Search Results ra terms




The OKC_K_ART_VARIABLES_H table in Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) versions 12.1.1 and 12.2.2 is a critical repository for storing historical data related to contract article variables within the Oracle Contracts module. This table serves as an audit trail, capturing changes to article variables over time, ensuring compliance, traceability, and historical reporting capabilities. Below is a detailed breakdown of its structure, purpose, and significance in Oracle EBS implementations.

Purpose and Functional Context

The OKC_K_ART_VARIABLES_H table is part of the Oracle Contracts Core (OKC) schema, which manages contractual agreements, terms, and conditions. Article variables are dynamic placeholders within contract templates that allow for customization based on business rules or contractual terms. This table specifically tracks modifications to these variables, such as value changes, status updates, or attribute adjustments, preserving a historical record for auditing and analytical purposes.

Key Columns and Structure

The table includes columns that store metadata, transactional data, and temporal information. Notable columns include:
  • ID: A unique identifier for each historical record.
  • ARTICLE_VARIABLE_ID: References the original article variable in the base table (OKC_K_ART_VARIABLES_B).
  • VARIABLE_CODE: The code or name of the variable.
  • VARIABLE_VALUE: The value assigned to the variable at a specific point in time.
  • START_DATE and END_DATE: Define the validity period of the variable's state.
  • CREATED_BY, CREATION_DATE, LAST_UPDATED_BY, and LAST_UPDATE_DATE: Capture user and timestamp details for audit trails.
  • OBJECT_VERSION_NUMBER: Used for optimistic locking and concurrency control.

Integration with Other Modules

The OKC_K_ART_VARIABLES_H table interacts with other Oracle Contracts tables, such as:
  • OKC_K_ARTICLES_B: Stores base article definitions.
  • OKC_K_ART_VARIABLES_B: Contains the current state of article variables.
  • OKC_K_HEADERS_B: Links to contract headers for contextual reference.
This integration ensures that historical changes to variables are traceable back to their parent contracts and articles, supporting end-to-end contract lifecycle management.

Business and Technical Significance

From a business perspective, this table enables:
  • Audit Compliance: Meets regulatory requirements by maintaining a tamper-proof record of variable changes.
  • Dispute Resolution: Provides evidence of contractual terms at specific points in time.
  • Trend Analysis: Facilitates reporting on how variable values evolve across contracts.
From a technical standpoint, the table:
  • Supports Oracle's versioning architecture, ensuring data integrity during updates.
  • Enables flashback queries in Oracle Database for point-in-time recovery.
  • Aligns with Oracle EBS's data security model, restricting access via responsibilities.

Customization and Extensibility

Implementers can extend the table's functionality by:
  • Creating custom triggers to enforce business rules during historical record creation.
  • Building APIs to extract historical data for integration with external systems.
  • Leveraging Oracle BI Publisher for tailored historical reports.

Conclusion

The OKC_K_ART_VARIABLES_H table is a foundational component of Oracle Contracts in EBS 12.1.1 and 12.2.2, providing robust historical tracking for article variables. Its design supports compliance, operational transparency, and advanced analytics, making it indispensable for organizations managing complex contractual agreements. Proper understanding of this table is essential for functional consultants, developers, and auditors working with Oracle Contracts.