Oracle Analytics Default date format in parameter

 A quick reminder to my self:

When creating a parameter and want to use it in filter / calculation, there must be a default. For date default this is the default format: 

DATE '2014-04-12'

For example: 

Val_Date = @parameter("P_DATE")(DATE '2014-04-12')

Last occurrence of sub-string in a string - The locate function secret part in Oracle Analytics

 I need to find the last occurrence of a specific character in a string (and using only the part that follows that character). For example in a string 'abc-de-fghi-jklm' I want to locate the last '-' and get the sub-string of 'jklm'. In my cases there is unknown number of '-' characters.

The basic function to locate a sub-string in a string is "Locate". 

While it seems Locate has only 2 parameters (the string we are searching and the full string), actually they are 3 parameters. The third one is optional: start position.

LOCATE(CharacterExpression, CharacterExpression [, StartPosition] ) 

The Start Position can accept negative values as well, meaning search from the end of the string.

So in my case Locate('-', 'abc-de-fghi-jklm', -1) is the solution.

To get the sub-string 'jklm' I will use 

SUBSTRING( 'abc-de-fghi-jklm'

                   FROM  Locate('-', 'abc-de-fghi-jklm', -1)+1)

The SUBSTRING function parameters are:

SUBSTRING(CharacterExpression FROM StartPosition [FOR length]) 

Installing OAS on mobile laptop

Once in a while I install OAS (Oracle Analytics Server) on my laptop. I do it for testing purposes mostly... I don't want anyone but myself to connect to this OAS. Sort of rich man's OA Desktop.

 First of all, don't do it. Even if you want OAS on a laptop, you would better use a VM or Docker. This type of installation is not supported and usually is problematic.

This post is for myself, so I will stop reinventing the wheel each time I do it...

⛔

Problem: 

• OAS is a server that requires a static IP. 
• My laptop changes the IPs each time I move from one network to another. 
• During the installation the IP is hard coded in some of the config files.

Work around: 

• Create a MS loopback adapter with a static IP. Example from Oracle DB 21c documentation is here.
  
• Set that IP as Ethernet network on the laptop.
• Before OAS installation turn of Wi-Fi or any other network, so the installation is forced to use the loopback IP.

⛔

Once done remember to stop and start OAS on the same network.

Oracle OAS 2024 (7.6) October 2024 patch and the missing OPATCH

 Oracle has released the Oracle Analytics Server - OAS 2024 (7.6) October 2024 bundle patch, specifically 09-Oct-2024 patch. You can find it at the regular place: Doc ID 2832967.2 in the OAS tab.

The patch requires upgrade of OPatch,  at least to version 13.9.4.2.13. For some reason I couldn't find the relevant OPatch version at the regular place (https://updates.oracle.com/download/6880880.html) where the FMW patch is described as Obsolete, (correct for 24 Oct. 2024).

You can visit this support note (Patch 28186730: OPATCH 13.9.4.2.17 FOR EM 13.5 AND FMW/WLS 12.2.1.4.0 AND 14.1.1.0.0) to download OPatch 13.9.4.2.17 that should do the trick.