In this article I will explain how to create a XML Publisher template from a Standard Report. As you probably know, XML Publisher is the new (well new ... it's already a few years old) standard tool to create (operational) reports in Oracle EBS. In a few steps it's possible to change the output from plain text to e.g. PDF format.

Set report output format to XML

First run your report as usual in the E-Business Suite and save the text output locally on your desktop. Give the report a meaningful name and use filename extension *.txt. Use this text file later to compare your BI Publisher output with the original report output.

View the log file, and note the application short name.

Go to System Administrator > Concurrent > Define, and query the EBS report. Change the Output format from 'Text' to 'XML'.

{rokzoom title=|Concurrent Program definition screenshot|}images/upload/jouke.de.groot/concurrent_programs.jpg{/rokzoom}

Alternative: copy the original report definition and make changes to the copy.

Run report as usual and store the (XML!) output locally (save output file with extension *.xml)

Create Data Definition

Use responsibility BI Publisher Administrator.

Create template file

Open your original text output file, the XML output file and Microsoft Word. Compare the original output with XML file and determine the structure and the usage of individual fields.

Enter the fields and additional hardcoded text (e.g. label information).

File > Save As…, Save as type, choose ‘Rich Text Format (*.rtf)’ and enter your template name.

Create Template Definition

Run report

Run the report from the E-Business Suite, as usual. Check the output file.

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