How To Upload Items with FBDI

Aytan Vahidova
8 min readNov 28, 2021

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Learn how to fill and upload items into Oracle SCM using FBDI file

Hello, everyone! I am back after a little break:)
I am full of energy and ready to share with you my knowledge with uploading FBDI files into Oracle Fusion Applications. While uploading the items myself, I really suffered from some errors and that is why I decided to share with you my knowledge so that you do not pass through the same pain and load items successfully:)

Below I am listing the steps for loading FBDI file into Oracle Fusion SCM:

  • Download item import template file (ItemImportTemplate.xlsm) from Oracle Help Center.
  • Enter data in tabs within the ItemImportTemplate.xslm template file
  • Generate CSV (zip file)
  • Upload the data into Item Interface tables
  • Import the data into Product Information Management (Base Tables)

Now let’s go through each process in a much detailed way.

Download Item Template

Of course, first, you need to download FBDI template. Follow below link and make sure that you click on <Go to latest release> before you download the template.

https://docs.oracle.com/en/cloud/saas/supply-chain-management/21c/oefsc/product-lifecycle-management.html#product-lifecycle-management

Click on ItemImportTemplate.xlsm file.

Enter data in Template

The ItemImportTemplate.xlsm template file contains multiple tabs, each a worksheet. The first tab contains the instructions for using the template and generating the CSV ZIP file.
The other tabs, also called Control Files correspond to each of the Item interface tables. Each worksheet or control file corresponds to an interface table. For example, the tab named: “EGP_SYSTEM_ITEMS_INTERFACE” corresponds to the interface table used for the import of items.

The Interface table names are very important because after you load items to the interface you can check from the backend if items have been loaded or you can track any errors that occurred during the upload. Each interface table is represented as a separate Excel sheet.

Important considerations before you start filling the file:

> The interface table tabs contain sample data, that can be used as a guideline to understand how to populate the fields.

You will see sample data in all worksheets. Please consider that these are samples only and you do not need to upload this information. You can review how sample data has been populated and then delete all sample data from all worksheets.

The first row in each sheet contains column headers that represent the interface table columns. The columns are in the order that the control file expects them to be in the data file.
DO NOT:

  • change the order of the columns in the Excel sheets. Changing the order of the columns will cause the load process to fail.
  • delete columns not being used. Deleting columns will cause the load process to fail. You can hide columns that you do not intend to use; if needed, during the data creation process, but please reset to unhidden before upload.

Each column header contains bubble text about the expected data type and, in some cases, instruction text. If you cannot read the complete bubble text, right-click in the header cell and select “Edit Comment”. Now that the bubble text is in edit mode, you can expand the text box containing the bubble text.

Now as instructions are clear let me go through the important columns in System_Items_Interface sheet and explain how they should be filled:

Transaction Type: Choose Create if it is the first time you are uploading the items
Batch ID: Enter a random number for your batch. The ID does not need to be unique, you will use the same ID for the whole batch and also you will use this batch ID in uploading Item_Categories worksheet. Please remember this ID as you will need it while loading items from interface to main table.
Item number: Enter unique Item number associated with each item (each number should be unique)
Organization Code: You need to enter Organization code, not the Organization name. To get Organization Code go to Setup and Maintenance work area and the Manage Inventory Organizations task.
Description: Enter item description
Template Name: If you already have a template for items, it will be very comfortable to include just template name as you will not be able to fill other columns if you apply templates. All fields will be applied from the template. In order to get the template name, go to Setup and Maintenance work area, and the Manage Item Classes task.

Item Class Name: Enter Item Class name which you can derive from Manage Item Classes (Setup and Maintenance area)

Primary Unit of Measure: Enter the primary Unit of measure for the item. If you want to make sure that you have entered the correct UOM, you can go to Manage Units of Measure from Setup and Maintenance are and check for the UOM names field.

Lifecycle phase: Enter lifecycle phase name which is defined in Manage Lifecycle Phase from Setup and Maintenance area.

Item Status: Enter Item status as Active. You can review Item statuses from Manage Item Status > setup and Maintenance Work Area.

You do not need to fill the rest columns in this Sheet as all fields will be populated from the template.

Now let us fill Item_Categories_Interface worksheet with necessary information.

Transaction Type: Again choose transaction type Create for new items
Batch ID: Enter a Batch ID which you have entered in Item Interface worksheet. They should be the same.
Item Number: Copy Item numbers from Item_Interface worksheet
Catalog: Enter catalogue name. You can check the catalogue name from Manage Catalogue Task> Setup and Maintenance Work Area.
Category Name: Enter Category name which you want to assign the item. Please make sure you enter the names correctly for smooth upload.You can check the category name from Manage Catalogue Task> Setup and Maintenance Work Area.

Generate CSV file

Now that we have fulfilled necessary information, we can go to first sheet and click on Generate CSV file in order to generate CSV file in ZIP format.

Import Item Into System from Item Interface tables

At this point, the data is now loaded into the Item interface tables and is ready to be imported into Fusion Product Hub. The next step is to submit the item import process that will validate the data for import and move the data into Fusion Product Hub. After the successful completion of this job, the data will be available in the user interface.

Click on the “Scheduled New Process” button in the Search Result table header, the Schedule New Process dialogue will be launched. In the Schedule New Process dialogue select the following: Load Interface File for Import

Select Import process: Item Import
Data file : ZIP file which you have saved to your computer

Click on submit. You can check now EGP_SYSTEM_ITEMS_INTERFACE to see if your items have been uploaded to the interface.

Now you need to run 2nd process from Schedule New Process:
Name: Item Import
Batch ID: Batch ID which you have entered in your worksheets

Note: Multiple processes will be created for all of the steps in importing the item. The child processes are — Item Import Preprocessing, Item Import Data Quality (applicable to Oracle Fusion Product Hub customers only), Item Import Child Process, and Item Import.
View log file for any errors (if applicable), by selecting the row in the Search Results table and clicking the View Log button.

After both processes have been successfully completed, you can review your items from Product Development> Product Information Management> Manage Items and you will see your item:

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you want to upload items for a specific organization, first you need to load items for Item Master Organization (ITM), then fill another FBDI file with organization code which you want to assign items and upload the file again. In this case, items will be associated with ITM and Organization that you need.

Guys, this completes my article. I hope the steps are clear for you and you will go through a smooth loading process:) Happy Smooth Loading:)

If you are not sure what to read next, here is the next article for you:

I am an Oracle Functional Specialist with more than 6 years of experience. I help clients to understand software capabilities and to analyze business needs. My main goal is to recommend solutions and ultimately guide through all phases of Oracle Cloud Applications. I am also inspired to write about life, improvement and personal growth.

https://aytanvahidova.medium.com/subscribe

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