The November 2016 release for Oracle EPM Cloud (released a week ago) offered a number of interesting updates to each of the cloud tools. I’ve summarized some of the notable ones below:

General Updates

• New version of EPM Automate, which includes the getsubstvar command. This command allows you to view the values of substitution variables at both the cube and application levels. In addition, this version offers new simplified exit codes (while removing others) and detailed error messages.
• Smart View filter options are now available within member selection: by UDA, generation, level, and level 0 descendant
• Financial Reporting desktop studio – a warning was given that this thick client will no longer be available starting in May 2017. Nearly full parity is there now between the desktop and web studios. Oracle added row and column templates and the Same As option features this month.

Enterprise Planning Cloud (PBCS/EPBCS)

• The “Clear Cube” action is now directly available from the jobs list (Application >> Overview >> [Clear Cube job] >> Actions >> Submit). This saves a few clicks.

• Ability to suppress column scenario-period segments by scenario. This is suggested as an option for rolling forecast configurations, especially quarterly rolling forecasts which are not directly supported within EPBCS currently. I’m excited to play with this feature later.
• EPBCS only – ability to retrieve the original copy of a pre-built business rule. Calculation Manager rules can be modified to meet a customer’s specific needs, so if a backup isn’t made first this option will come in handy.
• Calculation Manager – ability to hide prompts for StringAsNumber variable types. In addition, info. about groovy scripts that are used to generate calculation scripts is now logged in the job console.

FCCS

• Option to not enable Consolidation and/or Supplemental Data Manager. Now when you create an application, you can choose which components you want to enable up front. You can choose to enable these components after application creation, too. Close Manager is not an option, however – this will be enabled by default. Not enabling the Consolidation feature means excluding the following features:
  • consolidation rules
  • Account Balance Sheet hierarchy
  • Financials dashboard
  • other consolidation-related features
• Create standard or recurring templates for journals
• Create and manage journal activity reports with PDF, HTML, and XLS export options
• Ability to load journals through Data Management when using the new Journals data rule type

EPRCS

• Microsoft Office 2016 now supported
• Safari 9 now supported

ARCS

• Migration functionality moved from Navigator to the Consol card

PCMCS

• Ability to stop a template import
• Ability to export results from queries (must be
• Ability to delete applications using the original Service Administrator application owner