Table of Contents

Ten (10) new features, 50 minor enhancements/improvements

Release 3.1.8 contains a number of new features and many enhancements and improvements. We’ll also cover some of the enhancements in 3.1.7 as this was an interim maintenance release.

Global multi-language support

Blitz Report supports multi-languages in the report output (data and column headings) and in the user interface. In this release, the multi-language support has been expanded to include all 36 languages supported by Oracle.

To use this feature, you need to have the Oracle language installed, and Blitz Report will automatically serve the users in their language preference.

The languages supported include:

American English Hebrew Romanian
Arabic Hungarian Russian
Brazilian Portuguese Icelandic Simplified Chinese
Canadian French Indonesian Slovak
Croatian Italian Slovenian
Czech Japanese Spanish
Danish Korean Swedish
Dutch Latin American Spanish Thai
Finnish Lithuanian Traditional Chinese
French Norwegian Turkish
German Polish Ukrainian
Greek Portuguese Vietnamese



Report setup – Added ‘Usage’ count of reports using each LOV

 

This new feature includes:

The addition of a new ‘USAGE’ column in the LOV name lookup. This column shows the frequency of usage of each LOV and will help the developer quickly identify unique VS commonly used LOVs.

 

Report setup – Enhanced ‘Used by’ for LOV definitions

This enhanced feature includes:

An improvement of the ‘USED BY’ button in the LOV definition window. This button now displays a list of all other report parameters that are currently using this LOV, enabling a developer to quickly identify reports that will be affected by changes made to this LOV query.

The user can select any of these, and Blitz Report will navigate directly to the affected parameter of the selected report.

 

Report Templates – Added ‘Copy Template’ option

This new feature includes:

The addition of a new ‘Copy Template’ feature from the ‘Actions’ option on the toolbar.

The copy template option is available after selecting a specific template and pressing the ‘Actions’ option in the toolbar.

Once the template is copied, it can be changed and renamed as required to meet the new user needs.

 

Report Templates – Added ‘aggregation’ option

This new feature includes:

The addition of a new ‘aggregation’ feature from inside the report template. This option allows the user to add a variety of aggregation types, including:

Average (Avg)

Count (Count)

Maximum value (Max)

Minimum Value (Min)

Sum total (Sum)

 

Report Templates – Added ‘sort’ option

This new feature includes:

The addition of a new ‘sort’ feature from inside the report template. This option applies to any column in the report and can be sorted either ascending or descending.

 

Report Template – Added ‘Global Default’ option

This new feature includes:

The addition of a new ‘Global Default’ setting on a Column template form. The ‘Global Default’ will set the selected template as the default for users.

Business users still have the ability to set a different default template, if desired.

 

Report Template – Added ‘Distinct’ option

This new feature includes:

The addition of a new ‘Distinct’ setting on a Column template. The ‘Distinct’ setting will eliminate row duplication when the selected columns are in a ‘many to one’ configuration.

For example, in an AR invoice report where each row includes a supplier number, supplier name and invoice number, if the report template is created for just the supplier number and name, that supplier number and name would be repeated on multiple rows, one per invoice row, even if invoice number details are not selected.

Setting the ‘distinct’ option will suppress the duplication of Supplier number and supplier name to include only unique values.

 

Report Template – Added ‘Pivot’ functionality

This new feature includes:

The addition of new ‘pivot’ functionality in the Column template. The ‘pivot’ settings will allow a user to define the excel pivot parameters inside the template, allowing the excel output created by Blitz Report will be a perfectly formatted Excel Pivot table.

NOTE: At publication of these release notes, the user interface for the Pivot functionality was under revision. This screen shot is based on the beta version of the User Interface, which has been improved for ease of use, and will be available in the final published 3.1.8 release.

 

Report Template – Templates included in full text search

This new feature includes:

The addition of template functionality provided users with the flexibility to design their own report layouts in Blitz Report. Because templates exist inside the report structure, it could become difficult for users to locate their desired template. To eliminate this possibility, we have expanded our full text search to include a search for both the template names and the report names.

 

Report setup – Enhancement to add Blitz Reports to Oracle forms

This enhancement includes:

Building on the feature introduced in 3.1.6, which allowed Blitz Reports to be assigned to any Oracle Form, giving the users the ability to execute the report without leaving the Oracle form.

To use this feature, select the report you wish to add to the form, navigate to the ‘Responsibility’ tab in the Blitz Report setup screen, and add the name of the Form.

You may also optionally set ‘Form Parameters’, which allow parameter values to be passed to Blitz Report for the report execution.

We have enhanced this option to allow different blocks to be defined in the ‘Form Block’, each with unique parameters to pass to the report for execution.

 

Report setup – Added import for Polaris Reporting Workbench

This new feature includes:

The ability for Blitz Report users to import and migrate reports automatically from Polaris Reporting Workbench. This provides significant performance improvements, with a faster and easier user experience for report setup, execution, and maintenance.

 

Report setup – Added a second import option for Discoverer Folders

This new feature includes:

The original Discoverer Worksheet conversion performed a one-to-one conversion of Discoverer worksheets to Blitz Reports. While this works perfectly for many clients, there are some Discoverer users with a large number of legacy workbooks, not well structured or maintained.

This new Discoverer Folder conversion option automatically combines different workbooks and worksheets that use the same views/folders a single Blitz Report. Each of the Discoverer worksheets is maintained as a template inside the main Blitz Report, which makes maintenance and support much easier.

 

Report Export – Added a ‘Template’ and ‘Column’ selection

This enhanced feature includes:

In addition to the existing ‘LOV’, ‘Categories’, and ‘assignments’, we have added an option for ‘template’ and ‘Column’ selection in the report export form. By adding these options, the developer has the choice of including or excluding report templates or column formats when migrating reports between instances.

 

Report Setup Options – Added Custom Post Processing & Email

This enhanced feature includes:

The addition of two new options in the ‘Setup > Options’ window.

First, the addition of an Email LOV to allow the report to be set up with default Email(s). The Email option was previously available in the report runtime options but can now be set and stored to ensure the report executes with this as a default delivery option.

Second, the addition of a Custom post processing parameter on the report setup. The postprocessing option was previously available in the report runtime options but can now be set and stored to ensure the report executes with this as a default post processing option. (for example, if the report should always generate a .pdf and deliver it somewhere)

 

GL Report Parameter Enhancements – Added revaluation currency

This new enhancement includes:

Revaluation of Financial Statements based on selected currency. This enhancement allows financial reports to include balance from multiple ledgers, with different currencies, and automatically convert all amounts to the specified currency.

 

AP and AR Reports with revaluation currency capabilities

These new reports include:

Based on customer requests, 6 Oracle standard reports have been enhanced and transformed into Blitz Reports. (3 for Accounts payable and 3 for Accounts receivable). These reports allow the subledger amounts to be reported in the valuation currency of choice:

  • AP Open Balances Revaluation
  • AP Open Items Revaluation
  • AR Open Balances Revaluation
  • AR Open Items Revaluation

 

GL Report Parameter Enhancements – Exclude inactive accounts

This new enhancement includes:

This enhancement allows users to exclude accounts with no transactions when they run any of the GL reports (IE suppress inactive accounts)

 

New Reports – Tax related

This new feature includes:

Three new reports to help manage Tax setup, including Tax Accounts, Tax Regimes, and Tax profiles

 

Enterprise Command Centers – More Realtime Reporting from ECC

This enhanced feature includes:

This is a continuation of the work done in Release 3.1.7, focused on newly introduced ECC dashboards. Blitz Report is now able to import all of the new Oracle’s Enterprise Command Center queries added by Oracle. Blitz Report leverages Oracle’s Enterprise Command Center dataset queries so users can now access all the new ECC dashboard data in Real-time Excel.

ECC Queries can be imported one at a time using the standard Import option on our Tools Menu:

 

We also provide the ability to import all of the queries using the Mass import script provided here:

mass_import_ecc_reports.sql

For more information, please see our online user guide:

Blitz Report™ User Guide

 

Maintenance & Fixes

Fixed issues with improperly converted multi byte characters in email filenames.

In a multi-language environment, with languages such as Chinese or Arabic, the filename of the report being attached to an email often contains multi byte characters. Previously, the multi byte characters were being replaced by the underscore character. This has been corrected.

Also enhanced the XML export and import routines to work correctly for multi byte characters for databases with non utf-8 DB character sets

Fixed issue with Date calculations

When opening templates for reports where the SQL contained parameters of type “date” involved in arithmetic expressions, the system would create an ‘Error parsing SQL’ message. This has been corrected.

Updated XML Export / Import

When migrating reports using the XML Export/Import feature, the numeric formats and column translations were not being migrated. This has been corrected.

Enhanced report execution “re-submit”

Previously, the “RUN” button was disabled during report execution to prevent a user from accidentally resubmitting the same report. This has been enhanced so the “Run” button will re-activate if the user changes any of the runtime options, thus allowing the report can be re-submitted.

Expanded 3rd Party report analysis tools

Added “pre migration” analysis reports for 3rd party reporting solutions EIS tech and Polaris Reporting Workbench to the standard Blitz Report installation. These reports are provided to assist users of these tools with their analyze of existing report usage, thus helping with their migration planning.

 

Reports Library – Added / Backported reports for 11i

This new 3.1.7 feature includes:

A complete review of the report library to backport all reports to run in 11i, where possible. Where database differences prevent the same report from executing in BOTH release 11i and release12, a new report has been created for the unique features of release 11i.

These new seeded reports will automatically be included and applied with the release update.

Accounts Receivable:

  • AR Miscellaneous Receipts 11i
  • AR Transactions and Lines 11i
  • AR Transactions and Payments 11i

Accounts Payable:

  • AP Invoice Payments 11i
  • AP Invoices and Lines 11i
  • AP Suppliers Revenue Summary 11i

General Ledger:

  • GL Account Analysis 11i

Fixed Assets:

  • FA Asset Book Details 11i

Purchase Order Management:

  • PO Headers 11i
  • PO Headers and Lines 11i

Inventory & Parts management:

  • INV Intercompany Invoice Reconciliation 11i

DBA and system management tools:

  • FND User Roles 11i
  • AD Applied Patches 11i

Accounts Payable:

  • AP Suppliers 11i

New Seeded Reports (3.17 – 3.18)

These new seeded reports will automatically be included and applied with the release update.

If you are not applying the new release, any report can be selectively downloaded from our online library (Link here: Blitz Report™ Library) and imported to your current Blitz Report software using the ‘Tools > Import’ function from the Setup toolbar.

Accounts Payable:

  • AP Intercompany Invoice Details
  • AP Open Balances Revaluation
  • AP Open Items Revaluation
  • IBY Payment Process Request Details

Accounts Receivable:

  • AR Open Balances Revaluation
  • AR Open Items Revaluation
  • AR Payment Terms
  • Discoverer Analytics, Conversion & Management:
  • DIS End User Layers
  • DIS Items, Folders and Formulas

Order Management:

  • ONT Order Headers

Inventory & Parts management:

  • INV Intercompany Invoice Reconciliation
  • INV Item Templates

Taxing

  • ZX Party Tax Profiles
  • ZX Tax Accounts
  • ZX Tax Regimes

DBA and system management tools:

  • DBA Dependencies (used by)
  • DBA Dependencies (uses)
  • DBA External Table Creation
  • FND Flex Hierarchies (Rollup Groups)
  • FND Role Hierarchy
  • FND Roles
  • FND User Roles
  • Blitz Report Parameter Uniqueness Validation
  • Blitz Report User History

Existing Reports – Updated Parameters for enhanced features

Accounts Receivable:

  • AR Customer Credit Limits
  • AR Customers and Sites
  • AR Disputed Invoice
  • AR Miscellaneous Receipts

Accounts Payable:

  • AP Cash Requirement
  • Cost Management:
  • CAC Accounting Period Status
  • CAC Accounting Period Status (simple)
  • CAC Inventory to G/L Reconciliation (Restricted by Org Access)
  • CAC Inventory to G/L Reconciliation (Unrestricted by Or Access)
  • CAC Material Account Summary
  • CAC Receiving Account Summary

Discoverer Analytics, Conversion & Management:

  • DIS Worksheet Execution Summary

Fixed Assets:

FA Depreciation Projection

Manufacturing (MRP):

  • MRP Exceptions
  • MRP Item Forecast
  • MRP Item Forecast
  • MSC Pegging
  • MSC Supply and Demand Orders
  • Order Management
  • ONT Order Holds
  • ONT Recurring Billing Plan
  • ONT Transaction Types and Line WF Processes

Purchase Order Management:

  • PO Document Types
  • PO Purchase Price Variance

Payroll & HR:

  • PER Employee Grade Changes

Projects:

  • PA Task Schedule

DBA and system management tools:

  • FND Concurrent Request Conflicts
  • FND Concurrent Requests Summary
  • Blitz Report Execution History
  • Blitz Report LOVs

 

Existing Reports – Updated SQL for enhanced features or performance

Accounts Receivable:

  • AR Aging – 7 Buckets – By Salesperson/Agent
  • AR European Sales Listing
  • AR Incomplete Transactions
  • AR Transaction Register
  • AR Transactions and Lines
  • AR Transactions and Payments
  • AR Unapplied Receipts Register

Accounts Payable:

  • AP Expenses
  • AP Invoice Payments
  • AP Invoices and Lines
  • AP Suppliers
  • AP Suppliers Revenue Summary

General Ledger:

  • GL Account Analysis
  • GL Account Analysis 11g
  • GL Balance Detail
  • GL Balance Detail (pivot)
  • GL Data Access Sets
  • GL Header Categories Summary
  • GL Journals
  • GL Ledgers and Organizations

Fixed Assets:

  • FA Asset Book Details
  • EAM Work Orders

Purchase Order Management:

  • PO Approval Assignments
  • PO Approval Groups
  • PO Approved Supplier List
  • PO Headers
  • PO Headers and Lines
  • PO Invoice Price Variance

Inventory & Parts Management:

  • INV Inventory Items
  • INV Item Statuses
  • INV Material Transactions
  • INV On hand Quantities
  • INV Stock Locators
  • INV Sub inventories

Manufacturing (MRP):

  • MRP End Assembly Pegging
  • MRP Pegging

Sales Order Processing:

  • ONT Order Headers and Lines

Payroll:

  • PER Employee Assignments

Service Contracts & Service Billing:

  • OKC Contract Lines Summary
  • OKL Termination Quotes
  • OKS Service Contracts Billing History
  • OKS Service Contracts Billing Schedule

Discoverer analysis and conversion:

  • DIS Folders, Business Areas, Items and LOVs
  • DIS Workbooks, Folders, Items and LOVs
  • DIS Worksheet Execution History

Cost Management:

  • CAC Cost Vs. Planning Item Controls
  • CAC ICP PII Inventory and in transit Value (Period-End)
  • CAC Inventory Out-of-Balance
  • CAC Inventory and Intransit Value (Period-End)
  • CAC Item Cost Summary
  • CAC Margin Analysis Account Summary
  • CAC Margin Analysis Summary
  • CST Cost Groups
  • CST Detailed Item Cost
  • CST Inventory Value Report – by Sub inventory (Sub inventory)
  • CST Item Cost Reports
  • CST Period Close Sub Inventory Value
  • CST Period Close Sub inventory Value Summary
  • WIP Account Distribution

DBA and system management tools:

  • DBA AWR SQL Performance Summary
  • DBA Blocking Sessions
  • DBA SGA SQL Performance Summary
  • FND Access Control
  • FND Applications
  • FND Attached Documents
  • FND Concurrent Programs and Executables
  • FND Flex Value Hierarchy
  • FND Flex Values
  • FND Help Documents and Targets
  • FND Lookup Search
  • XLA Distribution Links Summary
  • XLE Legal Entities
  • Compare Blitz Report LOVs between environments
  • Blitz Reports
  • Blitz Report Templates