How to fix the error when attempting to preview an item in iStore Administrator

ERROR

java.lang.NullPointerException
at oracle.apps.ibe.catalog.Item.load(Item.java:6081)
at oracle.apps.ibe.catalog.Item.load(Item.java:5925)
at oracle.apps.ibe.catalog.Item.load(Item.java:5884)
at oracle.apps.ibe.catalog.Item.load(Item.java:5866)
at _ibeCCtpItmDspRte._jspService(_ibeCCtpItmDspRte.java:1151)

This is caused for the following reason:

In this R12 instance, the synonym OE_SYSTEM_PARAMETERS_ALL in the apps schema should be referring to the view OE_SYS_PARAMS_ALL_UPG.
This (OE_SYS_PARAMS_ALL_UPG) in turn refers to table oe_sys_parameters_all .
This behavior is provided by the $ONT_TOP/patch/115/sql/ontspgrn.sql (Header = 120.5).

The sql (ontspgrn.sql) is available in the file system but has not been executed on the instance.
ie The synonym OE_SYSTEM_PARAMETERS_ALL in the apps schema still points to the table OE_SYSTEM_PARAMETERS_ALL in ONT schema as it was in the earlier builds; instead of pointing to the view OE_SYS_PARAMS_ALL_UPG.
Solution

To implement the solution, please execute the following steps

1. Ensure that you have taken a backup of your system before applying the recommended solution.

2. Run the following commands/scripts in a TEST environment first:

cd $ONT_TOP/patch/115/sql

sqlplus apps/xxxxx

drop SYNONYM OE_SYSTEM_PARAMETERS;

drop SYNONYM OE_SYSTEM_PARAMETERS_ALL;

start ontspgrn.sql
Enter value for 1: apps

You should see the following messages:

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
Commit complete.

3. Once the scripts complete, confirm that the data is corrected.
You can use the following SQL to confirm:

SELECT * FROM all_synonyms
WHERE synonym_name like ‘OE_SYSTEM_PARAMETERS%’;

APPS OE_SYSTEM_PARAMETERS
APPS OE_SYS_PARAMS_UPG

APPS OE_SYSTEM_PARAMETERS_ALL
APPS OE_SYS_PARAMS_ALL_UPG

4. Confirm that the data is corrected when viewed in the Oracle Applications.

5. Migrate the solution as appropriate to other environments.