Welcome Username is not displaying on Home Page of Siebel Open UI

Have you seen this message on Home page of Siebel Open UI application? ‘Why can’t I see the applet? Open UI cannot display this type of applet. Contact your system administrator.’

Why can't I see this applet? OpenUI cannot display this type applet

Except Home Page, you may have seen this message in many other places also. Wherever we have Standard Interactivity Applet in application, Open UI will display this message as SI applets are not supported by Open UI.
Well, lets talk about the SI applet which is responsible to display the Welcome Username message on home page. If we are on HI application, can see this nice welcome message but when we use Open UI application of same version, there is no welcome message except ‘Page can not be displayed’. But no need to worry anymore, we can fix this easily on Open UI application. Here I will tell you, how Welcome Username can be displayed on Home page. Before I start, let me tell you, whatever steps I will discuss here, those are related to Siebel Open UI 8.1.1.11. If you are using lower version of Open UI 8.1.1.11, then steps will be different (I am not going to discuss these steps. If you need it, please leave your comment here or send email to [email protected]).
First find out the Applet and Business Component name which show welcome message on Home page. To get this information, go to Home tab on application and click on ‘About View’ from application menu ‘Help’. As we are using Open UI Sales Application here, for us applet is ‘Salutation Applet (SSE)’ and BC  ‘Salutation (eApps)’. Now follow below steps to configure Salutation Applet for Open UI.

Step 1:
– Create a calculated field in BC ‘Salutation (eApps)’ with below specifications
               Name                 = IsOpenUI
               Calculated          = True
               Calculated Value = GetProfileAttr(“IsOpenUI”)
               Force Active      = True
– This calculated field tells us that the application is on Open UI or HI. It will be used in next step.


Step 2:
– Copy the original Salutation Applet ‘Salutation Applet (SSE)’ and name it like ‘Salutation Applet (SSE) –
   OUI’.
– Change the applet ‘Salutation Applet (SSE) – OUI’ class from CSSFrameSalutation to CSSFrameList
– Goto List and add new list column like below
              Name = Result Text
              Field   = Result Text
– Select the applet ‘Salutation Applet (SSE) – OUI ‘, Goto Applet Web Template > Applet Web Template
   Item and create new item like below
              Name   = Result Text
              Control = Result Text
              Item Identifier = 101
– Add applet toggle so that in case of HI application, applet ‘Salutation Applet (SSE)’ will be displayed
  and for Open UI, ‘Salutation Applet (SSE) – OUI’ applet. Under ‘Salutation Applet (SSE)’ Applet, click
  on Applet Toggle and create record like below
             Applet                    = Salutation Applet (SSE)-OUI
             Auto Toggled Field = IsOpenUI
             Auto Toggle Value  = 1
– Compile Applet and BC


Step 3:
From this step onward, remaining configuration differs between Open UI 8.1.1.11 and older version. As I told you before, whatever steps we will discuss here, all are related to 8.1.1.11.
Now download salutationpr.js file and copy it under the directory sweapppublicenu<Open UI build number>scriptssiebelcustom. If you are doing it on Local or Sample database, copy it under ClientPUBLICenu\<Open UI build number>SCRIPTSsiebelcustom.
Click on below icon to download salutationpr.txt and then change the file extension from .txt to .js.

Downloadimage by www.techonestop.com

Step 4:
Now register the manifest file under Administration – Application > Manifest File in Open UI application. If you want to know more about manifest file, read Customizing Manifest file (Siebel Open UI Training, Part 6).

Manifest file customization by www.techonestop.com

Step 5:
– In Open UI application, Go to Administration – Application > Manifest Administration and create new record under ‘UI Objects’ with below specs
Inactive Flag = N
             Type            = Applet
             Usage Type = Physical Renderer
             Name          = Salutation Applet (SSE)-OUI
– Add Object expression under new UI object
            Inactive Flag = N
            Expression    = Desktop
            Level            = 1
– Add the file ‘salutationpr.js’

Customizing Manifest File by www.techonestop.com

Step 6:
– Add the below css to one of the css file of Open UI theme
– To get the current theme name, click on ‘Tools’ > User Preferences > Behavior and check the theme name and find out the respective css file. To know more about Open UI theme, read Customization of Siebel Open UI theme. Here we are using the theme ‘Gray Tab’ and theme-base.css.
– Now add the below css script at the end of theme css file.
            .salutation-pr-applet {
            min-height:30px;
            margin-top:15px;
            margin-left:20px;
            }
            .salutation-pr-title {
            float:left;
            font-size:1.3em;
            margin-right:40px;
            font-weight:bold;
            color:#777;
            }
            .salutation-pr-salutation {
            top: 2px;
            position: relative;
            }
– theme-base.css should look like below

Themebase.css by www.techonestop.com

That’s all. Now clear browser cache and verify Welcome Username message is appearing properly or not. 

Salutation applet in siebel open ui by www.techonestop.com

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Drag and Drop data migration in Siebel Open UI

Drag and Drop data migration in Siebel Open UI list applet –  sounds interesting?

Well,

You know, data migration is an integral part in any project. Most of the cases, data migration is performed by developers.

But what would you say if end users can do data migration instead of developers?

Let me explain:

With every innovation pack, Oracle releases new and exciting Siebel Open UI features.

One of such features is – Drag and Drop data migration in list applet.

This Siebel Open UI feature was first introduced with Innovation Pack 2013.

Bear with me, because I’m going to show you it works…

You know,

To import data from a spreadsheet into Siebel application, you can use EIM Import or COM object or Business Service.

However, EIM is the most preferable and reliable process for data migration in Siebel.

But,

Main drawback of all three approaches is that none of them can handle adhoc data request.

What does that mean?

Let’s assume a business scenario:

Suppose a company runs campaign on adhoc basis and captures prospects’ details.

Now to process further, company needs to bring those prospects into Siebel system.

So, either employees of that company have to do manual entry or give the data file to Siebel experts.

Bottom line is that to start work on prospects, company has to wait some time.

That’s not good!!

I know,

You can write batch job or business service to automate the process but that has also a limit. You can not build EIM job for every future data file.

Now imagine another scenario:

A company has a preformatted spread sheet for all employees to capture prospect details. Employees enter details in that spread sheet and just drag and drop it in Siebel application to import data.

Less dependency and no waiting time!!

Isn’t that great?

Let’s see how we can drag and drop records in Siebel Open UI.

A word of caution:

This drag and drop feature works only in list applet, not in form or tree applet.

To discuss all steps, we have built a sample spreadsheet that we will try to import here.

siebel open ui features - drag and drop data migration

Steps to drag and drop data migration in Siebel Open UI:

Step 1: Verify List Applet

Very first step is to get the list applet name where you want to activate this functionality.

You know how to get the applet name, right?

Just navigate to that applet and click on Help –> About View.

As we are trying to import account records here, our applet name is ‘SIS Account List Applet‘.

Step 2: Add applet user properties

To enable this feature for a particular applet, you must add two new applet user properties.

Name Value
ClientPMUserProp EnableDragAndDropInList
EnableDragAndDropInList TRUE

So, you login into Siebel tools and query for the applet in Object Explorer.

Now, add above two applet user properties and compile it.

drag and drop records in list applet

Remember:

User property ‘ClientPMUserProp‘ can have more than one value. You use comma as separator to add new value.

Now, the list applet is ready for drag and drop data migration.

Step 3: Identify mandatory columns and compare with spreadsheet

You know, almost every object like Account, Contact, Opportunity has few mandatory fields. Such fields are marked with a red asterisk .

During data import, you have to take care all these required fields, otherwise it will fail.

So, before dragging records, make sure that all mandatory columns are present in the spreadsheet as well as record set.

In our example, Account Name is the mandatory field that we have to take care.

Important notes:

  • Data rows should start immediately below column header row in the spreadsheet.
  • Sequence of column headers in the spreadsheet does not matter. You can include column header in any order but name should be same as list applet column name.

Step 4: Verify Drag and Drop data migration functionality

To test Drag and Drop functionality, you select the cells that include header and data rows in the spreadsheet and drop it in the list applet.

Siebel can take some time to complete the job if the record set is large.

Once the process is completed, verify records have been created or not.

You can see in the below image. We have two accounts in data file as well as application.

data migration in siebel open ui

If you are using Microsoft Excel, then follow below steps to drag and drop records

  • Position the cursor over a corner of the selection area until MS Excel displays the cursor as a four-way arrow
  • Right click and hold down the right mouse button
  • Drag and release the selection area in the list applet

Wait!!

It’s not over…

You must read below important points

1. Using drag and drop functionality, you can not import data in MVG field. If the selected record set has any column to populate MVG field, import process will fail.

So before importing data, make sure that there is no column for MVG field in your spreadsheet.

2. You must take care static picklist values also. If the spreadsheet contains values for any static picklist field and it does not match with any of LOVs, Siebel will throw error – ‘Wrong field values or value types detected in field XXX‘.

So before importing values for picklist field, make sure that same value is already present in LOVs.

3. Though the column header sequence in the spreadsheet does not matter but header name matters a lot. It should match with applet column name.

4. If a column is not displayed in list applet, data for that column will not be imported. However, data for other fields will be imported without any error.

5. Siebel will throw user key error if you try to import more than one record with same set of user key values. But all other records will be imported without any error.

Now it’s over…

Though it is not frequently used Siebel Open UI feature, but quite interesting.. isn’t it?

It can save time, also increase productivity.

Frankly speaking,

We have never activated this drag and drop data migration method in production environment for any customer.

If the end users do not take care data migration properly, it may cause data integrity issue also.

What about you?

Do you think, this drag and drop Siebel open UI feature can help customers to speed up process? Will it create more data related issues?

Please leave your feedback in the comment section below.

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How to customize the Server Busy error in Siebel

Server busy error in Siebel – “Server you are trying to access is either busy or experiencing difficulties.

Customize Server Busy Error in Siebel Open UI

Almost everyone has experienced this server busy error in Siebel HI or Open UI client.

There could be many reasons behind this error message. We will discuss few of such reasons below in brief.

But,

Question is – can we customize this server busy error in Siebel?

Can we display our own custom message instead of our of box message?

Can we display message like ‘Siebel application will be down for 20 minutes. Please retry to open application after 10:30 AM?’

One of our clients also asked us to customize this message when ever application is down.

Sounds interesting?

Well…

In this article we will discuss – how can we customize server busy error in Siebel?

Better to ask, can we do it at all?

If yes, how to do so?

But,

Before that, let us tell you few common reasons behind this error message.

  1. Check Siebel Web Server is running properly or not
  2. Verify server services like Seibel server, gateway are up and running
  3. Check database connectivity – You can use any database client like PLSQL developer / Toad to verify connectivity
  4. There may be issue with data source name or DSN
  5. Replace current repository file with last known working repository file. You may face this server busy error in Siebel if srf file is corrupted.
  6. Replace current siebns.dat file with last known working siebns.dat file

There could be many other reasons behind this error message.

If you can’t find any particular reason, check log files – application server log, SWSE log, SSO agent log.

This is all about when Siebel behaves differently. But what if we want Siebel to behave differently?

What we want to mean here,

Suppose you are doing repository migration or working on upgrade and want to display an user friendly message to all users instead of vanilla message.

For example – ‘We are working on Siebel server. Please try to login after 10:00 AM.’

Does Siebel support this kind of customization?

As per Oracle Support Web, there is no out of box option to customize this message. But Oracle has taken this as change request (CR no: 12-WOBRIV, Doc ID 488861.1) .

So, in future, you may see out of box option to customize server busy error in Siebel HI or Open UI.

Well,

Does that mean we can not do anything right now?

Wait…

We have workaround. 🙂

Steps to configure server busy error in Siebel:

Step 1: Build HTML page with custom message

You know, how to build HTML page with custom message, right?

Don’t worry if you don’t know HTML. You will get enough materials on the internet to learn it.

HTML is easy but very efficient web programming language.

To learn HTML, we would suggest you to refer W3schools.

Now,

You build the custom webpage with custom message, test it and copy it under <Siebel_root>/SWEApp/PUBLIC/ <lang>.

Remember,

You must save the custom webpage with .html extension.

Step 2. Update Default.htm page

Make no mistake:

Before updating Default.htm page, you must keep a copy of vanilla Default.htm. This will help you to revert your changes easily once your work is completed.

Also as per Siebel best practices, it is always advisable to make a copy of out of box object before doing any kind of changes.

To locate the file, navigate to <Siebel_root>/SWEApp/PUBLIC/<lang>.

Now open the file in notepad and replace the string <body onLoad=”GotoUrl(‘start.swe?SWECmd=Start’)”> with <body onLoad=”GotoUrl(‘custom.html’)”>

custom.html‘ is the custom file with custom message.

Step 3. Refresh browser and verify changes

That’s enough!!

Now refresh browser (not mandatory but better to do) and launch the Siebel application.

You should see your custom.html page instead of vanilla web page.

If you still see vanilla web page, go to security section of your browser and mark the option “Empty Temporary Internet Files Folder when browser is closed” – True.

Note: This security option is for Internet Explorer browser. If you use any other browser, you will find similar kind of option.

Now close the webpage and reopen the application.

But,

There is a drawback of this kind of customization.

Once your activities are completed, you have to revert all changes. That means, either replace the string “<body onLoad=”GotoUrl(‘custom.html’)”>” with “<body onLoad=”GotoUrl(‘start.swe?SWECmd=Start’)”>” or use original Default.htm file .

Otherwise you will see your custom webpage every time.

Oh Wait!

Here is the good news.

If you are working on Open UI application, you can capture any webpage response. Also based on webpage response, you can do client side web page redirection to custom web page from your application.

To know more about webpage redirect, read this.

Best part of this kind of configuration is that you do not need to change Default.htm every time. Do it once and update custom message as per requirement.

But remember, we have never tried this solution.

Please let us know if you are trying this solution.

Don’t forget to leave your feedback in the comment section!

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<< Change icons on screen tabs in Siebel              Highlight required fields in Siebel Open UI >>

Siebel Open UI: Why can’t I see this applet?

Error Message:                             

Why can’t I see this applet - techonestop.com

‘Why can’t I see this applet? Open UI cannot display this type of applet. Contact your system administrator’


Cause: 
Siebel Open UI does not support any Standard Interactivity applet. So, in application wherever Standard Interactivity Applet comes, Siebel Open UI will display this message. 
Now how to decide that the applet is standard interactivity or high interactivity? 
If any of the below criteria are met, then the applet is standard interactivity type 
    •  Applet is not based upon any business component
    •  Class of the applet is either based upon or derived from a class that implements base functionality of Standard Interactivity 


    •  Applet with user property: High Interactivity Enabled = N
    •  Associated class of the applet has “High Interactivity” set to 1
    •  Product catalog style layout


Solution: 
1) Remove the applet from the view
Best way to remove this type applet from view is by using of Personalization rules. Go to Administration-Personalization > Applet and create a new rule that will always be false. You can write the rule based upon users responsibility that will never match or based upon users positions. Also you can remove the applet from view itself in Siebel tools.

2) Rebuild the applet
Create a new applet with same functionality based upon high interactivity class/BC

You will see the message ‘Why can’t I see this applet? ‘ on Siebel Open UI home page also where welcome username appears in Siebel HI application. We can display this welcome username message in Siebel Open UI also. To know more, read Welcome Username is not displaying on Home Page of Siebel Open UI’.
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Not able to see control or list column in Applet

Sometimes it happens in Siebel, though you have added control or list column in an applet but it is not visible on UI. Have you ever faced such issue? No! well you may face 🙂


There could be many reasons behind this like field is inactive or does not exist in business component anymore or Visible property is false for that column in Applet. I hope you have checked all these. Also check item identifier of control or list column inside that applet. We all know what is item identifier, right!! It helps Siebel to identify the control or list column in applet web template and it is unique number generated by Siebel automatically. If same item identifier is assigned to more than one control or list column, then this situation may occur where control or list column will not be displayed on UI. 
To fix it, follow below steps:
1) Check the item identifier for the control/list column which is not displayed on UI
2) Copy the item identifier and again query with that in siebel tools 
3) If there is more than one control/list column with the same number, then delete both control/list columns from that applet and drag-drop them once again. It will generate unique number for those controls.
Now compile all changes and check, it should display control or list column on Applet. After doing this, if you can not see, please let us know. 
Please feel free to comment here. To get more updates on recent activities, follow ‘TechOneStop on Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn or join our website as followers.
We have a very good open ui training series, you may like it. Check our youtube video on Siebel Open UI training.

Integrate third party application with Siebel/Open UI using Symbolic URL

To increase productivity/sales, data visibility among various business units is very important for an organization. So it should have way out to integrate different business processes across applications. To meet this business requirement, Oracle has provided many integration tools within Siebel application, one of such tools is Symbolic URL. Using symbolic URL, we can integrate third party application winth Siebel. Lets see how.
So start our discussion with an example. Suppose we want to display market statistics (like stock price, stock analysis) of accounts in Siebel application where statistics come from third party application. Here we will use rediff.com as third party application which will give us market statistics. 
Let’s say we have 3 accounts Infosys, Oracle and Yahoo. As per business requirement, we have to display market statistics of these 3 accounts. 
Rediff  URLs to display stock details are like below: 
Infosys     >      http://search.rediff.com/dirsrch/default.asp?src=web&MT=infosys
Oracle      >      http://search.rediff.com/dirsrch/default.asp?src=web&MT=oracle
Yahoo      >      http://search.rediff.com/dirsrch/default.asp?src=web&MT=yahoo

For symbolic URL, it is mandatory to have one static unique URL for each account. So, lets start configuration step by step.
Step 1:
– Create a project or lock an existing project in Siebel tools. Here we have created a new project ‘Symbolic URL Test’ to keep all symbolic URL related changes in one place.

Step 2: 

– Create a calculated field under Account BC to display market statistics as per account name. We have created a calculated field with below specs:
                 Field Name          = Account Portfolio
                 Calculated            = True
                 Calculated Value  = “Account_Portfolio”

Step 3:

– Create a list applet (Account Portfolio Web Applet) based upon Account BC and the field 
   ‘Account Portfolio’
– Modify the applet web template as ‘ePortal URL Applet’ in Base Read Only mode
– Don’t add any control in the applet
– Change the Class from CSSFrameList to CSSFrameListWeb
– Change the list column properties of ‘Account Portfolio’
                HTML display mode  =   DontEncodeData
                Field Retrieval Type   =   Symbolic URL

Step 4: 

– Create view (Account Portfolio Web View) with SIS account Entry Applet and Account Portfolio List applet so that upper applet displays account details and lower applet is for market statistics from third party application rediff.com

Step 5: 

– Add the view in Account Screen as details view and compile everything

Step 6: 

– Go to siebel application and register the view ‘Account Portfolio Web View’ and add it with responsibility

Step 7:

– Goto Application – Integration > WI Symbolic URL and from the dropdown, select Symbolic URL 
   Administration
– Add symbolic URL with name Account_Portfolio, Siebel may add suffix to the Symbolic URL
– Set the value for URL as ‘http://search.rediff.com/dirsrch/default.asp?src=web&’ 
   because next part of the URL i.e MT works as variable (like : MT = Infosys / Oracle / Wipro)
– Set SSO Disposition as IFrame
– Set the argument for MT, specify from where the argument will get value in run time
   Here it looks like below: 
                Argument type            =  Field
                Argument Value          =  Name
                Append as Argument  =  True
So in run time, Siebel will get value from ‘Name’ field and append it to the original URL (Like http://search.rediff.com/dirsrch/default.asp?src=web&MT=infosys)

Step 8:
– Except ‘MT’ argument, we need to add few more arguments like below 
                src with Arg Type = Constant and value = Web
                IsrecordSensitive with type = Command and value = TRUE
                IFrame with type = Command and set proper Value

That’s all, now goto Account screen and check it is working as per our requirement or not.
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