FINDINI 4.0.13 Release - Upcoming May System Outages for Oracle Financials Systems

Please review important Java Web Start Information.

This SPRING 2018 FINDINI 4.0.13 release will be available to users on Monday, May 21, 2018.

It is highly recommended that all end users review the attached JAVA WEB START USER GUIDE. More information can also be found at: https://oracle.fss.finance.harvard.edu/oracle-ebs-findini-4013-release-notes

Please continue to review updated release messages and outage information that have been posted in the May e-news article, on the Oracle Financial splash pages, and on the site listed.

Short Summary:

The focus of this release is for the implementation of Java Web Start so Oracle Financial Form applications can continue to work with Firefox v60 (and greater) and other modern web browsers that are ending support for the Netscape Plug-in Application Programming Interface (NPAPI) which is required to open Oracle Forms. Several Oracle software patches are being applied to make Oracle Financials compatible with the new Microsoft Office 365 Pro Plus 2016 rollout. We are also rolling out 3 new key Fixed Asset reports needed for this year’s fiscal year end audit requirements. Several important CAPs enhancements will be implemented including an automation process for CIP funding journals which will increase the turnaround time for approvals and accuracy of journals.

Oracle Financials Outage - 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 18^th until 9:00 a.m. on Monday, May 21^st to accommodate the installation of this release. CPATH (Capital Planning at Harvard), DMS Financial Data Warehouse, & OBI Reporting will also be offline during this outage window. CPATH & DMS Financial Data Warehouse are also having a release during this weekend.

Please review the Detailed Summary for much more pertinent information regarding what this release may mean to you.

Detailed Summary:

The focus of this release is for the implementation of Java Web Start so Oracle Financial Form applications can continue to work with Firefox v60 (and greater) and other modern web browsers that are ending support for the Netscape Plug-in Application Programming Interface (NPAPI) which is required to open Oracle Forms. Java Web Start changes the way that Java Applet Forms runs on end-user’s desktops to open Oracle Financials form driven applications such as the General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, CAPS, CSMA, & Oracle Assets to name a few modules. All common browsers, such as IE11, Firefox, Chrome, Microsoft Edge, & Safari will now work with the Oracle Financials applications on Windows PC’s without having to use or update Java JRE Plug-ins. Much more information regarding Java Web Start can be found in this document. It is highly recommended that this PowerPoint is reviewed by all our Oracle Financial end users. This deck will better explain what you will experience opening forms using the new Java Web Start technology along with the different experiences you will have using various browsers.

Please see the attached PowerPoint file at the end of this article for information on using Java Web Start.

Several Oracle software patches are being applied to make Oracle Financials compatible with the new Microsoft Office 365 Pro Plus 2016 rollout. We are also rolling out 3 new key Fixed Asset reports needed for this year’s fiscal year end audit requirements. Several important CAPs enhancements will be implemented including an automation process for CIP funding journals which will increase the turnaround time for approvals and accuracy of journals. We also delivering fixes to the Accounts Payable Invoice validation, invoice hold process, and several holds reports that were negatively impacted during our last FINDINI release.

In addition, during this release, we will address the standard security and compliance software and database patching to keep the EBS, CPATH, & OBI Replication systems (including Golden Gate) up to date with many industry security regulations and requirements. These will include updates for PSU, ATG, CPU, JDK, JRE, & Linux & WebLogic Operating System patching. Finally, we will attempt to address some additional bug fixes and system enhancements from our current Project & Product Backlogs.

Other key deliverables of the FINDINI 4.0.13 Release include:

• APEX Office Print package implementation
• Implementation of several new views and packages to support the delivery of the New Contingent Workforce application related to the interfacing of our Chart of Accounts and AP invoices/payments
• CPATH (Capital Planning at Harvard) application upgrade to v8.1.01.118
• OATS (Oracle Automated Testing Suite) server upgrade to support the Java Web Start implementation
• OATS functional & technical script updates due to JAVA Web Start implementation & the impacts of the OATS upgrade

Outages:

The University's financial systems will be unavailable from Friday, May 18^th at 6:00 p.m. until Monday, May 21^st at 9:00 a.m. to complete the installation of this release. The Oracle EBS Financial systems that will be offline during this time include:

• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Payable Adjustment Form for Assets
• Accounts Receivable
• iReceivables & Collections
• Bottomline
• CAPS
• Cash Management (CMRA)
• Chart Security Maintenance Application (CSMA)
• Chart of Accounts GL Validator
• FedEx
• General Ledger
• Oracle Assets
• HCOM & iProcurement
• PCard
• Vendor Request
• Web ADI
• Web Reimbursement

Also, CPATH (Capital Planning at Harvard), DMS Financial Data Warehouse, & OBI reporting will be offline during this same outage of Friday, May 18^th at 6:00 p.m. until Monday, May 21^st at 9:00 a.m. CPATH & DMS Financial Data Warehouse are having a release during this weekend.

Additional Release Details for FINDINI 4.0.13:

The FINDINI 4.0.13 release will include a Java JRE update to 1.8.0_162. For Mac desktop users only, when logging in for the first time after May 21^st, those users will be required to download this updated Java JRE. If users receive a popup message that a more recent version is available, they should NOT act upon the request.

Windows desktop users will no longer have to install Java JRE updates for Oracle Financials due to the new Java Web Start technology. At a minimum, they must have JAVA JRE 1.8.0_141 which was pushed to them in our last FINDINI release.

Appendix:

A summary of changes include:

Oracle Financials desktop standards can be found on site https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=sc_cat_item&sys_id=05d7a432dbacc7c083a2f3f7bf961977 under the Enterprise Application Supported Desktop Configurations section. These desktop standards will be updated for this release during our cutover. Further helpful tips & release information can be found on these sites:

• http://fss.finance.harvard.edu/popular-resources &
• http://oracle.fss.finance.harvard.edu/releases &
• https://oracle.fss.finance.harvard.edu/user-resources

For questions please contact the HUIT Service Desk at ithelp@harvard.edu or call them at 5-7777.