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Oracle Fast Formula to Support Business

Mahendhiran Ganesan
Worthington Industries.
Abstract:
Oracle Fast Formula is a techno functional module that makes complex Payroll, Vacation, shift premium
calculations easier by leveraging its powerful features. As per our Oracle Human Resource Management
System and Payroll Implementation for Canada business group, we created new fast formula and modified the
seeded fast formulas to support base payroll, vacation and shift premium calculations by the call to database
functions. We leveraged global values, database items, formula results and user table features to support the
demanding business changes seamlessly.

Benefits of Oracle Fast Formula

Simple and Easy to understand and write.
Less Implementation and maintenance cost.
Support multiple versions.
No downtime required for deployment.
Reusable for different business groups.
Technical knowledge is required only for writing custom database function.

Features of Oracle Fast Formula

Date Tracked Fast Formula versions.
Date Tracked Global Values.
Date Tracked User Tables.
Static and Dynamic Database Items.
Supports Call to Oracle seeded functions.
Fast Formula Results to Feed Other Elements.
Call to Custom Functions and Contexts.
Register Custom Database Functions.
Call to Fast Formula in Database Packages.

Implement Oracle Fast Formula

As per our Oracle Human Resource Management System and Payroll Implementation for Canada business
group, we created new fast formula and modified the seeded fast formulas to support base payroll, vacation
and shift premium calculations by the call to database functions. We leveraged global values, database items,
formula results and user table features to support the demanding business changes seamlessly. In this
whitepaper, have illustrated the ways to customize seeded Oracle Fast Formula and create new custom
Oracle Fast Formula using US HRMS Manager responsibility.
Note: This presentation highlights on leveraging the powerful features of Oracle Fast Formula, to get the
detailed information on Oracle Fast Formula, please refer to the following link
https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E18727_01/doc.121/e14567/T1774T1776.htm
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Customize Seeded Oracle Fast Formula

Our requirement is to calculate Shift Premium using shift differentials when processing the Shift Premium
when running the Oracle Payroll. I have listed below the design components that are required to fulfill this
requirement using the powerful features of Oracle Fast Formula.
Configure User Table to hold shift differentials and multiples.
Customize seeded Oracle Base Pay Fast Formula using Oracle seeded functions and database
items.
Assign Base Pay Results to feed Shift Premium element.
The solution can be implemented as follows:
Configure Date Track User Table to hold shift differentials Configure the date tracked user table to
hold the shift multiples and its corresponding values.
Navigation: Other Definitions -> Table Values

Get the seeded Oracle Fast Formula name associated to Base Pay Element.
Navigation: Total Compensation -> Basic -> Fast Formula -> Fast Formula Results

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Download/Copy the date tracked seeded Oracle Fast Formula Version in any text editor.
Navigation: Total Compensation -> Basic -> Fast Formula -> Write Formula (Note: Fast Formula
can also be downloaded using Fast Formula Assistant)

Customize seeded Oracle Base Pay Fast Formula

Add the Input Values in Input Section In the downloaded seeded version of the Oracle Fast
Formula add the relevant Input values that are added to the Base Pay Element which can be used
in the Calculation section of the formula.
Call the Oracle seeded function GET_TABLE_VALUE to call the user table that holds the shift
differential and multiples values.
Pass the calculated values in the Return Section of the fast formula.

Assign the Base Pay Fast Formula Results to Shift Premium Element Feed the Formula results to
the Shift Premium Input Values as Indirect Result Type.
Navigation: Total Compensation -> Basic -> Fast Formula -> Formula Results

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New Custom Oracle Fast Formula

Our requirement is to calculate Vacation hours based on Employee Length of Service (LOS) in our
organization. I have listed below the design components that are required to fulfill this requirement using the
powerful features of Oracle Fast Formula.
Create a New Custom Database Function to get Length of Service (LOS).
Register the New Database Function and parameters.
Configure Global Values to hold the Default Vacation Hours based on Hire Date.
Configure the User Table to hold the Vacation Hours for different range of length of service years.
Create the New Custom Oracle Fast Formula by calling Custom Function, seeded Oracle Functions
and Database Items.
Assign the New Custom Oracle Fast Formula to Vacation Element.
The solution can be implemented as follows:
Create the New Custom Database Function A Pl/sql function to get the calculation date and
employee hire date as the parameter and to return the length of service.
Code Snippet

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Note: Oracle Custom Database Functions has to be deployed through any Code migration process in the
target instance, then Oracle Fast Formula that calls to that Oracle Custom Database Functions can be
compiled and verified in the target instance.
Register the New Database Function and parameters The new database function have got created
has to be registered in Oracle E-Business Suite Applications enabling it to be called in the Oracle
Fast Formula.
Navigation: Total Compensation -> Basic -> Fast Formula -> Formula Functions

Configure Date Track Global Value to hold the Default Vacation Value This default Vacation hours
can be modified at any point of time based on the change in business requirements.
Navigation: Total Compensation -> Basic -> Fast Formula -> Global Values

Configure Date Track User Table to hold the Vacation Hours This user table can be used to store
the vacation hours for the different range of Length of Service years.
Navigation: Other Definitions -> Table Values

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Create the Oracle Fast Formula by selecting appropriate Oracle Fast Formula Type for the Effective
Date.
Navigation: Total Compensation -> Basic -> Fast Formula -> Write Formula

Create the Oracle Fast Formula in any text editor By clicking on OK the formula skeleton will be
created and can be updated with our statements and calculations.
Write the Oracle Fast Formula using IF and ASSIGN Statements.
Call the New Custom Database Function and Pass the Input Values and Database Items as
parameters.
Pass the calculated values in the Return Section.

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Attach the New Custom Oracle Fast Formula to the Vacation Accrual Element.
Navigation: Total Compensation -> Basic -> Accrual Plans

Migrate Oracle Fast Formula

New custom Oracle Fast Formula or the customized seeded Oracle Fast Formula can be migrated to the
target instance in the following ways as follows:
Date Track Mode.
Navigation: Total Compensation -> Basic -> Fast Formula -> Write Formula
Non - Date Track Mode.
Navigation: Total Compensation -> Basic -> Fast Formula -> Fast Formula Assistant

Conclusion
Oracle Fast Formula is simple and easy to understand and write. Date track features enable us to have
multiple version of the Fast Formula that can be made effective based on legislative and business needs. By
leveraging the powerful features of the configurable setups Oracle Fast Formula can easily handle complex
calculation and demanding business changes seamlessly.
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