Excel output directly from Oracle Application

Concurrent Request Output

November 3, 2008 2 Comments
Need to create Microsoft Excel style files directly openable from Oracle Applications
concurrent request output without using BI Publisher?
A little know file format with acronym SYKL is a handy tool for create files readable in
Microsoft Excel. heres the recipe for a very simple Excel (SYLK) output concurrent
program for an FND_USERS listing with creation date from/to parameters. So, without
further ado, heres the recipe for a very simple Excel (SYLK) output concurrent program
for an FND_USERS listing with creation date from/to parameters
1. Take a PL/SQL package based on the Oracle provided OWA SYLK ppckage
(owasylk.sql / owa_sylk.sql) and make some changes: (
http://asktom.oracle.com/pls/asktom/f?
p=100:11:0::::P11_QUESTION_ID:728625409049 )

rename it to owa_sylk_apps
Change it to use fnd_file.put_line(fnd_file.output instead of
utl_file.put_line(g_file
Remove parameters for p_file

2. Create a PL/SQL package for the concurrent program that outputs SYLK file to the
concurrent request output.
create or replace package XXXV8_USERS_SYLK_PKG AUTHID CURRENT_USER
AS
procedure main
( errbuf

out varchar2

, retcode

out varchar2

, p_date_from in varchar2
, p_date_to in varchar2
);
end XXXV8_USERS_SYLK_PKG;
/
create or replace package body XXXV8_USERS_SYLK_PKG

AS
procedure main
( errbuf

out varchar2

, retcode

out varchar2

, p_date_from in varchar2
, p_date_to in varchar2
) as
l_date_from date;
l_date_to date;
begin
l_date_from := fnd_date.canonical_to_date(p_date_from);
l_date_to := fnd_date.canonical_to_date(p_date_to);
owa_sylk_apps.show(
p_query => select user_id user_id, user_name user_name,

description description, creation_date created

from fnd_user
where trunc(creation_date) >

ATE_FROM

and trunc(creation_date) <=

ATE_TO ,

p_parm_names =>
owa_sylk_apps.owaSylkArray( DATE_FROM, DATE_TO),
p_parm_values =>
owa_sylk_apps.owaSylkArray(l_date_from ,l_date_to),
p_widths =>
owa_sylk_apps.owaSylkArray(20,20,20,20)
);

end main;
END XXXV8_USERS_SYLK_PKG;
3. Setup the concurrent program
4. Hijack one of the little used Viewer Options (PCL) so that we can get the
Concurrent Request output browser to automatically open Microsoft Excel. Note this is
optional, you can just create a new Viewer Option but then you may get the Choose
Viewer box when viewing concurrent request output. NB: Navigation path is System
Administrator, Install, Viewer Options
update fnd_mime_types_tl
set mime_type = application/vnd.ms-excel
,
description = Excel (SYLK) used to be application/vnd.hp-PCL: Printer Control
Language
,

last_updated_by = 0

last_update_date = sysdate

where file_format_code = PCL

and mime_type = application/vnd.hp-PCL;
commit;
5. Assign the concurrent program to the appropriate request group (e.g. System
Administrator, All Reports, Application Object Library) and run the concurrent program
to test it all out! And there you have it - Excel style output direct from concurrent
request generated by PL/SQL!