Siebel Reporting – Part 1 – Architecture and Installation
In the first of my Reporting articles, I’ll discuss some of the architectural changes that have taken place in the move from Actuate to BI Publisher (hereafter referred to as BIP). With Siebel 8.1.1.2 the recommended version of BIP is 10.1.3.4.1. You’ll need this if you want to use report scheduling from within Siebel.
Typically, the Actuate Report Server application server is hosted in a load balanced configuration, with one master server and one slave. Internal Actuate load balancing handled the shared encyclopedia and balancing of requests. Siebel required the configuration of a virtual host (rshost) , telling it where to find the Report Server, and a component parameter, Actuate Server Connect String, telling the component the Siebel connect string to use to connect to an Object Manager to retrieve data. As you may recall, Actuate uses the COM Data Server to pull data through the Business Object layer.
Things are not too different in BIP. Server setup is straightforward and load balancing and clustering can be configured. Refer to this Oracle document for more information. When it comes to actual installation, it is essential that you follow the updated installation guide in Siebel Bookshelf. The original 8.1.1 guide misses a number of critical set up steps. I have a customized, step by step installation guide to hand – please email me if you’d like a copy.
Configuration for Siebel is a little more complex. Siebel now has a dedicated ‘XMLP Report Server’ component which you’ll need to license, enable and configure. BIP exposes Web Services that allow requesting and scheduling of reports, while Siebel exposes Web Services to allow BIP to query and retrieve data through EAI. As such, various entry points and URLs must be configured. Again, steps are documented in Bookshelf, so I won’t list them here. Provided you following every step and subsection in the Reports Guide, you should not have any problems. Resist the temptation to stride ahead and skip a section!
A number of things to check if it doesn’t work first time:
- Check the PublicReportServiceService Outbound Web Service. I had a hard time with this as you actually have to create and deploy this as part of the installation. Double check that the Service Port is ‘PublicReportService_v11′ and that the ‘getReportParameters’ method is exposed. If not, you have the wrong version
- Check the BIPDataService and BIPSiebelSecurityWS inbound Web Services and ensure the WSDLs are deployed correctly to BIP
- Ensure you’ve created the new LOV and Responsibility values in Siebel to support BIP
- Verify the security settings in BIP, particularly the security model
- Check that the Siebel .jar files have been copied across to BIP
- Double check the XMLPJvmSubsys Enterprise Profile configuration, specifically the CLASSPATH parameter. This should include all of the Siebel .JAR files and should have a format for the appropriate platform – refer to bookshelf for Windows and UNIX specific configuration of this parameter
I’m conscious that I’ve not gone into a massive amount of detail around this area, but bookshelf and MOS combined should be enough to get things running. If you have any specific issues, please feel free to post.
BIP, Reporting, Siebel
hi, I’ currently integrating Siebel 7.8 to BIP 10.1.3.4.1. Our POC however is running on Siebel 8.1. We’ve followed the bookshelf but still unable to have Siebel generate report using bip in thin client. I’m unable to locate getReportParameters method. can you advice where is this located? Thanks!
Hi Axel,
Go to Site Map > Administration – Web Services > Outbound Web Services and query for Name = PublicReportServiceService
The Service Port Name should be ‘PublicReportService_v11′ and ‘getReportParameters’, amongst others, should be visible in the ‘Operations’ applet.
Hi Oli,
Great website, and very helpful! Keep up the great work.. Thanks again for your suggestions, I have BIP/Siebel running fine now, so it was very much appreciated.
Take care,
Jon
Hi Oli,
we have updated Siebel to 7.8.2.14 and followed all steps mentioned in the provided readme (ACR483). I have made all configuration changes and installed BIP server. However, report generation is not successful.
* upload of new templates from Siebel -> possible
* associate reports with -siebel views -> possible
* run a report from siebel -> not possible
I can select a report, choose output type and then I hit the submit button. data is being fetched, report is generated (correct output in BIP log directory) and then, Siebel component XMLPReportServer is crashing (crash.txt and fdr file generated) and thats it.
Any ideas where I might start to look at???
Hi Benjamin!
First up, it looks like your Web Service configuration is set up correctly as data is passing to and from Siebel and BIP. A few things to look at:
1. Up the log level on XMLPReportServer (4 should suffice) and see if it gives you any hint as to the crash
2. Use sarmanalyzer to decode the .FDR file. Refer to MOS, “How To Analyze the FDR Output in Siebel Versions 7.7.x, 7.8.x and 8. [ID 473939.1]” for more information
3. Are you running on a single server or multiple servers? Could there be any proxy / network config that could be preventing Siebel pulling back the report and presenting it to the user?
4. Do you get the same problem with vanilla reports (e.g. Contact List) for all output types (e.g. PDF, HTML)?
5. Enable logging in BIP: refer to my previous post for a link to a MOS article on troubleshooting for instructions
Siebel 8 and BIP logging is very messy and it can be a struggle to seperate the wheat from the chaff. However, I’m pretty confident that you’ll find your solution by digging through them.
Hi Oli,
thanks for your answer!
I have tried everything you mentioned already. Analyzed log files, created analyzed FDR files, enabled BIP logging….
I have uploaded the FDR already to ORACLE but they have no clue.
This does happen no matter whether using vanilla reports or custom ones.
This is what is appearing in XMLPReportServerxxx.log with evtloglvl %=4:
EAITransport EAITransportDebug 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 *** HTTP response Body from Data Send request:
EAITransport EAITransportGeneric 3 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 Receiving Response
ObjMgrBusServiceLog InvokeMethod 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 Business Service ‘EAI HTTP Transport’ invoke method ‘SendReceive’ Execute Time: 1.469 seconds.
ObjMgrBusServiceLog InvokeMethod 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 End: Business Service ‘EAI HTTP Transport’ invoke method: ‘SendReceive’ at 1554f080
CchMgrLog CchMgrAcsInfo 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 Accesses item [http://xmlns.oracle.com/oxp/service/v11/PublicReportService:PublicReportService] in cache [].
CchMgrLog CchMgrAcsInfo 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 Item [http://xmlns.oracle.com/oxp/service/v11/PublicReportService:PublicReportService] is in cache [].
ObjMgrBusServiceLog InvokeMethod 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 Begin: Business Service ‘XML Hierarchy Converter’ invoke method: ‘DocToHier’ at 1553d228
ObjMgrBusServiceLog InvokeMethod 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 Business Service ‘XML Hierarchy Converter’ invoke method ‘DocToHier’ Execute Time: 0.001 seconds.
ObjMgrBusServiceLog InvokeMethod 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 End: Business Service ‘XML Hierarchy Converter’ invoke method: ‘DocToHier’ at 1553d228
WebSvcOutbound WSOutboundTrace 3 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 Completed outbound web service execution.
WebSvcOutbound WSOutboundDbg 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 Validated SOAP Envelope
ObjMgrBusServiceLog InvokeMethod 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 Begin: Business Service ‘EAI Integration Object to XML Hierarchy Converter’ invoke method: ‘XMLHierToIntObjHier’ at 154f0508
EAIInfra EAIInfraOutputMsg 3 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 Output Message: IntObjType=runReportResponse Format=Siebel Hierarchical
ObjMgrBusServiceLog InvokeMethod 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 Business Service ‘EAI Integration Object to XML Hierarchy Converter’ invoke method ‘XMLHierToIntObjHier’ Execute Time: 0.001 seconds.
ObjMgrBusServiceLog InvokeMethod 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 End: Business Service ‘EAI Integration Object to XML Hierarchy Converter’ invoke method: ‘XMLHierToIntObjHier’ at 154f0508
WebSvcOutbound WSOutboundDbg 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 Transformed Response Argument ‘runReportResponse’ into ‘runReportResponse:parameters’
WebSvcPerf WebSvcPerfOutbound 3 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 runReport|1469|15
ObjMgrBusServiceLog InvokeMethod 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 Business Service ‘PublicReportService’ invoke method ‘runReport’ Execute Time: 1.479 seconds.
ObjMgrBusServiceLog InvokeMethod 4 0 2010-05-12 15:05:23 End: Business Service ‘PublicReportService’ invoke method: ‘runReport’ at 154aa798
Exception 0xc0000005 at 0x0046f032
Thread: 0×00001280, Process 0x00000dfc
- CONTEXT -
EIP: 0×00000000, EFL: 0×00010256, FS: 0x0000003b, GS: 0×00000000
CS: 0x0000001b, DS: 0×00000023, SS: 0×00000023, ES: 0×00000023
EAX: 0×00000001, EBX: 0x0d14df00, ECX: 0×00000000, EDX: 0x0d14ded
no ideas what happens here…
Hi Benjamin,
What did sarmanalyzer make of the FDR file? What was the last thing that the component tried to do before if fell over?
Oli,
these are the last three lines of the fdr:
13734 548 Fdr_OBJMGR Object Manager FdrSub_OBJMGR_SVC_INVOKE Service Invoke Method 337511216 0 EAI Integration Object to XML Hierarchy Converter XMLHierToIntObjHier
13735 548 Fdr_SRF Siebel Repository FdrSub_SRF_LOAD_OBJ Load Repository Object 0 0 runReportResponse Integration Object
13736 548 Fdr_FDR Fdr Internal FdrSub_FDR_CRASH ** CRASHING THREAD ** 0 0
any ideas very welcome….
Hmm, not much to go by there, is there? Have Oracle confirmed that the IO’s that you created by applying the patch were correct? Might be worth SIF’ing them out and uploading them to your Service Request and asking the SR owner to check. It’s a tricky one and I wish I could offer more help – I’ve yet to play with the 7.8 integration, having only just got my head around 8.1.1.2. Have you had a look on the Oracle Discussion Forum? I see a number of people with a similar problem.
Hi Oli,
Oracle have their hands on my complete Tools DB for 2 weeks but no reaction as of yet… SR handling currently is not working as I would expect it to be.
I know there are other people experiencing similar behaviour, but I have not seen anyone coming up with a solution so far.
I guess I’ll just play around some more and see if I can find something out.
Thanks for your time and blog with valuable information!
Sorry to hear that Benjamin. When I get time, I’ll set up a 7.8 environment in a VM and see if I can reproduce the issue and get to the bottom of it.
Hi Oli,
would you mind sending me the Integration Object “runReportResponse” of a successful 8.1 implementation? Since this is the last IO which is being loaded before the crash, I have the feeling the problems could be related to this IO.
I do not have any working 8.1 installation around to compare it though…
Hi Benjamin,
Sent to your registered email address.
Oli,
as I told you already the Riddle is finally solved.
If anyone is interested: There is a problem with the integration object “runReportResponse”. The IO shipped with 7.8.2.14 is different from the one shipped with 8.1 and after importing the 8.1 version BIP is now working as desired.
One could also change the two field properties manually:
IO “runReportResponse” -> IC “runReportReturn” -> field “reportBytes”
1. change Data Type to “DTYPE_ATTACHMENT”
2. change Field Type to “System”
Thank you very much Oli for your kind help and providing the IO to me!!
Hello-
we are trying to integrate BI Publisher with Siebel 8.1.1, and we are running into some issues. Could you email me your installation guide?
Also do we need to upgrade to 8.1.1.1 or 8.1.1 should be working fine (may be without scheduling and some other updated features)?
Thanks a lot!
Hi kotboris,
What sort of problems are you having? I’ll drop you a link to the install guide by PM shortly. Please post up your problems though and we’ll see if we can sort it out!
8.1.1 should still work fine – as you say, there are some features that are only available in 8.1.1.1
Thanks.
We are getting the following errors when trying to upload files:
[1][0] Operation ” of Web Service ‘.’ at port ” failed with the following explanation:
“”.(SBL-EAI-04308)(IDS_EAI_WS_OD_FAULT)
[2] Object manager error:([0] Operation ” of Web Service ‘.’ at port failed with the following explanation: “”.(SBL-EAI-04308)(IDS_WS_OD_FAULT))
[3] Error (null) invoking method “(null)” for Business Service “(null)”
Looked up the support web – they have couple SRs for this one, but none of the solutions seems to help- we have 10.1.3.4 version on our BI Publisher Server (one of the solutions), and we have added XMLP_DEVELOPER responsibility (another solution).
I am confused to what outbound web service we have to use, since we have 8.1.1 we using OOB PublicReportServiceService not PublicReportService_v11. May be this is an issue?
Yes, I suspect that is the issue. Make sure you import the WSDL file generated from the BI Publisher web portal. You’ll have to import this in tools to generate new IOs and a proxy BS. The process is documented in bookshelf. Also, up the log level to 4 for the XMLPReportServer component and the OM that you’re using – you should be able to derive a more useful error message than the one you’ve posted, including the actual Web Service at fault.
Thanks a lot. We will try this.
Hello Oli-
could you please send me an installation guide?
Thanks
Hi kotboris,
Can you please drop me an email on the address in the contact page? I’ll reply with the guide.
Did you have any luck with the logging? Have you had a look at my next post, with troubleshooting tips from My Oracle Support?
Thanks.
I emailed you my email address.
I’ve run into some interesting issues, which not documented anywhere.
I think our problem is the webservice, and when I tried to generate wsdl from app – outbound web services, I was getting the following warning: “XML schema generator does not support different XML spaces for XML tag and XSD Type in the integration object definition….” While looking into the IO objects I found that the following IOs:
runReportResponse
runReportInSessionResponse
getScheduledReportStatusResponse
getScheduledReportStatusInSessionResponse
getScheduledReportHistoryInfoResponse
getScheduledReportHistoryInfoInSessionResponse
getListOfScheduledReportsStatusResponse
getListOfScheduledReportsStatusInSessionResponse
getFolderContentsResponse
getFolderContentsInSessionResponse
downloadReportDataChunkResponse
had different values in the user props for XMLTagNamespace and XSDTypeNamespace. I changed this to be consistent to http://xmlns.oracle.com/oxp/service/v11/PublicReportService.
I am in the process of testing this right now.
Regards.
Did you retrieve the BIP WSDL directly from the BIP server? Once done, you have to delete all the BIP related IOs in the repository then re-import the WSDL through the wizard.
It’s also worth checking that you have the correct version of BIP for your version of Siebel.
Is there any reason why you’re not going to 8.1.1.2?
Hello Oli,
I appreciate your help to others on BIP.
Right now I have siebel 7.8.2.14(also required patches QF-2 for BIP)and
BIP 10.1.3.4.1 server. I completed all steps as per the installation guide and when I am trying to upload file I am getting the following error.
[1] [0] Operation ” of Web Service ‘.’ at port ” failed with the following explanation: “”.(SBL-EAI-04308) (IDS_EAI_WS_OD_FAULT)
[2] Object manager error: ([0] Operation ” of Web Service ‘.’ at port ” failed with the following explanation: “”.(SBL-EAI-04308) (IDS_EAI_WS_OD_FAULT))
[3] Error (null) invoking method “(null)” for Business Service “(null)”
I am trouble shooting the issue as you mentioned in previous replies.
Also I am planning to have fresh installation of siebel 8.1.1 for BIP server.
Can you pl send installation steps for installing BI Publisher for siebel app server. my email id nivasap@gmail.com
Thanks & Regards
Srinivas
I’ve sent the guide to your registered email, Srinivas.
Hope you got this figured out. If you search google for “7.8.2.14 BIP” this is the first link.
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1061065&start=15&tstart=0
It has the solution that we used to get the integration fixed between siebel and bip parameratized reports.
Your FDR looks very similar to what ours was.
Ah just saw Oli already posted the solution. Thanks. So just check out the link for some background.