Oracle Hyperion Planning 11.1.2.4 PSU 002: How to Address Member Formula Editor Issue with External Web Servers

Author: Andrew Tauro, Performance Architects

During a recent upgrade of Oracle EPM (Hyperion) from version 11.1.2.2.x to 11.1.2.4 we ran into a little trouble with the software. While the issue was not with the upgrade itself, we saw this issue when we updated the software to the latest patch-set level that was available at the time of the deployment. In this case, we went with PSU (Patch Set Update) 002 for Oracle Hyperion Planning and Calculation Manager. One of the defects in PSU 001 is that the Member Formula Editing functionality in Planning does not work when using Internet Explorer (IE) 11. It works fine in Firefox 31 as well as IE 10. This defect was fixed in PSU 002, as we saw elsewhere.

However, in this environment, things worked a little differently. Besides the Oracle EPM stack deployed on a highly-capable Oracle Exalytics machine, for security reasons there is an Apache Web Server-based External Web Server (EWS) solution additional (gateway) web server machine also deployed. This machine lives outside the DMZ and is the means through which all users access the environment and the solutions within it. And this set up worked great even with Hyperion EPM 11.1.2.4.001, other than the aforementioned defect when using Internet Explorer 11 (IE11).

With PSU 002, the member formula editor stopped working again, and this time all web browsers were affected. On investigation, we found that the functionality worked when we used the Oracle HTTP Server (OHS) web server that was installed on the Exalytics machine, but not when we used the EWS. The EWS is configured using the same configuration set up as this OHS instance.

On a closer look, we found that the issue is caused by the application performing redirection look-ups outside the Web Server, which is not usually the case. Conventionally, when one application module needs to talk to another, the request is sent via the Web Server, which then routes it to the appropriate module. In this case, the application module was reading a copy of that configuration and performing its own redirection. This is usually not a problem, when that web server is the OHS, or a web server is configured within the software stack. But in this particular set up, the application does not have access to a copy of the configuration of the EWS, and since the configuration differs in some ways for security reasons, this look-up broke the connection.

Oracle Support is pursuing a fix for this issue, and in the meantime suggests the same workaround that was suggested to IE11 users with PSU001, to use the Planning Smart View Admin Extension:

1. Log on to your Workspace and Planning applications.
2. Go to Tools > Planning Admin Extensions.
3. Install the Planning Extensions.
4. Log on to Smart View.
5. Expand Application and expand Dimension.
6. Right click on Dimension > Edit Dimension.
7. Go to Selected Member and enter the member formula.
8. Click on Submit Data; the member formula is now updated in Planning and Essbase.
9. If you are unable to see this in EAS console outline, log on to Planning Web > Access Application and refresh the database.

Since some of the user base uses Firefox, in this case the software was rolled back to PSU 001 for Planning and Calculation Manager. IE11 users will have to work with the Admin Extension, which in itself is a pretty good tool.

If you have any queries regarding this patch set update (PSU), or are wondering if it may affect you, or if you are looking for some help using the Planning Smart View Admin Extension, feel free to drop us a line at communications@performancearchitects.com.

Cheers!