Search Results alr_alert_inputs

Overview

The ALR_ALERT_INPUTS table is a core data object within the Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) Alert module (product code ALR). It functions as the master repository for defining the input parameters associated with a specific alert. In the context of Oracle Alerts, an input is a variable used within an alert's SQL statement or action set to make the alert dynamic and reusable. These inputs are prompted for when the alert is run, allowing users to filter data based on runtime criteria such as date ranges, organizational units, or specific item codes. The table's existence is fundamental to the flexibility and power of the Oracle Alert system, enabling the creation of generic, parameter-driven alert definitions that can serve multiple operational scenarios.

Key Information Stored

The table stores the metadata that defines each input variable for an alert. While the full column list is not detailed in the provided excerpt, the documented primary and foreign keys reveal its critical structure. The primary key is a composite of APPLICATION_ID, ALERT_ID, and NAME, ensuring uniqueness of an input name within a specific alert definition. The APPLICATION_ID and ALERT_ID columns directly tie each input record to its parent alert definition in the ALR_ALERTS table. The NAME column stores the identifier for the input variable, which is referenced within the alert's SQL statement. Other typical columns in this table, based on standard EBS Alert functionality, would include data types (e.g., DATE, NUMBER, CHAR), display prompts, default values, and validation information, though these are not explicitly listed in the provided metadata.

Common Use Cases and Queries

The primary use case is the administration and analysis of alert definitions. A common query retrieves all inputs for a given alert to understand its required runtime parameters or to troubleshoot execution. For example, to list all inputs for an alert named 'Cost Variance Alert' in application 401 (Oracle General Ledger), one might execute:

• SELECT ai.name, ai.prompt FROM alr_alert_inputs ai, alr_alerts a WHERE ai.application_id = a.application_id AND ai.alert_id = a.alert_id AND a.application_id = 401 AND a.name = 'Cost Variance Alert';

This information is crucial for users who need to run the alert, as well as for functional consultants documenting business processes. Reporting use cases often involve joining this table to ALR_ALERTS to generate a catalog of all parameterized alerts within a module or the entire EBS instance.

Related Objects

The ALR_ALERT_INPUTS table maintains a strict child-parent relationship with the central alert definition table. As documented in the provided foreign key metadata:

• ALR_ALERTS: This is the primary parent table. Each record in ALR_ALERT_INPUTS must correspond to a single, existing alert definition. The relationship is enforced by a foreign key on the composite columns (APPLICATION_ID, ALERT_ID) referencing ALR_ALERTS (APPLICATION_ID, ALERT_ID). This ensures referential integrity so that inputs cannot exist without a parent alert.

While not listed in the excerpt, this table is also conceptually related to runtime tables such as ALR_ALERT_OUTPUTS (for outputs) and ALR_ALERT_ACTIONS, completing the definition of an alert's executable logic.