EBS 12.2 -- Adop Online Patching Cycle -- Restricted Functionalities

While Apps Dbas are patching the EBS online using adop tool, an online patching cycle is created.. As the name of it is "online patching" , we APPS DBAs may start to system without taking any approvals from the business side.

We may think; that the patching activity is online and only a 2 minutes downtime is required when the time comes for the switch over operation where our middle tier services are restarted..

Some may even think that; keeping the system always prepared(adop phase=prepare) for the future patch applications is a good thing..
I mean, as adop phase=prepare may take a long time, we may think that it is logical to complete a prepare operation in advance without a need to apply any patches -- to just to be prepared.. or we may think; that  it is like a preclone :) But it is not!

Following is the product functionalities which will be restricted during an online patching cycle.. (until it is completed by abort , or usual way.)
That's why, even it is online ,we still need to  take approvals before starting a patching activity..

• Payroll
  
  • Users will not be able to define Fast Formulas or use the Fast Formula Assistant.
  • Users will not be able to perform dynamic trigger maintenance.
  • Users will not be able to create, update, or delete US Cities.
  • Data Pump meta-mapper generator will be disabled.
  • The Japanese Balance Dimensions concurrent program will be deferred to after the cutover phase is complete.
  • Pension Calculation Setup cannot be used.
  • US localization earnings and deduction setup cannot be used.
  • Tax Withholding Rules Setup cannot be used.
  • Wage Attachment Earnings Rules Setup cannot be used.
  • Garnishment Rules Setup cannot be used.
  • Quick Paint Reports cannot be used.
  • Quantum Program Update Installer execution is unavailable.
• Order Management:
  
  • Creation of a new Defaulting Condition in the Attribute Defaulting Rules form is disabled, unless the same seeded condition already exists for a given attribute.
• Warehouse Management:
  
  • WMS Rule creation is restricted.
• Inventory:
  
  • Concurrent program “Generate Stock Locator Flexfield Definition for Mobile Transactions” will be disabled.
• Public Sector Financials International:
  
  • Users will not be able to run the following concurrent programs:
    
    • Subledger Security: Apply Security
    • Subledger Security: Import/Export Data Fix
• Subledger Accounting:
  
  • Users will not be able to Validate the Application Accounting definitions.
• Accounts Receivable:
  
  • Users will not be able to create new Transaction Sources.
• Incentive Compensation:
  
  • Transaction collection process for new mappings will not be available and any changed mapping will continue to use previous mapping rules.
  • Users will not be able to run the “Synchronize Classification Rulesets” program.
  • Users will not be able to use the “Formula Generation” feature.
  • Users will not be able to specify new formulas or changes to compensation rules.
• Oracle Demand Planning:
• Demand plans will not be available for users.

Finally, If your users try to do a restricted operation (like validating Application Account definitions) during the patching cycle; they will see an error like the following;

Note that ; this error is taken from a turkish customer , so the error message will differ according to your language. The error says; Patch application process is continuing .. Retry Validating Account Definition after the patch the patch application.