Oracle Enterprise 2.0 Bootcamp

Companies are using Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs, wiki and social networking. However, there are top issues that need to be considered before implementing such technologies. They are cultural change, privacy, best practices and internal collaboration. Assessment of the impact of implementation to the organization is needed.

Oracle organized Oracle Enterprise 2.0 Bootcamp on July 28, 2008 - 8:00am to 5:00pm to tackle this matter and wanted to hear from the participants what they think and what they can share by forming working groups/sessions throughout the rest of the day. If you want to participate, register here.

Source [OTN Blog]

Oracle Architecture Centers

To support Oracle’s investment to Service Oriented Architecture and acquisition of various SOA related products, Oracle created Architect Centers for SOA, Virtualization, Enterprise 2.0 and Extreme Transaction Processing in OTN website.

OTN is adding an “Architect” focus to the community, with new centers covering expanded SOA (including governance), Extreme Transaction Processing, Virtualization (Oracle VM + JRockit VM), and Enterprise 2.0.

OTN’s Architecture website provides links to different software architectures, architecture community articles, architecture software downloads, newsletters, blogs, discusions. At the bottom of the page, Oracle ACE architects are displayed.

Wehmeyer Choosed Oracle Retail Optimization

Wehmeyer, a German fashion house, selected Oracle Retail Optimization to avail the efficiency in improving the inventory management. Oracle Retail Application introduced Wehmeyer an advanced approach in managing in-season inventory, assortment and pricing strategies across its 40 stores across Germany.

Wehmeyer is expected to enjoy the following benefits of Oracle Retail Optimization.

Oracle Retail Price Optimization provides targeted capabilities that allow you to sharpen your pricing policies and drive higher profits.

• Consider key demand drivers such as price elasticity, seasonality, cross-elasticity, and targeted price elasticity models at the item and store level
• Recommend the exact minimum relative price gap need to compete effectively for each store or key-item
• Predict the whole-store revenue and margin impact of a key item price change
• Provide what-if decision support to simulation options prior to executing the strategy

This is the first step done after buyout of the former KarstadtQuelle AG subsidiary, the private equity investor firm MRSBC Holding has focused on developing a ‘Roadmap to Value’ that will support business transformation.

According to Thomas Sajovec, Head of Administration & Logistics at Wehmeyer, Wehmeyer availed Oracle Retail’s offer to allow flexibility in inventory management and pricing strategies.

Oracle Retail offered us a scalable platform on which to transform the Wehmeyer business. Oracle Retail Price Optimization offers a way to unlock the business value in our assets quickly, using price and markdowns to help achieve the best possible margins before the end of the season or product lifecycle.

Patrick Bohannon, Vice President of EMEA, Oracle Retail, said that Oracle Retail Optimization provides a win-win situation for both Wehmeyer and consumers.

Private investment continues to show considerable interest in retail businesses and we are delighted to be working with Wehmeyer as they move into an exciting new phase of operation. Oracle Retail Price Optimization will help Wehmeyer provide shoppers with fresh merchandise and grow the business profitably.

Source: [Oracle Press Release]

Validating Numeric and Non-Numeric Values

To check if numeric and non-numeric values, the following syntax can be use.

Syntax

Example

The example above will return 'Character' because the value has non-numeric characters.

Loading CSV in Oracle Forms

Yesterday, I and my team mates conducted a brownbag session about a functionality that allows loading of CSV files to a database table. The general overview of this functionality is to call a Unix shell script that invokes SQL Loader to load the CSV to the table.

The first stage is uploading the CSV file from the user's local drive to the Unix server. Oracle Forms must validate the file if the file is a CSV file and the filename has no space. Once validated, the CSV will be transferred to the server.

Oracle Forms will now call a Unix shell script that will invoke SQL Loader to load the CSV from the server to the table. A stored procedure will be called to validate the data loaded in the table. All invalid records will be flag as 'Y' in the processed_ind field of that table and the cause of the error is saved in the column of the table.

If there are rejected records, the form will prompt the user if he want to see the rejected records. If yes, the rejected records will be displayed.

At the end of the brownbag, there are attendees who asked why CSV is loaded in this matter instead of creating a new batch program that will insert the records to the table. I answered them that the purpose of this functionality is for the business user which no technical background should be able to load the records from the CSV file with ease. Even without learning about Unix, Pro *C batch run and shell script. The role of the solutions designer is to hide these technical things to a normal user with no technical background.

Another question has been raised by two attendees, why there is a need to call the SQL Loader? Why not do the loading in the Oracle Forms itself since it's capable of reading files? I answered them with a question. Do Oracle Forms supports reading files? He answered yes but not on the version used by our client. I said to them, in that case then if Oracle Forms can read files, then the developer needs to create a logic that will mimic the functionality of the SQL Loader. This effort will eat up more time that just merely call the SQL Loader. Thinking of Cost -Benefit Analysis, it is advisable to complete the requirement in the shortest time possible to keep the cost low therefore invoking SQL Loader is much efficient to achieve this goal.

Oracle Certified Expert Letter

After I found out from the Prometric website that I passed the Oracle Database SQL Expert exam, I'd been waiting for the score report which will indicate my grade. Yesterday I got the letter from Prometric. It's the Oracle Examination Result. It includes the date of my examination, my Prometric account information, exam details. The Oracle Database SQL Expert's passing score is 65% and I got 95% score.

I’m One of the Very First Oracle Certified Expert - Oracle Database SQL Expert

Looking back to 2006, after my long vacation from work, I planned myself to focus on certification. I want to certify my skills and make me more marketable globally. I don't have anything to look for in my company - Accenture. I want that when I get back to work I can bring a significant qualify of work to my project.

I started to prepare for my very first certification exam which is 1Z0-007 - Introduction to SQL. I'm very happy to passed this exam with 90.4% score. I'm planning to take my next step to earn Oracle Certified Associate by taking PL/SQL exam but a new Oracle certification got my attention. It's about the Oracle Certified Expert.

As a software designer and developer, Oracle Certified Expert's Oracle Database SQL Expert looks appealing to me. I only need to take one exam and I'll earn an Oracle Certification. Other Oracle guys like Lauren Schneider, Jaffar and Jochen Van de Voorde participated in the beta exam.

I have started my preparation around August since the original end date of the beta exam is September 15, 2006. I took a week of vacation for the whole week of September 12, 2006. Unfortunately, last Friday, my project is on Assembly Test period and logged a couple of defects. I need to work on weekends which makes my time to review shorter. I fixed some defects during till Sunday evening.

Monday morning, I have 2 days left to prepare. I crammed to prepare and took my exam last September 12, 2006. A day before the last day of beta exam, Oracle extended the beta exam till October 15, 2007. With the new date I'm hoping that I will get the results on December 24, 2007 which is the end of the 10-week period after the last day of beta exam. But there is no results that were release, till January 14, 2008 when I check my account in the Prometric website.

There is no scores yet. I'm still waiting for the official notification. Not sure if it's from Oracle or from Prometric. Now I'm one of the very first Oracle Certified Expert - Oracle Database SQL Expert. Did you passed the Oracle Database SQL Expert exam? Come and post your scores here.

Where is the Result of Oracle Certified Database SQL Expert Beta Exam?

It's been 10 weeks now since the end of the Oracle Certified Database SQL Expert Beta Exam which is last October 15, 2007. I'd been checking the status of my exam in Prometric from time to time starting this Monday but the result is not yet out. As you know I participated in the Oracle Certified Database SQL Expert Beta Exam last September 13, 2007. To be exact, December 24 is the 10th week since the end of the beta exam. I'll be expecting that the result will be out sometime this week. This will be a good gift for me before the end of the year.

Notarized Documents

In summary:

Notarized Docs:
1. Passport ( photocopy the last page of my passport (with pic and details) and have it notarized.)
2. TOR
3. Diploma
4. Training/Seminar Certificates
5. Professional Certifications (e.g. MCSE, MCSD, CCNA etc)

Originals:
1. BC - NSO Certified
2. COE and Employment Details in Company Letterhead
3. Resume

Link

Things To Do Before Working Abroad

Documents should be processed by POEA.

A visa merely allows entry into another country. It does not specify the terms and conditions of work for a particular employer. Name hires or Filipino workers who have found jobs on their own should have their documents processed at POEA. The requirements are the following: passport, work visa or work permit, employment contract verified or authenticated by the Philippine embassy or Philippine consulate in the country of your destination. You are also required to undergo a medical examination by a DOH-accredited clinic or hospital and a pre-departure orientation seminar.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Documents to be submitted to the Administration or to its designated centers or units in the country or overseas for registration and for issuance of exit clearance:

• Valid Passport;
• Re-entry visa, work permit, or any equivalent document.

REGISTRATION FEE

To pay to register and secure an e-Receipt / Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) and/or OFW Electron ID card (e-Card):

Php 100.00 - POEA Processing Fee
Php 900.00 - Medicare Coverage Premium
Php US$ 25.00 or peso equivalent - OWWA Membership Contribution

Note: A Worker-on-Leave with valid OWWA membership and Medicare coverage shall only pay Php 100.00 for POEA processing fee.

Note: The e-Card is issued to a Worker-on-Leave for free.

WHERE TO REGISTER AND SECURE e-RECEIPT AND OEC AND/OR e-CARD

A Worker-on-Leave may register individually or through the recruitment agency that previously deployed them;

A Worker-on-Leave may secure the e-Receipt /OEC or e-Card at:

• Balik-Manggagawa Processing Division(BMPD)
• Service Area, POEA Bldg., Ortigas Avenue corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City
• POEA Regional Centers / Regional Extension Units (REUs) and Satellite Offices
• POEA-deputized OWWA Regional Offices and Units
• Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in various Philippine Embassies and Consulates abroad.

EXEMPTED

• Dependents of Overseas Filipino Workers
• Persons who are traveling on student visa.
• Persons who are traveling on business visa
• Permanent Residents of foreign countries.
• Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who changed employers are considered New Hires.

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