You must plan each step of the import process. Prepare a complete step-by-step procedure to follow, with distinct checkpoints.
Decide when to begin your import project. Schedule it when you are able to devote enough time to complete the entire import process.
Determine who, if not you, can make the decisions required to complete the definition phase found in the next section. Ensure that you have the correct person available to make these decisions.
Schedule and confirm the computer resources you need, well in advance. Specifically, ensure that you have:
Disk space sufficient to handle multiple copies of your asset data
Access to a terminal
Access to a media drive (if required)
Sufficient CPU and memory to handle the database operations you perform as part of the import
Access to operating system documentation
Know the status of your Oracle Assets installation.
Oracle Assets must be installed and confirmed before your import. If you plan an install, consult your Oracle Applications Installation Manual for complete installation instructions. Determine if you are using Oracle General Ledger and if it is installed and set up.
Know in what form the other system stores its data, and what tools are available to convert that data, so you can plan the conversion of the existing asset data into a form that SQL*Loader can read.
Know the number of assets, categories, locations, and exceptions in your data. You need these numbers to estimate the amount of time required for the import.
Define an import schedule and procedure.
Estimate how long it will take you to complete your import. Base your schedule on the information you gained in the preceding steps. Try to include a buffer in your schedule in case you have difficulty during the import.
Ensure that all parties agree on the schedule.
Complete your schedule documentation. It should clearly state the start and end dates for each major step, and the amount of time for each detail step.