siebel interview questions - part 1

Configuration & Siebel VB

1. What is the usage of MVG? in which situation you will use MVG?

MVG applet is used when a M:M relationship occurs (i,e when one parent record has

many child records associated with it like one contact has many addresses) . It has button

called “New”. It has a “primary column” which says which is the primary for the record.

2. What is pick Applet & purpose?

Pick Applet is used when only one record is associated with the parent record. It doesn’t

have a primary column and it has a button “Pick”.

3. Types of pick list, Explain? Static and dynamic, static draws values from a list of values table whereas dynamic is based on a business component.

4. What is the usage of smart script?

Siebel Systems has created two modules for defining the workflow of an interaction

with a customer or vendor: SmartScript and Script Wizard. Script Wizard is designed

to populate the fields of a single applet.

5. How many reports have u generated for this project? 15 reports

6. What type of reports you have generated?

7. How to restrict user from viewing a specific field?

By setting the “hidden” field in the BC.

8. What are all visibility types available?

Set these in VIEW, All, Contact, Manger, organization, personal, sales rep.

9. At which level will you set visibility? BC level and in View object defn

10. On what Objects/Components you have worked? Account,opty,contact

11. How do you link from siebel (server and client) to external database?

12. What is base table name of Contact , Position?

S_CONTACT, S_POSTN

13. Did you create any new BC and when?
14. What are disadvantages of creating new BC

Upgrade to a new version could cause some problem

15. Have you used extension tables or columns, what is the name of the extension table?
16. I have 2 static picklist – country and state and depending on what country I choose in the country picklist, I want to constrain the values in the state picklist. How do u go about doing this?
17. What is the significance of “ Admin Mode “ flag in View?

Admin mode disables all visibility rules if set to TRUE. If the view is in Admin

mode, then the no insert, no delete, no merge, and no update restrictions for the

business components used by the applets of the view are ignored. However, if

these restrictions are set at the applet level rather than the business component

level, or if a field has a Read Only value of TRUE, the Admin mode will not

circumvent them.

18. Relationship between Account and Opportunity, contact, activity, product
19. What table is the list of values stored? S_LST_VAL
20. Where is the calculated field value stored? In the compiled repository
21. When is link used and when is join used?

Link is used in M: M and 1:M relations, join is used in 1:1 and M:1 relations

22. List the most commonly used tables in Siebel

S_CONTACT, S_ORG_EXT, S_OPTY, S_PROD_INT, S_ORG_INT, S_SRV_REQ

23. List the main screens in sales, service
24. How do you merge records?

Merging records is done in Siebel client. Select two or more records, which have to be merged, and then, the record on which the arrow is shown is the survival record. Then go to edit à merge records to merge the records.

25. What is the sequence to run Query and sort data returned by Query?
26. What are MVL, MVF, and MVG?
27. When is MVF used and its advantage?
28. Why use primaries on MVF and how to set primary?

A primary FK allows one initial query to join in one child record per MVG per parent

record and display it. Add a field “SSA Primary Field” in the list column and make them

CHECK BOX.

29. What is PRIMARY FOREIGN KEY? What for it is used?

· A primary is a foreign key on the parent side that points to one primary record on the

child side of a 1:M relationship.

· A primary FK creates a 1:1 relationship b/w parent and child

· A primary FK allows one initial query to join in one child record per MVG per parent

record and display it.

30. What is Business Component?

Business component associates columns from 1 or more tables into a single entity.

31. What is Business Object?

A collection of business components, which are logically related.

32. When do u create index to support sort and how do u create index?

Indexes are used to increase the performance. They are created under tables and indexes object definition. It is used for the sort criteria in business components; the system will first look for the indexes for sorting and hence increases the sorting procedure.

33. Thread Applet, thread field and thread title – How do they work?

They are used for navigational purposes. Set the values for those under View obj defn.

34. How to make a field a required field?

Set the “required” field under BC field level to true.

35. How to set the default values for fields? Set the “predefault” or “postdefault” fields in the field level of the BC.
36. What is pickmap and Constraint picklist?

Pick map specifies instructions for copying fields when a picklist is used by a field.

37. What is Siebel personalization? Is it specific to single or group of users?
38. What is content tagging?
39. What is enterprise and limited visibility? Where to set it?
40. What is the diff between GET and CHECKOUT?

CHECK OUT locks the projects on the Server Repository to prevent others

modifying the project and locks the project in Client’s Local repository to allow

him/her to make changes. GET – READ ONLY project is to refresh the local repository with others developer’s changes.

41. How do u set up an organization?

Go to Siebel client, then to application administrationà organization to set up an organization.

42. What does setting the runtime property indicate?

It indicates that a special processing needs to be done.

43. How to restrict the access to data at field level?

Either by setting the hidden field under BC field level or by setting the Read only in applet level.

44. What is a Dynamic Applet? How to Configure?
45. How to change the color (background) of a field in the applet?

Go to applet and right click and go to Edit Layout and go to properties window by right click and change the background color.

46. What is the Object interface Layer?
47. When do u use scripts and where are they stored?

Scripts are used for data validation, EAI. For validation of user data, to access and affect

components like Applets, Business Components of Siebel software architecture, to

access data from external database, error handling

48. What are backup strategies for server and client?
49. What are archive files?

Archive files contain object definitions exported from a repository; they are available

for importing into other repositories.

Archive files:

· Have an .sif extension, by default

· Can be version-controlled using third-party source control systems

· Are used to share object definitions among repositories in a multiple repository development effort

50. What is an object compiler and what for it is used?
51. What are virtual BC?

Virtual BC provide a mechanism for viewing and editing external data from within a siebel application without importing the data into the siebel database. VBC can be mapped to an applet and included in a BO like a regular BC.

52. What are the differences between VBC and BC?

They can only be a child component, not parent.

Doesn’t support M:M relationships

Rely on scripting to provide required functionality.

53. How to activate the property window in Tools?
54. What is Association Applet? How to Configure?
55. What are the types of Tables are available in Siebel?

EIM tables and base tables.

56. What is the repository? What is there in the .srf file?

§ Subset of tables in the Siebel dB which contains Siebel Object definitions created using Siebel Tools and are compiled into a Repository file for a customized application

§ Master copy of Repository resides in the Server and each developer will have their own Local Repository files for development

57. What does the single value field indicate?

It indicates that the corresponding business entity has a 1:1 or M:1 relationship

with the parent business entity.

58. What does the multi value field indicate?

It indicates that the corresponding business entity has a M:1 or M:M relationship

with the parent business entity.

59. List the contents of Help->Technical support

Support Phone numbers and System information, under this we have

Application version, Schema version, Username, Connect String, Table owner, Repository file, File system.

60. Are the joined fields updateable?

No, They are readonly fields.

61. Where is cascade delete property found and what is its significance?

It is found in Link. It can have values à None, Delete, Clear

62. List 3 visualization tools and where are they found?

View Hierarchy à BC, Application, Applet, Screen, View

View Details à BC, BO

View RelationShips à BC, Table

63. When is thread and history bar updated and where do u set them?

Thread bar is updated when u drill down to a different screen. History bar is when

u move a different view. U can set this in the Application Toolbar of the

Application Object. Choose “History” to get both history and Thread toolbar.

64. What are the available settings for Visibility Applet Type and where is this found?

It is found in View. The valid values for Visibilty Applet Type are All, Contact,

Manager, Organization, Personal, SalesRep

65. What are BC visibility properties and their significance?

Visibility MVLink à

Visibility MVField à

66. Where did you use Siebel-VB?

For validation of user data, to access and affect components like Applets, BusComs of

Siebel software architecture, to access data from external database, error handling

67. What are the few methods available in SVB in applet and application or BC?

EIM & DB related

1. What is the usage of EIM? How it works?

EIM is a server-based program that supports asynchronous integration with other corporate databases. EIM manages the data exchange b/w external systems and siebel. You can use EIM to perform a bulk import, delete, export, merge.

Steps to import data into siebel base tables

· Identify data requirements

· Load data into interface tables

· Prepare configuration file used by EIM

· Run EIM to load data into our base tables.

2. How do you see records as soon as you run EIM?
3. What is Row-id? How is it generated?
4. What is required for running EIM (ie Ifb details)

5. Number of records populated using EIM

6. How do you increase the performance in an oracle query?
7. How do you see views created (The SQL Statement)
8. What are stored procedures? Have u created new procedures for Siebel Applications?
9. How do u identify the unique record in an Interface table?

The combination of ROW_ID and IF_ROW_BATCH_NUM will be used to identify a unique record in an interface table.

10. Can u map an ext column of an interface table to base table columns?

NO. Data can’t be mapped from ext column of interface table to a base table.

11. Can you insert records into siebel base tables directly? If not why?

Loading data directly into Siebel base tables is not supported. Due to the complexity of

table relationships, you must use EIM to import data into Siebel base tables. We can’t

insert directly into base tables as the siebel tables are highly normalized ones and we

need to map to EIM tables and populate it and then run EIM to pull the data into the

siebel base tables

12. What is user key and what for it is used?

13. What is Schema?

14. When the Schema version will change?
15. What is the difference between apply and activate?
16. What is data object layer? What is the significance of this layer?
17. How do I check status of tasks run in SQL Server?
18. What is DTS? How do I automate tasks run in DTS?
19. A particular task runs manually, but fails when run automatically in DTS. What is the most likely problem?
20. Which are the NT services running for Siebel ? What is function of each?
21. Name 3 EIM tables and their associated base tables?
22. How do I check the status of the EIM task? Are there any log files?
23. How do I isolate the processes?
24. How do I check for the success of an EIM task?
25. How do I import data into SQL Server without using any third-party tools? DTS
26. How do I link databases in SQL Server?
27. I want to clean up some of the data that I have imported using EIM. How do

I do it? What is the type of process?

28. How do I configure an EIM task?
29. How do I test connectivity thru ODBC data sources created by Siebel?

30. What is Association? What is Intersection Table? Where is it used? How to

       find the intersection table?

31. What is .ifb file and where is this file stored?

It is Stored under Server_root/Admin

32. What are the steps for creating custom extension table?

Thin Clients, Siebel Remote, Workflow, Assignment mgr

1. HTML thin client – how do you configure? Refer HTML thin client Doc

2. In siebel thin client where is .srf ? How it works?

3. How do u recover from a Siebel Remote server crash? Does the Tx processor, merger and router restart automatically?

4. How does remote server handle the update conflits?

5. What three server processes running for Remote client ?

6. The remote client synchronization is taking an unusually large time. What is the most likely problem?

7.    What is the difference between Dedicated Client and Remote Client? How will it work?

8.   What is workflow have you used it. What for is it used for?

9.   What is assignment manager? What for is it used?

Server installation, product configurator

1. How to install Siebel? Explain the Steps?

2. Which are the 3 modes in which server component work?

Server Mode à runs forever once started

Task mode à run specific task and exit after completion

Session mode à runs for client requests and exit upon session ends

3.    What are the changes required in the Install.ksh and imprep.ksh for installing siebel?

4.    How to get values based on key eg: if I enter product system will display 

       product details? How to configure this scenario

5.    What is Catalog? How to create catalog using Product Configurator?

6.    What is product configuration?

7.    What is the difference between catalog and category?

8.    How to release the Model, and versioning?

9.    How to generate Proposals, Quotes assistant? How to create quotes?

10.  What is the difference between quote and proposal?

                                        Project Methodology

1. What the six stages of Siebel implementation?

DDDVCD- project defn, discovery, design, configuration, validation, deployment.

Requirement gathering

Preparation of Blue print

Design and Implementation

Testing

Go live

Training and Support.

2. How to compile a project? What are the difference types of compilation

    methods?

    Go to RepositoryàCompile and compile the project. The different types are 

     Selected projects, All projects and Locked projects.

3. How to move from development environment to production? 

Run the dev2prod.ksh script 

4. My application is working in development environment but it is not working in production environment what will be the possible reason? How to solve this issue? How much time u will take this problem.

5. How much time is taken to develop a prototype application?  1 month

6. What is RAS, UAT(user acceptance test),SIT(system integration test)?

   Business analyst does SIT and end users do UAT.

7. What Gantt and Pert Charts What is the diff?

8.  What is RAD?

RAD is Rapid application Deployment. It is a methodology to implement Siebel applications. Rapid Application Deployment, builds on Siebel's original deployment methodology by adding a prototyping strategy that stresses knowledge-transfer. Prototyping is the cornerstone of TIP's RAD methodology, and has proven more effective than the traditional fit-gap analysis. This unique model takes advantage of the strengths and flexibility of the delivered Siebel application while allowing for creative solutions where a one-to-one match between product functionality and user requirement is not available.

9. What are the change management facilities provided by Siebel?

CR(change request form)

10.  How will u handle the change Management? What is change management?

11.  What are six stages of siebel project methodology and what are the activities during each stage?

12.  What are the types of implementation methods? What is the diff between   waterfall method and spiral method? Which have u used?

13.  What is the implementation duration of siebel projects?

14.  What is Siebel TAM? Have u contacted TAM any time, why?

Technical Account Manager is a person usually from siebel expert services, he will resolve all major issues which team members or lead can’t solve, or even Project managers.

15.  How to get tech support from siebel....

Call the siebel tech support or go to supportweb.siebel.com