FND_FILE / type of Concurrent Program execution methods available in apps

[1] What are different type of Concurrent Program execution methods available in apps?

Oracle Report, SQL * Plus, 

SQL * Loader, PLSQL Stored Procedure,

Java Stored Procedure, Java Concurrent Program, 

Perl Concurrent Program, Multi Language Function, 

Request Set Stag Function, Host, Immediate, Spawned etc.

[2] Why we use FND_FILE package?

The FND_FILE package contains procedures to write text to log and output

files. These procedures are supported in all types of concurrent programs.We 

can use the procedures FND_FILE.PUT_NAMES and FND_FILE.CLOSE for testing

and debugging. 

Note: These two procedures should not be called from a concurrent program.

FND_FILE supports a maximum buffer line size of 32K for both log and output files.

FND_FILE.PUT

Summary

procedure FND_FILE.PUT (which IN NUMBER, buff IN VARCHAR2);

Description

Use this procedure to write text to a file (without a new line character). 

Multiple calls to FND_FILE.PUT will produce concatenated text. Typically 

used with FND_FILE.NEW_LINE.

Arguments (input)

which	Log file or output file. Use either FND_FILE.LOG or FND_FILE.OUTPUT.
buff	Text to write.

FND_FILE.PUT_LINE

Summary

procedure FND_FILE.PUT_LINE (which IN NUMBER, buff IN VARCHAR2);

Description

Use this procedure to write a line of text to a file (followed by a new line character).

You will use this utility most often.

Arguments (input)

which	Log file or output file. Use either FND_FILE.LOG or FND_FILE.OUTPUT.
buff	Text to write.

Example

Using Message Dictionary to retrieve a message already set up on the server and 

putting it in the log file (allows the log file to contain a translated message):

FND_FILE.PUT_LINE( FND_FILE.LOG, fnd_message.get );Putting a line of text in 

the log file directly (message cannot be translated because it is hard coded in 

English; not recommended):

fnd_file.put_line(FND_FILE.LOG,'Warning: Employee '||
l_log_employee_name||' ('||
l_log_employee_num ||
') does not have a manager.');

FND_FILE.NEW_LINE

Summary

procedure FND_FILE.NEW_LINE(which IN NUMBER, LINES IN NATURAL := 1);

Description

Use this procedure to write line terminators (new line characters) to a file.

Arguments (input)

which	Log file or output file. Use either FND_FILE.LOG or FND_FILE.OUTPUT.
lines	Number of line terminators to write.

Example

To write two new line characters:

fnd_file.new_line(FND_FILE.LOG,2);

FND_FILE.PUT_NAMES

Summary

procedure FND_FILE.PUT_NAMES

(p_log IN VARCHAR2,
p_out IN VARCHAR2,
(p_dir IN VARCHAR2);Description

Sets the temporary log and out filenames and the temp directory to the user-specified 

values. DIR must be a directory to which the database can write. FND_FILE.PUT_NAMES 

should be called before calling any other FND_FILE function, and only once per session.

Attention: FND_FILE.PUT_NAMES is meant for testing and debugging from SQL*Plus; 

it does nothing if called from a concurrent program.

Arguments (input)

p_log	Temporary log filename.
p_out	Temporary output filename.
p_dir	Temporary directory name.

Example

BEGIN
fnd_file.put_names('test.log', 'test.out',
'/local/db/8.0.4/db-temp-dir/');
fnd_file.put_line(fnd_file.output,'Called stored procedure');
/* Some logic here... */
fnd_file.put_line(fnd_file.output, 'Reached point A');
/* More logic, etc... */
fnd_file.close;
END;

FND_FILE.CLOSE

Summary

procedure FND_FILE.CLOSE;

Description

Use this procedure to close open files.

Attention: Use FND_FILE.CLOSE only in command lines sessions. FND_FILE.CLOSE should 

not be called from a concurrent program.

Example

BEGIN
fnd_file.put_names('test.log', 'test.out',
'/local/db/8.0.4/db-temp-dir/');
fnd_file.put_line(fnd_file.output,'Called stored procedure');
/* Some logic here... */
fnd_file.put_line(fnd_file.output, 'Reached point A');
/* More logic, etc... */
fnd_file.close;
END;

Note: FND_FILE.LOG or FND_FILE.OUTPUT use to write in file of respective directories.