This presentation will cover the DBA tools and techniques used in customizing Oracle Financial Analyzer. The background topics to be covered include OFA architecture, how OFA interacts with Express Server and Personal Express, and OFA Structures and Catalogs. The major portion of the presentation will be a discussion of how to maintain the catalogs behind the scenes in Express 4GL, as well as loading data and structures. Some of the structure differences between using Oracle G/L link and a standalone OFA application will be discussed. We will demonstrate the advantages and limitations of using the three tools (OFA front-end, Express 4GL and Express Administrator) for performing maintenance and customizations.

Particular will place particular emphasis on illustrating best practices in customization and maintenance. Particular emphasis will be placed on DM.CATALOG (dimensions), LC.CATALOG (local code), MD.CATALOG (models), HI.CATALOG (hierarchies), FD.CATALOG (financial data item) and RL.CATALOG (attributes) showing best practices in customization and maintenance. We will demonstrate the process of adding items to the menu and tool bar. Each attendee will receive a technical diagram showing the detailed interrelationships among OFA catalogs.

Each attendee will learn the advantages and limitations of the three tools (OFA front-end, Express 4GL, and Express Administrator) used by a DBA for maintaining and customizing OFA databases. Attendees will gain a detailed understanding of the properties of several catalogs critical to implementing, maintaining, and customizing OFA databases.