How to Add eBS DFFs (Descriptive Flex Fields) to BI Apps (OBIA)?

BI Apps (OBIA) vanilla solution is not including "out-of-the-box" any Descriptive Flex Fields (DFF) available and extensively used in eBusiness Suite (eBS) modules for different objects (AP invoice, AR transactions, GL journal lines, etc...).

Almost all eBS implementations are storing supplementary information in DFF and most of the time this information is extensively used for reporting both in eBS custom reports or any other external reporting tools.

When you plan to implement BI Apps (OBIA) you have to include as an additional step/requirement to extract eBS DFFs by customizing out of the box solution and make them visible to end user (BI answer).

High level steps

For clients with BI Apps (OBIA) using Informatica:

1. Add new field(s) to database table
2. Customize Informatica
3. Customize repository

For clients with BI Apps (OBIA) using ODI:

1. Add new field(s) to database table
2. Customize ODI
3. Customize repository

This post will not give details about above scenarios, but also will explain a second option I've successfully implemented. This solution may be implemented quicker without any knowledge about Informatica or ODI as is based on BI repository customization.

I recommend this solution when you are running against time and you don't have closed to you any Informatica/ODI expert but you have around a BI admin expert.

Solution steps

Physical layer

1. Open repository on-line using BI Admin tool
2. Create a new physical database and create only one connection pool to point to your eBS database
3. Import table and desired DFF field(s) using metadata import functionality
4. Set cache persistence time for one day
5. Create joins of new added table to existing dimension

Business Model Mapping layer

• Add DFF field(s) to dimension and rename it with a business wise name

Presentation layer

• Add field(s) to each Subject Area where dimension is used 

Live Demo

Here is a step by step video.

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