How to Upgrade DAC from 10.1.3.4.1 to 11x when the BI Applications

How to Upgrade DAC from 10.1.3.4.1 to 11x when the BI Applications and Source System (OLTP) are upgraded. 

SCENARIO:

An environment is being upgraded such that the Oracle BI Applications, the Oracle DAC and the Source System are all moving to newer releases.  

For example, see an example upgrade below: 

Oracle DAC:                    From 10.1.3.4.1 to 11.1.1

Siebel (OLTP)                  From 8.0 to 8.1.1

Oracle BI Applications:     From 7.9.6.3 to 7.9.6.4

In the 10.1.3.4.1 DAC Repository, there is a custom source system container (for example,"My Custom Container") that is a copy of a pre-configured source system container (for example, "Siebel 8.0 Vertical") with changes applied.  

The aim is to upgrade the DAC to 10.1.3.4.1 and merge with the new "Siebel 8.1.1 Vertical" container that is provided with Oracle BI Applications 7.9.6.4

Upgrading, Comparing and Merging DAC Repositories"the Upgrade/Merge Wizard includes the following options for upgrading and merging DAC repositories:

---Refresh Base: Use this option to upgrade the DAC Repository when you are upgrading from an older release of Oracle BI Applications to a new release.

---Replace Base: Use this option to upgrade the DAC Repository when you are phasing out an older release of a transactional application and moving to a newer release, for example, phasing out Siebel 8.0 and moving to Siebel 8.1.1.

But The Best Solution:

Replace Base is the appropriate option to use whenever the version of the transactional application moves to a newer release.

Even Oracle BI Applications is also moving to a newer release, it is sufficient to use only the Replace Base option.

When using the Replace Base option, the following containers (at a minimum) should be present in the DAC working repository prior to invoking.

The Upgrade/Merge Wizard from the DAC Tools > DAC Repository Management menu:

a. The custom container from the DAC 7963  repository (for example, "My Custom Container")

b. The original base container from the DAC 7963 repository (for example, "Siebel 8.0 Vertical")

The DAC working repository is the DAC 7963 repository (with the custom and original base container) upgraded to the DAC 11x  format, which is done automatically the first time that the DAC 11x Client is used to connect and login to the DAC 10.1.3.4.1 repository. 

Steps For Replace Base Option:

During the Replace Base procedure for upgrading, the following containers should be specified at the appropriate steps:

DAC Tools > DAC Repository Management > Upgrade/Merge Wizard

In the "Import Source System Container" dialog box: 

Source System Container = Siebel 8.1.1 Vertical 

Where "Siebel 8.1.1 Vertical" is the new base container supplied with Oracle BI Applications 7.9.6.1 / DAC 10.1.3.4.1

 

In the "Create Difference Report" dialog box:

Existing Base Container = Siebel 8.0 Vertical

New Container = Siebel 8.1.1 Vertical

In the "Merge - Replace Base" dialog box:

New Container = Siebel 8.1.1 Vertical

Existing Base Container = Siebel 8.0 Vertical

When the merge process is complete, the following Containers would be visible:

"My Custom Container" (the custom container)

"Siebel 8.1.1 Vertical" (the new base container)

After the upgrade / merge process is complete, it is very important to reassemble all the subject areas and rebuild all the execution plans in the customized application to include any new changes in the object dependency etc.. 

Till Next Time.. :)