Say no to Windows IE 8 Oracle Apps developers/consultants

Update: Oracle EBS 11i and R12 are now certified with IE8 and Firefox 3.5. Moreover EBS is certified to work on Windows 7 OS. Ask your DBA to follow the this blog entry for more.

Beware Oracle Apps Consultant/Developers, Windows Internet Explorer 8 is not yet compatible with Oracle E-Business Suite. If you are an Vista user, there are high chances that IE 8 will get installed automatically, so as the saying goes, "Prevention is better than cure".

So you asking can we prevent IE8 from getting installed? Yes, it is absolutely possible. Just visit this site and install the IE8 installation blocker. This would prevent your machine (automatic updates) from automatically installing Windows Internet Explorer 8.

Enjoy!

Snappy Words

All search lovers as well as dictionary lovers, you got an awesome site where in you will be able to watch meanings for words in a graphical way. This is a fun way to learn things.

You can visit the website or directly search from your firefox search bar:

To add this search engine to your search bar list in firefox, do this: click on the drop down arrow near the search engine name> manage search engines> get more search engines (link), which will take you to https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/13971. 

PS: Else you can directly add this add-on from the above link :)

I tried searching the meaning for snappy in this, and look at the cool results :)

You can drag this thing, scroll over it, zoom in, zoom out and is really a cool way to explore the meaning of words. Enjoy browsing :)

Where is the limit?

I have seen many people wanting to reach some milestone every now and then in any form of work, especially in Software industry. The milestone may be in the form of "Money" or "Position" in the organization. Mostly "Position" and "Money" have a positive correlation. I sometimes wonder what is the limit for these guys and put myself in the list. But I am a different person altogether. My interests have subsided, my limits are narrow and I know what I want and am happy with what I got.

These people receive nearly 1 lakh per month salary and yet they strain and stress themselves to earn more forgetting about Family and Health and most importantly they grow to become the worst character in life-workaholic and arrogant. Why is that because our elders and puranas used to teach us that Money should never go above our shoulders, cause it will swallow us! There is a limit for everything and anything. And I have seen people who have gone berserk like that.

I am really thankful that I don't have high ambitions in terms of "Money" and "Position" cause I know that whatever I get I deserve it, If I don't I won't be hanging on that for a long time. I have seen many people demanding for their needs, but I am not like that in my workplace. I believe that Credit is valid when u Deserve it not when you Demand it.

Many a times I keep wondering and discuss this topic with my wife, "What's the limit for all this?", "Why are people so greedy?", "Why am I not like others?", "Why is that I don't find interest in excess money?". Nobody knows the answer, even me, but all I can say is that I know my limit and happy with what I got - A good Wife, Good life, A Bike and House-hold items for daily work. I don't own a house, I don't own a A/C also. But I don't care, I know that If I deserve that I will get it some day, at least my children will owe me one. It is high time people stop for a second and rework on their interests and real needs/wants.

Play outside?

This picture is dedicated to all people who are like me ;) and who got advised by their mom to go out and play instead of sitting in front of play station / Computer :P

Finding out field size in front end

When some one asks you whether you can find out the field size in Apps front end, tell them yes and also show them that it's done this way:

1. Navigate to the form on which you want to find the field size.
2. Navigate to the field for which the size needs to be determined.
3. Click on Help > Diagnostics> Properties> Item (It might ask for database password, so you should have it handy).

4. Select Max Length in the Property Drop down box.
5. You will get the value in the Value field. This is your field size for the field selected in step2.

Query NULL criteria in e-Business Suite form window

Today I was asked by one of my colleagues to determine the Invoices which has Purchase Orders related to it in the Invoice Entry window.

I remembered how to do it and did the same. In case your requirement is similar to this, follow these simple steps:

• Navigate to the window
• Enter Query mode through View> Query By Example > Enter or F11
• Navigate to the field for which you want to determine the null or not null criteria
• Enter the following: "# IS NULL" or "#IS NOT NULL" depending on whether you were asked to find the Null or not null data- excluding the double quotes
  
• Ctrl+F11 or View> Query By Example > Run

Forgetting Culture is a Lack of Knowledge

We Indians have that tag really, especially if you are a Hindu. Our Culture is the oldest of all and has found strong evidences from all the over the world. People forget and misunderstand Hinduism rather than a way of life. Our cultural foundations and findings have given way to what is currently present in the world - Science, Technology, Knowledge. Everything were written in detail in Vedas.

The Vedas contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India. Along with the Book of the Dead, the Enuma Elish, the I Ching, and the Avesta, they are among the most ancient religious texts still in existence. Besides their spiritual value, they also give a unique view of everyday life in India four thousand years ago. The Vedas are also the most ancient extensive texts in an Indo-European language, and as such are invaluable in the study of comparative linguistics.

They also had a vast influence on Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Traditionally the text of the Vedas was coeval with the universe. Scholars have determined that the Rig Veda, the oldest of the four Vedas, was composed about 1500 B.C., and codified about 600 B.C. It is unknown when it was finally committed to writing, but this probably was at some point after 300 B.C.

For those of who doesn't know about Vedas, there are 4 Vedas in Hinduism, they are:

• Rig Veda -which contains hymns that treat Nature as GODS,
• Sama Veda -hymns which needs to be practised and chanted by priests,
• Yajur Veda - more powerful hymns chanted by priests and
• Atharva Veda - also contains material from the Rig Veda, but of interest are the numerous incantations and metaphysical texts, which this anthology (part of the Sacred Books of the East series) collects and categorizes.

All the scientific information on Atoms, Nucleus, etc were written already in the Vedas and were the source of information for millions of scientists who made theories and findings out of it including the great Einstein. Hinduism is the only form of practise which has so many powerful texts and benefits others. They teach us how to live, what is right and what is wrong practise.

It is absolutely great to imagine so much information that our so called 'religion' gives, we must respect and accept things and move on. Of course caste system came later, which was created by Lord Krishna according to Puranas. That is the only set back that our religion has as far as I know. Otherwise we need to teach and make people understand the power of our texts and follow a righteous path. You can find many FAQs in this website which will quench your religious thirst and many questions which you had in your mind. Enjoy browsing: http://www.webonautics.com/mythology/factsinhindu.html

Wait one more thing, did you know that the Thoppukaranam which we practise in front of Lord Vinayaga is a sort of Yoga which has many benefits. Don't believe me? Well Americans do. That's the situation now, Indians forget the culture which Americans love to adopt. And we? We are now following western culture by exposing everything for money and fun. Ok lets don't get diverted, the thing I wanted to say is there are many practices which we follow without knowing its importance or reason. One such is Thoppukaram performed in front of Lord Vinayaga. What benefits it has? Check this video:




The Americans will soon patent this yoga form named 'Super Brain Yoga' which is our own Thoppukaranam. There are many things like this in India which we perform without knowing the reason. All I can say is we are being diverted by some Money force, religious fanatics all around the globe and improper Spiritual Guide/Spiritual Leader.

Personality Flow Chart -Funny one

I got this from internet. It is really funny. Enjoy ;)

How to Hide Search Option in Manager Self Service Functions in R12

I am happy to announce that my contribution to metalink on Hiding Search Option in Manager Self Service Pages in E-Business Suite Release 12 has been accepted via an SR and been posted as a Metalink Note.

Once again I am happy that I have contributed something small to my company as well as Metalink Community.

You can read the content from Metalink Note ID: 858526.1.

Happy Reading!

Rain washes out India's fate

Rain is believed to be one of the form of GOD namely "Varsha" in Hindu mythology. GOD protects us as many of us believe. He protects us from drying up during summer time in the form of Rain. He brings water to us. He washes away thousands of families, but sometimes he gives water to those who are in drought.

He did the same for India in the name of monsoon covering 95% of Northern India and protecting them from sweltering heat and drought conditions. Jai ho Rain god!

On a lighter side he has saved the face of Indian Cricket team by interrupting play in the 3rd ODI and washing out the 4th ODI in style in the currently concluded India's tour of Westindies.

It is raining now in Chennai, do not know whether the fate is going to be favorable or not. Let us wait and sail over the inundated streets of Singara Chennai!
Thanks to uninterrupted downpour, it has given some smile on the face of Indian fans, who will cherish the victory for a long time to come after India's famous debacle in 2009 T20 world cup.

Online Browser Games

If you are bored and looking for some online browser based games, check out these games, they are surely interesting, attractive and worth playing:



Evony 

Tribal Wars

The West




For those who do not know about Online browser-based games, these are games which you can play online with an internet connection using a simple web browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. You need no software installation necessities. You just need to log on to internet and create an account for yourself online and start playing.


You may ask me how different is the online browser based games from flash based games. Simple - No need extra plug-in installation and also its real time and you can interact with players world wide in real time using a simple browser just like your chat ! Isn't that something really exciting? I know it would be, check out these games, start playing and don't forget to meet me in game .. Let's catch up guys!

I found some more interesting and worthy games which I found out online and not available via any search engines:

• Atlantica
• Fallen Sword
• Gladiatus
• Global Wars
• Imperial Ages
• KingsAge
• Nodiatis
• Renaissance Kingdoms
• Runes of Magic

If you want to see some more online browser-based games, visit this site: http://www.freebrowsergamer.com/


Enjoy Gaming

Warning: Really Addictive, try at your own risk!

India out of 2009 World T20

Well what may be the reason? Poor batting? Poor bowling? Poor fielding?
In my view it's because of poor captaincy + all the above!

India did not look like the side that were in 2007 world cup. They certainly seemed to be down in their confidence and character. They batted poorly, bowled horribly and fielded terribly bad! If you see all the winning sides in the competition- West Indies, South Africa and Srilanka - they are all having an edge in their fielding. They are brilliant in the field, they take catches, save runs and are very agile in the field.

India did not look like it was going to qualify for the Semi's ! They somehow qualified for the Super Eight's thanks to the weak group members- Bangladesh and Ireland! Even Canada may win against these two teams and India won matches against them too closely.

One thing I have noticed is that Dhoni as a captain and Batsmen did not click this time. His team selection was poor, his bowling options were poor- he played wrong bowlers at vital parts of the match. Moreover clearly visible thing was Dhoni's batting mix up in the tournament. He kept Raina out of No.3 spot for a couple matches before he went absurd at the Press and was forced to give Raina his own spot. Dhoni was seeming a bit irritated at things with Sehwag who hid the injury before Team selection.

This time it was clear that either South Africa or West Indies are going to clinch the coveted T20 World cup. Lets wait and watch! And for India- it's failure is because of only one man - the overrated MSD. He flawed in his batting order preferences and bowling options. He seemed very stubborn and irritated than what people thought he was one year back. Something is wrong in the Indian dressing room. Time for serious retrospection!

What will happen if 2011 World cup is held in Pakistan- a joke

Let's imagine what will happen if 2011 Cricket World cup is held at Pakistan. Whom do you think will win the cup? India? Australia? Srilanka? South Africa? or England? Whom do you put your money on? Hmmm..? Very difficult to predict? Well my guess is very simple and easy :).
I will go with Pakistan.

How?

Simple..

Here is how it is..

Plan: Pakistan will qualify for Semis and then to Finals through their fierce attacks.

Prediction: Final will be a one sided game with Pakistan winning by a huge margin! Opponents would walk away fearing Pakistan's fierce attacks. PCB would claim that opponents (finalists) ran away fearing our attacks, so the World Cup (of terrorists) has been officially awarded to Pakistan :-).

Outcome: What a drama that would be hehehe..

Oracle Buys Sun, My Google Adsense got disabled, Congress won the elections

Lol. It was surprising to see Oracle buy out Sun Micro systems, one of the hardware and (Java) giant!

Sadly in the midst my Google Adsense account got disabled without a valid reason, I am angry with Google. This is too much! Fuck you!

Lastly, once again Congress won the elections, people voted for stable and good governance once again! History was made once again in this 2009 LS elections! What a display by democratic giant! Jai Hind!

Good website on Hinduism

I found a very good website for clarifying some of the doubts that lure our minds regarding Hinduism. Hinduism is more a way of life than a religion. There are millions of God's to choose from but the essence of worship remains the same. Many people will have many questions about various forms of God's and an awesome and useful website tries to answer the questions that are frequently asked.

Visit Hinduism Today for more details.

Don't forget to visit the Himalayan Academy link which tries to explain the Basics of Hinduism. Happy reading :-)

Also if you want some online guide like the Vedas, Epics on Hinduism, you can visit here

Jai Hind ;-)!

Two Adult Jokes ;)

I just could not resist posting these two jokes that I got from my colleague :-)

*************************************************************************************
Judge: You are Accused of RAPE, so u r Fined Rs.11461

Man: Mylord why exactly Rs11461?

Judge: Rs.10000 for Rape, 4% VAT and 10.2% Entertainment tax!!:-)

*************************************************************************************

Once,
PENIS demanded
increase in salary
on following grounds:
1. I do Physical Labour
2.Work at great depths
3.Plunge head first, everytime
4.No Weekends
5.Always Damp & Dark work enviroinment
6.No Ventillation
7.Work in any shift.
Mangement
rejected demands on following grounds:
1.U don't work 4-8 hrs at stretch
2.Fall asleep after brief work
3.Seen visiting other than designated location
4.Always to b stimulated before work
5.Unable to work in stress@

Achieving targets on job is just like being pregnant. . .


Every one congratulates you on the out come but no one knows how many time you were fucked.
*************************************************************************************

Chithirai thirunal- Tamil New Year's Day

Every year in the month of Chitterai (the first month of the Tamil solar calendar), in the temple city of Madurai, the Chitterai Thiruvizha is celebrated in the Meenakshi Temple. A huge exhibition is also held, called Chitterai Porutkaatchi. In some parts of Southern Tamil Nadu, it is also called Chitterai Vishu. The day is marked with a feast in Tamil homes and entrances to the houses are decorated elaborately with kolams. In most parts of India, Middle-east and Africa, one can see neem trees blooming with its flowers and the first batch of mangoes hanging prominently. This day is celebrated by some communities with neem flowers and raw mangoes to symbolize growth and prosperity.

On the day of Tamil New Year, a big Car Festival is held at Tiruvadamarudur near Kumbakonam. Festivals are also held at Tiruchirapalli, Kanchipuram and many other places.

Sri Lankan Tamils observe the traditional new year in April with the first financial transaction known as the 'Kai-vishesham' where elders gift money to the unmarried young, particularly children as a token of good luck. The event is also observed with the 'arpudu' or the first ploughing of the ground to prepare for the new agricultural cycle. The 'punya-kaalam' or auspicious time when the sun reportedly shifts from Meena raasi to Mesha raasi is considered ideal to commence new activities on a favorable note. Sri Lankan Tamils begin the year with a herbal bath with 'maruthu-neer' with ingredients for good health. The game of 'por-thenkai' or coconut wars between youth is played in villages through the Tamil north of the island while cart races are also held. The Puthandu season in April is a time for family visits.

The Bill

A Bill declaring the first day of the Tamil month 'Thai' as the Tamil Nadu Tamil New Year day was unanimously passed in the Tamil Nadu State Assembly. The Tamil Nadu Tamil New Year (Declaration Bill 2008) was introduced in the House by the Tamil Nadu DMK Government on January 29, 2008. According to the statement of objects and reasons of the Tamil Nadu Tamil New Year (Declaration) Act 2008, the Governor in his address to the House had announced that in view of the consensus amongst some Tamil scholars that the first day of the month of Thai is the first day of the Tamil year, the Government had decided to declare the first day of Thai as the Tamil Nadu Tamil New Year Day.

The Controversy

This legislative enactment of the DMK government was not without controversy. It abolished the Tamil calendar for purportedly secular reasons and reaffirmed the use of the Tiruvalluvar era created in the 20th century as the official calendar. The order abolishes the use of traditional Tamil Years in the 60 year cycle. It proposes that January 14 of every year be celebrated as Tamil New Year in addition to the famous harvest/farmer festival Pongal. But the said resolution has been met with resistance and has been challenged in court. The opposition AIADMK and MDMK in Tamil Nadu condemned the decision of the DMK Government in that state and urged their supporters to continue celebrating the traditional date in mid-April. Tamils in Sri Lanka, Canada and Singapore continue to observe the new year in mid-April.

Courtesy: Wikipedia

i'm Making a difference

"Join the i’m Initiative and Microsoft will make a donation to one of ten social causes each time you send a message with Windows Live Messenger or Windows Live Hotmail (our free webmail service)."

Yes I'm making a difference. Like the image to the top left shows.


Want to know how? Simple, if you are having an MSN/ Hotmail account you too can as do I. Ok lets get to the business, what is this? What difference it makes? Well, here it is.

It's a new initiative from Microsoft which is utilizing our instant messages or emails for a good cause, each mail or message that we send accrues some points to a good cause and Microsoft pays off for that cause. So what all causes it supports, here is the list:



The i’m Initiative from Microsoft® makes helping social causes easy. Every time you use Windows Live™ Messenger or Windows Live Hotmail®, our free webmail service, we'll share a portion of our advertising revenue with the cause you choose from among our partner social cause organizations. Exactly how much will we share with our partner causes? Well, that's up to you and the growing masses of i’m Initiative users. The more messages you send, the more we give.

Now the small things you do every day, like e-mailing and IMing, can make a big difference.



Please check the following website for more details:

i'm Making a Difference

There are video tutorials in that link also. However it has small setbacks, Email i'm feature is not available in India yet. List of countries supported can be browsed through this link: Hotmail I'm Link.

Hope we all can contribute to a cause now. I really like these kind of initiatives, no matter who does it. I really appreciate. Good one Microsoft! I love you!!

Slum Dog Millionaire Album - Cool !!

Have you heard the Slumdog Millionaire album? If not, you should because it is seriously one of the best composed by AR Rehman!

Gangsta Blues has awesome hip hop style

Aaj Ki Raat is superb!

O Saya and Latika's Theme are cool!

Mausam and Escape is special!

Paper Planes and Liquid dance are mind blowing!

Riots is wow!

And ofcourse Jai Ho Rocks!

Enjoy Listening! Thanks to box.net for hosting





Long live ARR!!

Note: Legal Disclaimer

Fascination for dogs :)

Of Late something has fascinated me to admire Dogs. I love the way they smell the ground with their cute long nose ;). I used to love dogs since I was young and early in my childhoods. I thought as I grew I would lose interest in many things as is the case with Games. But not to be with Dogs. I just love them. Love their face, their nose, ears, tail, legs ... lol!! They are really something to be admired. In fact I love dogs more than small babies, strange? Yeah I know! But thats how I felt when I saw a Doggy traveling along with a baby in a bike. The dog was absolutely innocent looking and cute than the baby! Lol ... I still admire their innocent looks..

Dogs are so cute that many things they do are wonderful and mindblowing, they just relax our hearts and mind and give a break from the tidy corporate marathon. Just a few examples of what I love most in dogs are descibed pictorially here, hope you too enjoy as I do!

First and foremost thing I like and admire in Dog is their honest relationship with their master:



Second, I like the way they enjoy getting trained by their master and how they wait for their tips after the training session gets over:



Third I like the color contrast between the Dogs Body and their Legs and/or Head :



Fourth, I like their Innocent face/looks:

Time to vote for the least corrupted one

Well All Indian Folks, time has come to vote for the least corrupted politician on Indian Soil. Gear up and keep your index fingers ready to vote them and help them corrupt this nation more and more..

I can't control my anger when thinking about Elections. Won't ever justice prevail on earth? When will people live for food and shelter rather than money and money and money to the power of corruption, bribery, greed and injustice? All corrupt politicians stand in constitutions toiled by litter and garbage of every household. People would vote for the least toiling politician! Haah?

I do not know when our nation would come out of this corrupt practices. Only GOD should save this country. I don't know if someone will come tomorrow saying he is GOD's son and vote for him to clean this place. Don't get cheated by such people, use your intuition and soul to judge people. Don't fall pray to sexual desire called money and greed.

Let at least GOD save our people. We trust on him! At least I ...

The February and March connection

Did you notice something common about February and March months? They have something in common except when it is a leap year (that is February month has 29 days or year is divisible by 4).

If you notice during non leap years (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006,2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 etc), the February month's date & day combination (for example 25-FEB-2009 is Wednesday) and March month's date & day combination (25-MAR-2009 is Wednesday) will be the same.

Strange and interesting? Spread this message to all :)....

And yeah remember this applies only if the year is a non-leap year.

Starting a Poll from today

Dear All,

Starting today I will be starting a poll (center-bottom) which questions on general topics as well as technical topics related to anything. Interested participants please vote through and let me know your opinions so that we can share our knowledge, thoughts and tastes and make internet a useful information sharing place instead of a piece of junk data.

Waiting for all your cooperation and feedback.

Thanks,
Jithendra

Approval Hierarchy in Oracle Purchasing

Approval Hierarchy in Oracle Purchasing

Customers want to undergo some kind of approval mechanism for their PO's. Oracle Purchasing gives two flavors of it based on best industrial practices, they are:

1. Employee - Supervisor Relationship
2. Position Hierarchy

We will now look what constitutes these two kind of approval methods:

1. Employee - Supervisor Relationship: Employees are connected by their Supervisors. Each Employee is assigned to a Supervisor level by level until it reaches the head of a depratment or a CEO or CFO for that matter. While defining employees, their Supervisor and Job is set. As you can clearly see, all supervisors must be set first and also all jobs defined in the Shared/Full HRMS module.

These jobs are in turn referred in the Employee screen.

We will then use the Approval Groups window to map the jobs to the approval limits/accounts/items/categories that relate to a PO. Then ofcourse the Approval Assignment step where we say what positions have what authority to approve various flavors of documents like Standard PO, Planned PO, Purchase Requisition etc.

2. Position Hierarchy: Positions are declared before hand and referred in Employee screen. In Approval Groups we specify the Positions and map them to Approval Assignments. We then use the Position Hierarchy screen to specify the hierarchy / level through which the PO goes for approval (imagine a flow chart).

Apart from these two, we have to look at a key setup option to make sure that everything works as specified. This is the Financial Options screen. Navigate to the Human resources tab. Check box "Use Approval Hierarchies" determines whether we are using the Position Hierarchy or Employee - Supervisor Relationship for Approval of documents. If this is checked then we are using the former else the latter.