Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Task UI

Siebel 8 came out with a new functionality called Task UI (integrated and processed by Business Process Framework engine) which brings Siebel automation to the UI layer. Task UI is designed with new objects (introduced in Siebel 8.0).


The objects are:
1. Task
2. Task Group
3. Task Applet
4. Task View
5. Transient Business Component
6. Task Playbar Applet (for navigation thru a Task)

A pictorial representation of various Siebel objects in Siebel 8.0 is as follows:



Download the step wise configuration details here... Task UI Configuration Details


Saturday, June 21, 2008

Haley Knowledge Base

Haley Authority is the new Rules engine introduced in Siebel v8.0. This tool allows administrators to create / administer rules at runtime. A developer can create rules in a local database (.akb file). However it is also important to create a Haley Knowledge base.

"Steps to Create a Haley Knowledge base"


1. Create an OLTP database with default tablespace just like the way you create in SIEBEL. e.g., create a tablespace called HALEY which would use a dbf file to store the data in the OS filesystem.

2. This step is very important. I am assuming you have the DB in Oracle. You would be required to create a user which would have the role of "TABLEOWNER" in Haley knowledge Repository. Once your DB instance is ready, create an entry in NetManager or NetConfiguration Assistant. This would add an entry in the tnsnames.ora file for the DB Instance. Now its time to create an entry in the system ODBC. To do so, go to Start --> Run. Type odbcad32 and hit enter. Navigate to System DSN tab. Hit on Add button. Ensure you pick the Oracle provided driver for ODBC connection. Lets assume that you have created an ODBC source by the name HALEY_TEST. Now login to the DB instance you have created earlier using SQLPlus. Alternatively you can also use advanced utilities available thru a link in ORacle 10g. Create a user with the following name: "THE$AUTHORETE$HALEY_TEST". Ensure the name is given in the format given. The user name consists of "THE$AUTHORETE$" and the "ODBC SOURCE NAME" created in system DSN. Add the following privileges to the above user:

CREATE SESSION

CREATE TABLE

ALTER TABLE

DELETE TABLE

CREATE INDEX

DELETE INDEX

DELETE TABLE

You can also use inheritance property to add roles to the above user if roles have the above privileges.

3. Once the above 2 steps are complete, use your Haley Business Rules Engine to login to the Knowlege Repository created in the previous steps. You will see no activity on the Haley Engine for some time. Don't worry. The application would be creating necessary tables in the knowledge repository. YOu can use PLSQL Developer or similar tool to check for tables in the Knowledge Repository database. The tables would start with the name THE$AUTHORETE$HALEY_TEST..


4. Once the process is complete, you then try to login to the application.


5. Then use the Import Siebel Definition functionality to import Siebel Object definitions from the Siebel DB.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Siebel 8 Installation


Siebel 8 Server installation consists of the following in sequence: Note: The installation description in the attached file demonstrates live installation. There is an option to select "Offline Mode" wherein Siebel installer generates an XML file for each configuration. Administrators can then modify the XML file to fill in parameters and carry out configuration at a later stage.

Siebel Enterprise Server installation--
  • Gateway Configuration
  • Enterprise Configuration
  • Siebel Server Configuration
  • SWSE Logical Profile Configuration
  • DB Installation (using DB Config Utilities with Install Option selected)
SWSE Installation --
  • SWSE Configuration using the previously created SWSE Logical Profile.
Recommendations:
Few recommendations to keep in mind while initiating Siebel Server installation. The recommendations suggested here are as per my knowledge and experience and might vary from other's case.

Hardware Recommendation for Servers (assuming Gateway, Siebel Server, DB Server and SWSE hosted on a single host)
4 CPU
100GB HDD Space
4GB RAM
100 MB/s LAN or WAN Connectivity

Host's FQDN should be limited to less than 15 characters
Enterprise Name should be less than 12 characters.

Please download Siebel 8 Install Docs here