is the foundation of your report. -
Add Report Parameters (Columns):
Once the subject area is selected, you'll be on the Criteria tab. On the left pane, you'll see folders representing dimensions and facts within your chosen subject area.- Expand the relevant folders (e.g., "Worker," "Assignment," "Invoice Header") and double-click the specific data elements (columns/attributes) you want to include in your report. These become your report parameters.
- Example: For a worker report, you might double-click "Worker Name," "Assignment Status," "Business Unit."
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Create Filters for Each Parameter:
Filters are crucial for narrowing down your data to only what's relevant.- In the Filters pane at the bottom of the Criteria tab, click the Create Filter icon (often a plus sign) or right-click on a column in the "Selected Columns" area and choose "Filter."
- Define the conditions for each filter (e.g., "Assignment Status is equal to Active," "Hire Date is greater than or equal to 01/01/2023").
- You can use various operators like "is equal to," "starts with," "is between," etc., and combine multiple filters using AND/OR logic.
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Develop User Prompts (Optional but Recommended):
To make your report interactive, you can create prompts that allow users to select filter values at runtime.- On the Prompts tab (next to the Criteria and Results tabs), you can create Column Prompts for specific attributes (e.g., prompt for "Business Unit," "Department").
- For more comprehensive interactive filtering, you might create Dashboard Prompts which can apply to multiple reports on a dashboard. When creating these, you'll need to copy the folder and field information from each prompt to ensure consistency and correct mapping, especially when designing advanced dashboard layouts.
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Design the Report Layout (Results Tab):
After defining your data and filters, switch to the Results tab to design the presentation.- Views: Add different views like Table, Pivot Table, Graph (bar, line, pie), Gauge, or Narrative to display your data.
- Formatting: Customize column headers, data formats, colors, conditional formatting, and sort order.
- Drag and Drop: Easily rearrange columns, rows, and sections within Pivot Tables and Graphs.
- Practical Insight: Use a Table view for detailed data, a Pivot Table for summarized data with multiple dimensions, and a Graph to visualize trends or comparisons.
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Save the Report:
Once satisfied with your report, click the Save Analysis icon. Choose a folder in the Shared Folders area to save it, providing a meaningful name and description. This makes the report accessible to other users with appropriate permissions.
Key Customization Areas
OTBI offers extensive customization capabilities, broadly categorized into:
- Data Selection and Filtering:
- Choosing specific attributes from subject areas.
- Applying complex filters with multiple conditions.
- Creating calculated fields (e.g.,
(Salary * 0.1)). - Leveraging advanced SQL for complex data manipulation.
- Layout and Visualization:
- Designing tables, pivot tables, and various chart types.
- Applying conditional formatting to highlight critical data.
- Adding custom text, images, or narratives.
- User Interaction:
- Implementing column prompts and dashboard prompts for dynamic filtering.
- Enabling drill-down capabilities to explore data in more detail.
Modifying Existing OTBI Reports
To modify an existing OTBI report:
- Navigate to Reports and Analytics > Browse Catalog.
- Locate the Report: Search or browse the catalog to find the report you wish to modify.
- Edit the Report: Hover over the report name, click the "More" dropdown, and select "Edit". This will open the report in the Analysis Editor, allowing you to make changes to its criteria, filters, prompts, or results layout.
- Save Your Changes: After making modifications, save the report. You can save it with the same name (overwriting) or as a new report.
Best Practices for OTBI Customization
- Understand Subject Areas: Familiarize yourself with the available subject areas and their content to ensure you're pulling data from the correct source.
- Keep It Simple: Start with basic reports and gradually add complexity.
- Test Thoroughly: Always test your customized reports with various data scenarios to ensure accuracy and performance.
- Use Descriptive Names: Name your reports, columns, and filters clearly so others can understand their purpose.
- Organize in Shared Folders: Save custom reports in appropriate shared folders to maintain order and accessibility.
- Leverage Oracle Documentation: Refer to Oracle's official documentation for detailed explanations of advanced features and specific subject area contents.
Comparison: Standard vs. Custom OTBI Reports
| Feature | Standard OTBI Report | Custom OTBI Report |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Pre-built by Oracle | Created or modified by users |
| Flexibility | Limited to pre-defined parameters and layouts | Highly flexible in data, filters, and presentation |
| Data Scope | Fixed set of data based on report purpose | User-defined data selection from subject areas |
| Maintenance | Managed by Oracle (updates, bug fixes) | User-managed; requires awareness of underlying data changes |
| Use Case | Common operational reporting, basic insights | Specific business requirements, deep dive analysis |
By following these steps and best practices, you can effectively customize OTBI reports in Oracle Fusion to deliver precise, insightful, and user-friendly analytical solutions.
