Loading Data by using Oracle Forms Record and Playback Method

 

Using this feature Forms Data Loader can be used to load data accurately and several times faster than Macro Loading. It is more reliable, the load will stop whenever an error occurs, because although load is build using Forms Data Loader it is executed by Oracle Forms.

 

This method applies to Oracle Java Applet Forms (also known as Oracle Traditional Forms or Oracle Core Forms). This method is not applicable to Oracle Web Based Forms / Oracle OAF forms, for Oracle Web Forms please use HTML Forms Data Loader which is specially built for these forms.

 

Using this method you can load the data in Oracle Apps by performing the following Steps.

 

First Setup Oracle Forms for Record and Playback. If you have not configured Oracle Forms for record and playback then do so before proceeding.

 

 Click here for Setup Procedure

 

Step 1
In a windows client login as user for whom you turn on recording and open the required form and enter at least 2 sample records please follow the given guidelines while recording

 

Guidelines for Recording Loads.

 

• Enter at least 2 similar records. i.e. enter the data in same no of fields in the same order in both the records.
  • If you have entered data in 10 fields in first sample record then enter data for 10 fields in second sample record also. Do not skip fields and do not use extra fields while entering second record.
  • Do not use different ways to select check boxes or radio boxes. If you have used mouse to select a value for a check box or radio box field then use mouse to select the same check box or radio box field in second record. If you have used keyboard then use keyboard to select check box or radio box fields in both the sample records.
• Use Keyboard shortcuts as much as possible instead of mouse clicks while recording
• Enter data directly in LOV fields as much as possible instead of selecting from LOVs
• Do not switch between forms while recording
• Exit Oracle Application as soon as you finished entering sample records.
• For Drop down lists enter as many sample records as different values in the drop down list you want to use.

 

Step 2

Open the recorded file in Forms Data Loader, FDL will ask you to identify the First Field and Last Field of repeating section as shown below. Here Select the First and Last Repeating Fields of the First Sample record you have entered in the above step while recording the file

 

 

Accurately selecting the First and Last field of the repeating section is crucial for correct execution of load.

 

Step 3

Once you have identified the first and last field of repeating section Forms Data Loader will show a spreadsheet showing the records you have entered in forms as shown below.

 

 

 

Now you can add records to the spreadsheet by directly typing or importing from Excel CSV files or from any delimited file. You can also copy and paste the data from any spreadsheet.

 

Once you have populated the spreadsheet save the file. When you save the file Forms Data Loader will generate the code necessary for playing the file in Oracle Forms. You can click the button to view the code. 

 

Step 4

Now take this file to the machine where forms server is running and copy it to the location usually $COMMON_TOP/admin/log directory by giving the name which you have specified in "play=" option in profile settings while configuring Oracle Forms for Record and Playback.

 

If you can directly open forms without going through sign-on pages then you can type the record and play file in the address itself like for example

 

In UNIX:

http://host.domain:port/dev60cgi/f60cgi?record=rec.fdl%20play=myplay.fdl

 

 

In Windows

http://host.domain:port/dev60cgi/ifcgi60.exe?record=rec.fdl%20play=myplay.fdl

 

Oracle Forms will start loading the records as soon as forms is open. Step 5 is not needed if you are opening the forms directly.

 

 

Step 5
Now login to Oracle Application as a user for whom you have set the profile setting for playback and open the desired form. Oracle Forms will start loading the records as soon as forms is open.