Date: Tuesday, August 19, 1997

Time Called: 2:30 p.m.

Location: BellSouth, Campanile Building, Atlanta, GA

I. Presentation: "Implementation Issues"

Steve Bradley, KPMG

Steve's presentation focused on several issues related to implementing Oracle modules and how they interact with each other. He proposed solutions for several common issues including:

1. How to disable flexfield segments and combinations without causing problems between modules. In particular, he noted the fact that while manually entering disabled flexfields is not possible in G-L, it is possible to import disabled segments with journals from other Oracle modules. Consequently, it is very important that each person using the Oracle modules be apprised of disabled segments quickly so that problems can be corrected in the sub-systems instead of in the G-L.

2. How to avoid cross validation rule (CVR) violations. For those people using CVR, Oracle has a report available to the Systems Admin Manager that will allow the user to determine where CVR violations are likely to occur after flexfields have been disabled.

3. Avoid using adjusting periods. For those companies which are considering adding a year-end thirteenth period for certain types of entries, Steve suggests that this does not work well with Oracle. Particularly, in regards to writing FSG's, a thirteenth period column will always appear in trend-type reports across years. Consequently, to avoid printing this column, the user would have to write multiple FSG's for each month of a year.

4. Using ADI (GLDI) Wizards. Steve recommends use of the budget wizard which greatly eases the entry of budgetary data into Oracle. He also recommends the use of the report wizard but is not particularly impressed with the journal wizard. He feels that the journal wizard should only be used for journals which are formula-driven or rely on other spreadsheets to be prepared. Otherwise, users should work with the journal generator, particularly for recurring and allocation-type journals.

5. Avoid using descriptive flexfields. Mainly because they are not supported by the standard Oracle reports, Steve also suggests avoiding the use of descriptive flexfields.

II. Presentation: "Reconciling Sub-Systems in Implementation and On an On-going Basis"

Beth Hunt, Application Technology Services, Inc.

Beth's presentation covered the full spectrum of problems relating to reconciling individual sub-systems to the general ledger before and after implementation of the Oracle system. Among the important points covered were:

1. Don't process new transactions until after all of the legacy system accounts are reconciled to the new Oracle system.

2. Reconciliation should be simple. Try to avoid having multiple subsystems posting to the same

accounts. The accounts will much easier to reconcile with fewer types of entries going into them.

3. Consider using a check list which indicates everything that should happen during each period.

4. Control the period close for each module.

5. Try to correct problems at the sub-system level first. This will prevent a domino effect of errors.

III. General Business - Brenda Carlton, The Tensar Corporation

1. Future meetings - by the request of several members, all meetings after August 19, 1997 will be held on the third Friday of the month. Please set your calendars for meetings on October 17th and November 21st.

2. National OAUG Conference - The national OAUG conference in Orlando will start on September 14, 1997. Disney-area hotel space is very tight, so contact Meeting Expectations if you are still planning on attending. Wear comfortable shoes, since you will be walking between three hotels to attend all of the meetings planned.

3. Volunteers needed - Please volunteer to help your OAUG chapter, especially with the following:

A) Host a meeting - January, 1998. Must have seating for 50+, provide light refreshments and monitor R.S.V.P.'s as well as provide copying capability and an overhead projector.

B) Speakers - 1998

C) The Atl-OAUG list server This valuable resource remains largely unused by the Atl-OAUG group. The list server is available on the internet and gives users the opportunity to place questions out on the net and get answers from other users. Check it out!

D) www.atloaug.org We've got a web site! As our organization grows, information regarding meetings, future topics of interest, and members is available on the web. Members can sign up to visit the "members only" section to view our membership roster and each member's area of expertise. Be sure to register while you're visiting our web site.

E) Tips & Techniques Newsletter Special thanks to Jim Crum who is editing and producing our bi-monthly newsletter. Be sure to get a copy from the web and feel free to e-mail him with your tips & tricks and with your suggestions at: jcrum@sprynet.com

F) Membership roster Special thanks to Mary Lou Weiss of Computer Systems Authority who has accepted the challenge of registering Atl-OAUG members for the "members only" section of the web page. She updates our web site almost daily. Be sure to visit it the next time you're surfing the web!

The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m. for networking at the The Prince of Wales.

Special thanks to BellSouth who provided us with a wonderful conference space, refreshments and Atl-OAUG pentels.

The next Atlanta OAUG meeting will be October 17th at the Oracle Abernathy Offices. Remember that there will be no meeting in September because of the OAUG national conference in Orlando.

Thirty-eight people were in attendance. Companies represented:

Users	Consultants
Tensar Corporation	KPMG Peat Marwick
Cotton States Insurance	Source Services Corporation
BellSouth Advertising & Publishing	Application Technology Services
BellSouth Long Distance	Parker Management Consultants
BellSouth Information Systems	BOSS Corp
BellSouth International	Computer Systems Authority
Gilman Paper Company	Lueke Consulting Group
Paragon Trade Brands
Total Audio Visual Services
Intelliventures

See web page for updates, agendas, directions, minutes, list server, etc. http://www.atloaug.org