How to compare Oracle Financial Management (HFM) metadata – Part 1

When updating an HFM application it is very useful to be able to identify the changes that are being loaded. If you have ever tried to do this by comparing APP files using file comparison software you will know it is not possible, because the members in the members sections are not returned in the same order. Metadata extracted from one application might be:

!MEMBERS=Account
AssetsCurrent;Asset;N;Y;N;;;;;;0;N;N;N;N;N;;;;;;;DefaultParent=;English=Current assets
AssetsFixed;Asset;N;Y;N;;;;;;0;N;N;N;N;N;;;;;;;DefaultParent=;English=Fixed assets

While metadata extract from a different application might be:

!MEMBERS=Account
AssetsFixed;Asset;N;Y;N;;;;;;0;N;N;N;N;N;;;;;;;DefaultParent=;English=Fixed assets
AssetsCurrent;Asset;N;Y;N;;;;;;0;N;N;N;N;N;;;;;;;DefaultParent=;English=Current assets

I presume the member order is dependent on the order of the records in the database. To solve this problem, I have created a script which sorts the members in the members section in alphabetical order. This allows all metadata changes to be identified. This includes hierarchy changes, as the order of members in the hierarchy section is dependent on the hierarchy order.

Identifying changes

The process to identify changes is:

1. Extract metadata in APP format from the application to be updated.
2. Sort the metadata using the Sort HFM Metadata script.
3. Save the sorted original metadata file.
4. Extract metadata in APP format from the application containing the changes.
5. Sort the metadata using the Sort HFM Metadata script.
6. Save the sorted changed metadata file.
7. Compare the files using file comparison software.

I tend to use the following file comparison software:

• WinMerge – Requires installation
• Text Compare – Browser based – no installation required

Sorting Metadata

The script to sort the metadata is a simple web page with some added JavaScript magic. To sort an HFM metadata file in APP format:

1. Paste the metadata to be sorted into the Unsorted metadata box.
2. Click the Sort Metadata button.
3. Copy the metadata from the Sorted metadata box and replace the unsorted metadata or create a new file.

The script also removes any unnecessary padding. The metadata is sorted in your browsers and never leaves it. The script can be found here Sort HFM metadata.

In part 2 I will resurrect the comparison script that was on my old website as some people let me know that they found it useful.