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The FND_TABLES table in Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) 12.1.1 and 12.2.2 is a fundamental data dictionary table within the Applications Object Library (FND) module. It serves as a repository for metadata about database tables used across various EBS modules, enabling the system to maintain structural and referential integrity. This table is critical for runtime operations, patch applications, and upgrade processes, as it provides a centralized reference for table definitions, ownership, and relationships.

Structure and Key Columns

The FND_TABLES table contains essential columns that define table properties and their associations:
  • APPLICATION_ID: Identifies the EBS application (e.g., GL, AP) that owns the table.
  • TABLE_ID: A unique numeric identifier for the table within the EBS ecosystem.
  • TABLE_NAME: The physical name of the database table (e.g., GL_JE_HEADERS).
  • BASE_TABLE_NAME: Used for views or synonyms to reference the underlying base table.
  • DESCRIPTION: A human-readable description of the table's purpose.
  • ENABLED_FLAG: Indicates whether the table is active (Y) or disabled (N).
  • LAST_UPDATE_DATE and LAST_UPDATED_BY: Audit columns tracking metadata changes.

Functional Role in EBS

  1. Metadata Management: FND_TABLES acts as a registry for all EBS tables, ensuring consistency during installations, upgrades, and patches. It helps the AutoPatch utility validate table structures before applying DDL changes.
  2. Dependency Tracking: The table maintains relationships with other objects like views, indexes, and triggers through related FND objects (e.g., FND_VIEWS, FND_INDEXES).
  3. Multi-Org Access Control (MOAC): For tables supporting Multi-Org architecture, additional columns like MULTI_ORG_FLAG determine partitioning behavior.
  4. Performance Optimization: Tools like Oracle Applications Manager (OAM) leverage this metadata to generate diagnostics and tuning recommendations.

Integration with Other FND Objects

The table interacts closely with:
  • FND_COLUMNS: Stores column-level metadata linked via TABLE_ID.
  • FND_PRIMARY_KEYS: Defines primary key constraints for registered tables.
  • FND_FOREIGN_KEYS: Manages referential integrity constraints between tables.

Technical Considerations

  • Indexing: The table is indexed on TABLE_ID, TABLE_NAME, and APPLICATION_ID for fast lookups.
  • Customizations: Custom tables added to EBS should be registered in FND_TABLES to ensure proper integration with EBS utilities.
  • Upgrade Impact: During upgrades to 12.2.x, Oracle's Online Patching (ADOP) uses this table to manage edition-based redefinition objects.

Example Use Case

When a custom concurrent program accesses the AP_INVOICES table, EBS runtime checks FND_TABLES to:
  1. Validate the table's existence and accessibility.
  2. Enforce Multi-Org security filters if applicable.
  3. Log metadata for debugging in FND_LOG_MESSAGES.

Conclusion

The FND_TABLES table is a cornerstone of Oracle EBS's metadata framework, providing vital table definitions that drive application functionality, security, and maintenance operations. Its design ensures extensibility for custom objects while maintaining rigorous standards for Oracle-delivered tables. Administrators and developers must understand its structure to troubleshoot metadata issues or extend EBS functionality effectively.