The XML Publisher data engine enables you to rapidly generate any kind of XML data structure against any database in a scalable, efficient manner. The data template is the method by which you communicate your request for data to the data engine. It is an XML document whose elements collectively define how the data engine will process the template to generate the XML.

The data engine supports the following functionality:

• Schema generation

• Default RTF template generation

• Flexfields

• Single and multiple data queries

• Query links

• Parameters

• Multiple data groups

• Aggregate functions (SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX, COUNT)

• Event triggers

• BLOB and CLOB datatype selection

• Distributed queries across multiple databases

The XML output generated by the data engine supports the following:

• Unicode for XML Output

  Unicode is a global character set that allows multilingual text to be displayed in a single application. This enables you to develop a single multilingual application and deploy it worldwide.

• Canonical format

  The data engine generates date elements using the canonical ISO date format: YYYY-MM-DDTHH24:MI:SS.FF3TZH:TZM for a mapped date element, and ######.## for number elements in the data template XML output.

The data template can be called using the Concurrent Manager or a Java API.

Overview of Implementing a Data Template for Use with the Concurrent Manager

The process for implementing a data template to be called by the Concurrent Manager is as follows (this chapter covers each step in more detail):

Use an XML or text editor to:

• Write the data template XML document following the guidelines in this chapter.

Use the Template Manager to:

• Create a Data Definition for the data template in the Template Manager. You will upload your data template to the Template Manager.

• Register any layout templates that you wish to apply to the data generated from your data template.

Use Oracle Applications System Administrator responsibility to:

• Register the data template as a Concurrent Program in Oracle Applications noting the following:

  • Designate "XDODTEXE" as the executable for your concurrent program. This is the XML Publisher Java concurrent program that will execute your data template.

  • The Short Name that you assign to the program must match the Data Definition Code that you assigned to the data template in the Template Manager. The XML Publisher executable uses the short name of the program to locate the corresponding data template in the Template Manager.

• Assign the concurrent program to an appropriate Request Group for your users to run.

When your user submits the request, the Concurrent Manager executes the XML Publisher Data Template Java concurrent program. The short name of the concurrent program is used to locate the appropriate data template in the Template Manager. When the data generation is complete, the Concurrent Manager's Output Post Processor applies the layout template to the generated XML.