Removing trailing spaces in eScript
Feb/076
At the moment in Siebel, there is no trim function in eScript available to remove leading spacing in a string. In Vbscript, this function is available but not in eScript. A change request has been created to add this function to eScript.
After searching in supportweb, i came acros a piece of code provided by Siebel to replace the Ltrim() function. The code looked like this:
function trim(source)
{
var beginOfString = 0;
var endOfString = 0;for(var index = 0; index < source.length; index++)
{
if(source.charAt(index) != " ")
if(beginOfString == 0)
beginOfString = index;
else
endOfString = index;
}return(source.substring(beginOfString, endOfString + 1));
}
At first, it looked like the code did what it had to do, remove trailing spaces. But then I noticed that when there are no leading spaces, the code also removes the first letter in the string. Since this is unacceptable, I tried to wrote my own code and it turned out to be very simple.
My code looks like this:
function trim(source)
{
while(source.charAt(0) == ” “)
{
source = source.substring(1);
}
return(source);
}
Just a few lines of code but it does the work without removing letters if they are not spaces. Feel free to use the code whenever you need it.
Flu
Feb/072
It’s flu time and it’s noticeable.
Two people of the project team where home due to the flu and I’m starting to get the symptoms as well. Hopefully I will go away after a good night of sleep because we can’t risk getting behind on schedule and I will need all the time I can get to finish my tasks before the end of the week.
So lets hope for a good night rest so I can go to work tomorrow.
Dataload successful
Feb/070
Today I successfully completed my first dataload ever. In a previous project I also did the dataload, but there the SQL files to fill the EIM tables and .ifb files where already written. This load I had to do from scratch.
The project started last week, and I had one week to complete the load since we only got 4 weeks to deliver a working application. With complete and accurate data that is.
I have to admit that it was not the most difficult load ever, but every first time is hard. The data that need to be loaded where accounts with addresses and positions linked to it and segments and industries, contacts – linked to the accounts and also with addresses and entities in the S_CONTACT_XM table.
The first task was to get the data from .csv files in temporary tables. This worked like a charm with the use of SQLLoader. Next step was filling the EIM tables. This was a process of trial and error to find out what columns where needed.
I ran into some difficulties when trying to link the positions and the accounts but found the solution in the end. Last night I started the first big batch (170.000 accounts) and this morning I loaded the rest of the data. This week, the data will be checked.
The rest of the week I will configure the application together with my two colleagues. It will be some several busy weeks to come but the reward will be big I guess.
Blocked after export
Feb/070
A common bug in the Siebel client is that a user gets blocked after exporting data to a csv file.
When the users chooses ‘Export’ from the menu and saves the file to the harddrive, the hourglass symbol doesn’t change back to the mouse pointer. Strangely enough this only happens when doing a save and not when you open the csv file.
The solution to this problem is very simple. To change the hourglass back to the mousepointer just use the combination ctrl+8 or ctrl+shift+8 (use the 8 on the alphanumeric part of the keyboard, not on the numeric part).
Siebel reports and Acrobat Reader
Feb/071
On my current project, we were facing some problems with reporting. When the users try to print a report, they got the pop-up where they could select there printer and press ok to start the print job. However, the job wouldn’t start. Afterwards, if they click on the print icon in Acrobat Reader the reports gets printed.
After opening an SR on Support Web, we where told that our version of Acrobat Reader is not supported by Siebel. We are using version 7.0.1 but Siebel is only supporint version 6.0.1. Although Acrobat recently launched version 8 of there PDF read software, Siebel still supports version 6.
When asking if they know when Acrobat Reader 7.0.1 will be supported, the support guy respond to me that he couldn’t tell and that even Siebel 8 is only supporting version 6.
So if you are facing a simular problem, you best downgrade your Acrobat Reader to version 6.0 (which can be found here) or try the workaround solution. Maybe – with a lot of luck – printing reports might work with version 8, but that is still something I need to test.
No more long drives
Feb/070
This week is my last week at the project in Roeselare. Starting Monday, I will be working on a new project in Brussels. So no more long drives in the morning and at night but a relaxing train ride to and from work while reading a good book.
On the new project I will be part of the development team and I will also do some technical stuff like the data load.
I’m really looking forward to start on the new project en learn lots of new stuff and proof myself as a good Siebel developer.
Aligning two environments
Feb/072
Today I have to align the production environment with the test environment. Normally, I would use ADM to do this for the list of values, but they told me that ADM was not active and that I should do it manually, which is not the most easy job.
My technique was going through the appilcation, looking where a picklist used LOV’s, exporting the LOV type to a csv file, comparing the files from test and prod with ExamDiff and modifying any changes to production.