DataLoad provides two methods for loading data into Oracle Applications, "Forms Playback" and "Macro".
Forms playback utilises the Oracle Forms' playback functionality to load a file prepared by DataLoad. The load's progress is controlled by the forms server and not by DataLoad, meaning that the load progresses as fast as the data can be processed but the data never overruns the forms. While having exceptional performance running on the Application server, the load is still using the Oracle forms. This is crucial because it means all form validation and processing is applied and Oracle's intended mechanism for loading data, the forms, has been used as opposed to any 'back door' custom interfaces.
The Macro functionality loads data into the forms client on a PC. It exactly mimics a user's input on a PC by calling the same low level Windows APIs that are called when the keyboard or mouse is really used. As such, Windows programs cannot tell the difference between real keystrokes or mouse clicks and DataLoad's simulation. The DataLoad grid is setup to send the appropriate keystrokes and mouse clicks to the target application so that data is loaded and application functionality, such as saving a record, is called where appropriate. To enable faster loads the method of choice for loading data is to copy and paste the data via the Windows clipboard rather than sending individual keystrokes, and Dataload allows the user to control which of these methods is used.
All versions of DataLoad are to an extent reliant on the functionality in Oracle Forms and Oracle Applications, however the form load functionality is particularly dependent on functionality present in Oracle Forms. Any issues with the Oracle Forms software which impacts DataLoad are documented in the Common Problems section of the user guide.
The Tech1103 mini pack is a pre-requisite to the 11.0.3 release and any module mini packs which are part of 11.0.3, E.g. AR mini pack C. One of the Tech1103 pre-requisite patches prevents the TAB keys from working in flexfields, which can have serious implications for DataLoad Macro users.
Patch 857097 rectifies this issue, enabling the TAB key in flexfields, and also introduces Cut, Copy and Paste in flexfields. Until this point Copy & Paste has not worked in flexfields, forcing DataLoad users to send any data to flexfields as keystrokes, using the '\' command. Having applied this patch users will be able to Copy & Paste into flexfields just as was already possible in other fields.
Patch 857097 must only be applied after the Tech1103 mini pack. A TAR was logged with Oracle Support to request the flexfield Copy & Paste functionality is backported to 11.0.1 and/or 11.0.2 however Oracle development has said this is not possible.
DataLoad makes use of the following DLLs, which are are standard Windows libraries and should be found on any 32 bit Windows system.
Those DLLs in turn are dependant on the following DLLs, so DataLoad is also indirectly dependant on these DLLs. Again, these are all standard 32 bit Windows DLLs.
DataLoad has been tested on Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 and XP and any known differences in behaviour between the systems have been accounted for in the program.
For an overview of the DataLoad 'dld' file format click here. (Adobe Acrobat format, 37kb)
