THE VU AGENDA

EXCELLENT, ENGAGED

AND ACCESSIBLE

Victoria University

Alesco Custom Business Rules

Outline• Background• Introduction to Custom Business Rules• Prerequisites• Set Up Custom Business Rules• An Example• Summary – Pros and Cons

Outline Background• Introduction to Custom Business Rules• Prerequisites• Set Up Custom Business Rules• An Example of Custom Business Rules• Summary – Pros and Cons

Problem

• HR data is growing incredibly• Data quality issues are always existing• Inaccurate data result in errors in reports, WSS, and

so on

SolutionsAt VU we are utilising different methods to monitor and improve the data integrity/quality in Alesco:

• Regular Reports• Email Notifications

• Custom Business Rules

post check

pre check, prevent

Outline• Background Introduction to Custom Business Rules• Prerequisites• Set Up Custom Business Rules• An Example of Custom Business Rules• Summary – Pros and Cons

DefinitionWhat exactly is a custom business rule?

• A functionality in Alesco used for data validation• Implemented through Oracle triggers at the

database level• Proactively prevents data entry errors from being

entered

ScenariosSome scenarios this functionality is used for at VU:

• Prevent expired Clevels from being used• Limit the total number of hours claimed in the online

timesheet to 12 hours per day• Limit the number of days which can be claimed for

certain leave codes in WSS

Outline• Background• Introduction to Custom Business Rules Prerequisites• Set Up Custom Business Rules• An Example of Custom Business Rules• Summary – Pros and Cons

PrerequisitesBefore creating business rules, you will need to:1. Know the Alesco tables and fields

– Used to store Alesco data in the backend Oracle database.

2. Have a sound knowledge of Oracle SQL and PL/SQL – Used to manipulate Alesco data directly without using the

frontend interface– PL/SQL is more powerful and complex than SQL– Typical tools include SQL Plus, TOAD, SQL Developer, etc.– Data operations should be limited to QUERY only

Outline• Background• Introduction to Custom Business Rules• Prerequisites Set Up Custom Business Rules• An Example of Custom Business Rules• Summary – Pros and Cons

Steps1. FA003 – Codes Maintenance

– Define the business rule name

2. FG377 –Business Rules Triggers– Define when and where the rule is applied

3. FG376 – Business Rules Definitions– Define what the rule does and how

Log into Alesco as a master user

Define The Rule NameFA003 – Codes Maintenance

Kind = BUSINESS_RULE

Business rule code name and description

Where/When The Rule AppliesFG377 – Business Rules Triggers

1.(a) What data to verify - Table name

3. How to verify the Data – Delegate the verification task to the business rule

1.(b) What data to verify - Field name

2. When to verify the data

Where/When The Rule AppliesFG377 – Business Rules TriggersQuick summary:1. Define a trigger – what data to verify and when

2. Specify the linked business rule – delegate the actual verification task to the rule

3. One important pending question – How does the trigger pass the data to the delegated business rule?

The predefined parameters passing to the rule:1. p_table_name and p_column_name

– name of table and column where the business rule is applied

2. p_code_col_value – the value of the column where the rule is applied

3. p_messages – OUT parameter returning the error message if the business rule validation fails.

4. p_employee# and p_job# – populated when the table has an employee or job column

What The Rule Does and HowFG376 – Business Rules Definitions

Business rule to define

Define the verification logic of the business rule

IF UPPER(p_code_col_value) <> p_code_col_value THEN

p_messages := 'Using lower case characters in position tile is not allowed.';

END IF;

New Position title being updated or inserted

Oracle’s built-in function which converts a string to uppercase (only alpha characters are applicable)

The error message shown to the alesco user if the rule validation fails

What The Rule Does and HowFG376 – Business Rules Definitions

Define additional parameters

Pre-defined values for conditional verification

System generated package, Can be ignored

Outline• Background• Introduction to Custom Business Rules• Prerequisites• Set Up Custom Business Rules An Example of Custom Business Rules• Summary – Pros and Cons

Changing Position tile

Warning !! - There are two lowercase characters in the position title.

Outline• Background• Introduction to Custom Business Rules• Prerequisites• Set Up Custom Business Rules• An Example of Custom Business Rules Summary – Pros and Cons

SummaryPros• Can be used for a huge variety of scenarios, e.g.

Clevel, position titles character caps, date of birth caps, upper case and lower case controls etc.

• Easy to set up if you have good SQL and Alesco tables knowledge

SummaryCons• The error message returned for the user is not ‘nice’

looking, staff need to be instructed on how to view the error message

• Does not work for complex business logics i.e. it cannot be used for multiple tables in one rule

THE VU AGENDA

EXCELLENT, ENGAGED

AND ACCESSIBLE

Questions??

The End! Thanks for listening!