Date: Friday, November 21, 1997

Submitted by: Manisha Patel, AnswerThink Consulting Group

Time Called: 2:30 p.m.

Location: Computer Systems Authority

I. Presentation: "Ad Hoc Query Tools"

IQ* presented by Brian Beatie, Tensar Corp.
Business Objects presented by Jay Cleghorn, BellSouth Corp.
MS Access presented by Brad Eldredge, AnswerThink Consulting Group

Brian's presentation focused on IQ\Objects(by IQ software)an end user query and reporting tool:

1. IQ\Objects provides report scheduling, batch processing, automated e-mail and interactive web pages.
2. Some pros for the tool are 2 ways of reporting: access to multiple data sources from one report, allows for drill down reporting, output to Excel and HTML.
3. Some cons for the tool: server impact, client lock-up, set up time and issues, limited support, and learning curve.

Jay's presentation focused on Business Objects, an end user query and reporting tool:

1. Business Objects major features are ease of use, quick training and good support.
2. Few cons for Business Objects are impact on server, setup time and administrative time for changes.

Brad's presentation focused on MS Access and Excel pivot tables.

1. Linking various Microsoft products to access your Oracle Applications data.
2. Allows easy access and flexible formatting of data on reports using MS Access, Excel (using pivot tables) via ODBC drivers.

II. Presentation: "Custom Reports"

SQL,SQR,Oracle Reports, SQL*PLUS presented by Eric Shin, The Sage Inc.
FSG's (Financial Statement Generator) presented by Brenda Carlton, KPMG

Eric's presentation focused on Reporting tools for Oracle Applications - SQL, SQR, Oracle Reports, Developer 2000*, SQL*PLUS:

1. Identify if reusing v/s rewriting for your reporting requirements. Based on this it will help in identifying which tool meets your requirements.
2. Oracle Reports is a non-procedural approach (shows the data model), easy to create simple reports. With this tool it's hard to change default layouts and frames.
3. SQR is a procedural tool (SQL is in a procedural context) and good for complex reports. No validation or checking and since it is not a Oracle product it has to be setup and linked.
4. Reporting requirements are for more user empowerment, non-procedural trend, consideration of data security and future trend is toward web based reporting.

Brenda's presentation focused on writing FSG's at Tensar Corp:

1. FSG - Financial Statement Generator is an end user tool to be utilized for financial statements and various reports that run through the concurrent manager.
2. FSG requires no additional setup and is a standard end user tool with Oracle General Ledger.
3. FSG is easy to use, with limited flexibility in formatting. Accesses GL balances only. Minimal security and cannot share across sets of books with different accounting flexfields.
4. Examples of FSG's are income statements, balance sheet, cost center summaries, income tax workpapers, gross margin by product line and partial trial balances.
5. Definitions of a row set, column set, content set, display set and row order.
6. Provided general tips and naming conventions to be followed when defining FSG's .

III. General Business - Brenda Carlton, KPMG

1. Our next meeting will be held downtown at Deloitte-Touche on January 16. Check the web page at www.atloaug.org for details. R.S.V.P. via e-mail. Confirmations will not be sent. For details please refer to the web page.
2. Regional Conference - The Southeastern Oracle User Group based in Charlotte, NC is having a regional conference February 19-20. Three hundred people are expected to attend. User groups will be invited from a 6 state area. Focus will more technical rather than functional. To volunteer to speak, contact Dave Winters: dwinters@kdc-charlotte.com or (704) 424-5850
3. Volunteers are needed to host a meeting. Dates are Mar 20, Apr 17, Jun 19, Aug 21 or Nov 20.
4. The Atl-OAUG list server is a valuable resource which remains largely unused by the Atl-OAUG group. As a reminder, it is not to be used for recruiting or disbursement of vendor materials.
5. Register to be a member on our "members only" page at www.atloaug.org. Members may view our membership roster and each member's area of expertise. Special thanks to Computer Systems Authority for providing us with the list server and web site.
6. Please contribute to our newsletter via e-mail at jcrum@sprynet.com. Thanks Jim Crum for volunteering as editor and doing a fantastic job.

Doorprizes were distributed and meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm.

Special thanks to CSA who provided us with a wonderful conference space and refreshments.

Forty one people were in attendance. Companies represented:

Users	Consultants	Vendors
Tensar Corporation	KPMG Peat Marwick	FRX Software
Hayes Microcomputer	Answerthink	Optio Software
Merial Ltd	Computer Systems Authority	Mastech
NCR	Reilly & Assoc.
Vanstar	Sage Group
Southern Co	TSC
BellSouth	Sun Data
Paragon Trade Brands	Current Assets
Delta Technologies	Ernst & Young
UPS	Hemispheres
	Anderson Consulting

See web page for updates, agendas, directions, minutes, list server, etc.