The "Rules"

Forms Playback is a fast, effective load technology that is easy to use. However, for your load to work there are certain "rules" that you must follow. There are also rules that you should follow but you may choose to ignore - at your own risk! This page summarises these rules, which are documented in more detail on other pages in this section.

Rules You Must Follow

If your load will be required to load something many times in a session, EG load multiple Suppliers, Customers or Segment Values, then record the entry of two of those records when you create the load.
If you enter multiple records in your recording each record must be identical. ie, the fields used in record 1 must be used in record 2 and no extra fields should be used in record 2.
If you will want to use a form field in just some of the records during playback then that field must be included in your recording. When editing the load in DataLoad that field is left blank for the records which don't use it.
Build a separate load for separate entities of data. EG, build one load to enter Responsibilities and another to load Printers, don't try to achieve this in a single load.
When entering your first record don't first create a new record unless you have to. If the form is ready to accept the record just enter it. Only create a new record for record 1 if the form requires you to do so.
When entering data into a block or form that may or may not already contain data always execute a clear block or clear form before entering data during your recording. Do this even if no data is in the block or form when you record the load to make your load more flexible.
Some multi line blocks contain a finite number of blank records. For your load to work with more records than there are blank records in the block, you must create a new record after entering each record. Don't just clicking into the next blank record.
Don't close the form, return to the Navigator and re-open the form between records.
Exit Oracle Applications as soon as you have finished recording your load, ie at the end of the last record.
If your Applications system uses the Unicode UTF-8 then turn on UTF8 compatability in DataLoad.

Rules You Should Follow

DataLoad validates the data you select for a field that is a drop list in the Oracle form. To ensure DataLoad allows you to enter the data you want to select in this drop list you must "teach" DataLoad that yours is a valid value. To do this, record a file where you select each value from each drop list you want to use. Open this file in DataLoad and DataLoad will learn the valid values. You can do this as part of your proper load or just as a recording designed to teach DataLoad about drop lists.
Where possible, avoid using lists of values. Enter the data directly into the field instead.