Enabling/disabling concurrent program parameters

Step-by-Step: Enabling/disabling concurrent program parameters dyncamically

Find out how to enable/disable concurrent program parameters conditionally/dynamically.

by Arun Sista

This article is a simple step by step guide on controlling concurrent program parameters by enabling/disabling them based on values in other parameters. This article is for use of anyone who wishes to develop a new concurrent program/modify an existing one and wants to introduce new behavior to concurrent program parameters.

Background / Overview

I decided to write this based on some of my experience at Oracle where I had to research this fairly simple programming technique and given the lack of documentation ended up spending a fair bit of time on it initially.

This article contains a detailed explanation in text as well as an audio visual with a demo on the topic.

Scenario:

Let us assume that we are trying to create a concurrent program X_CUSTOM_TEST_CONC_PROGRAM that has 3 parameters.

The first parameter is called Requisition Type and the values are controlled by a pre-defined value set by the name PO_SRS_REQUISITION_TYPE. The values in this parameter can be INTERNAL/PURCHASE.

The second parameter is called Inventory Organization and is dependent on Requisition Type and would be enabled if the value in Requisition Type is ‘INTERNAL’

The third parameter is called Supplier and is dependent on Requisition Type and would be enabled if the value of the Requisition Type is ‘PURCHASE’

Step 1: Preliminary Setup/Knowledge

Understanding on creation of concurrent programs and concurrent program parameters and value sets for concurrent program parameters is expected.

Concept:

We would use dependent value sets to enable / disable parameters. The idea is simple and straight forward. You can have a value set “A” that drives a parameter. And another value set “B” that drives the second parameter. If I want to introduce a condition such that “B” does not get enabled till I enter a value in “A” I would have to make “B” as a dependent value set on “A”.

There are two ways to do this.

a. For table based value sets you need to put in a condition in the where clause that has a reference to the driving value set. i.e in our case if B is a table based value set it would need to reference A in the where clause in the following manner: and :$FLEX$.A = ‘<some value>’. This would ensure that the value set of B does not get initialized till the value set for A returns a value this in turn keeps the parameter for B disabled.

b. You can create a normal dependent value sets and define dependencies on other value sets.

So how would we approach our problem where we want to enable/disable values based on another parameter.

a. I would define a parameter that provides the driving value(this creates the dependency). This is driven by value set “A”

b. I would create a dummy parameter based on a value set that returns Y or Null. I would default the value in this dummy parameter such that it returns Y for the positive condition and null for the negative condition.

c. I would create the third parameter which is the dependent parameter and I would insert a clause such in it’s value set that it is dependent on the dummy parameter. What happens because of this is that the dummy parameter returns ‘Y’ when the condition matches thus enabling the value set associated with the dummy parameter and in turn enabling the value set for this dependent parameter. However if the condition fails the dummy parameter returns null thus disabling the value set and parameter for the dependent parameter

Concepts

Step 2: Create value sets

Create value sets for all the parameters including the dummy parameters. In our case we would create the following value sets in this given order to take care of dependencies:

PO_SRS_REQUISITION_TYPE – Value set for the Requisition type

 

 

 

XX_CUSTOM_ENABLE_SUPPLIER - Value set to enable/disable the Supplier parameter.

Enter the possible values for the value set.

XX_CUSTOM_ENABLE_INV_ORG – Value set to control enabling/disabling the Inv org parameter

Enter the possible values for the value set.

XX_CUSTOM_INV_ORGANIZATIONS – Value set for the Inventory Organization parameter

XX_CUSTOM_VENDOR_LIST – Value set for Vendor parameter

Step 3: We would define the concurrent program itself. And add parameters to it with default values.

Create the concurrent program by the name XX_CUSTOM_TEST_CONC_PROGRAM

Define the concurrent program parameters:

1. Creat the parameter for Requisition Type and enter the Value Set as : PO_SRS_REQUISITION_TYPE
2. Create a dummy parameter Inv Org enable with value set XX_CUSTOM_ENABLE_INV_ORG. Set the default type to SQL Statement and set the default value to select decode(:$FLEX$. PO_SRS_REQUISITION_TYPE,'INTERNAL',’Y’,NULL) from dual. Set the displayed value to false by un checking the check box.
3. Create a dummy parameter Supplier Enable with value set XX_CUSTOM_ENABLE_SUPPLIER. Set the default type to SQLStatement and set the default value to select decode(:$FLEX$. PO_SRS_REQUISITION_TYPE,'PURCHASE',’Y’,NULL) from dual. Set the displayed value to false by un checking the check box.
4. Create a parameter for Inventory Organization and assign the value set XX_CUSTOM_INV_ORGANIZATIONS
5. Create a parameter for Supplier and assign the value set XX_CUSTOM_ENABLE_SUPPLIER.

Add concurrent program to request group and run:

1. Switch to the sysadmin responsibility and add your concurrent program to the All Reports request group for purchasing.
2. Navigate to Purchasing Responsibility and run the concurrent program and see the results for yourself.

Video Demo

Video Demo