BI Publisher provides a utility to facilitate the conversion of Oracle Reports (version 9i and later) to BI Publisher Reports. The conversion is a two-step process requiring a data model conversion and a layout conversion using the following new APIs:

• DataTemplateGenerator API converts the Oracle Reports data model to an XML Publisher data template.
• RTFTemplateGenerator API converts the Oracle Reports layout to an XML Publisher RTF template.

While using this utility, I ran accross a number of errors and an incomplete user guide. Migrating Apps Reports is certainly not a straightforward task. So lets look into this migration utility.

Oracle BI Publisher (XML Publisher) 5.6.3 is out. Check out Tim Dexter’s Blog.
Patch is 5472959 – XDO/ORACLE XML PUBLISHER OA ROLLUP PATCH 5.6.3

A selection of the new features:

• Template Builder Enhancements and Name Change
• Report Migration Utility
• Support for Rotated Text in RTF Templates
• Conditional Formatting Enhancement in RTF Templates
• Data Template Enhancements

I’m particularly interested in the Report Migration Utility:

XML Publisher provides a utility to facilitate the conversion of Oracle Reports (version 9i and later) to XML Publisher Reports

I will be coming out with a white paper on how to use this utility soon.