- SNUG - PeopleSoft... Stephen Wills Applied Technology Sales Consultant ... examining the QueryStatisticsvia PeopleCode API

<Insert Picture Here>

Stephen Wills

Applied Technology Sales Consultant

PeopleSoft Advanced Reporting Tips & TechniquesSouthern New England User Group Meeting, October 17th, 2008

The following is intended to outline our general

product direction. It is intended for information

purposes only, and may not be incorporated into any

contract. It is not a commitment to deliver any

material, code, or functionality, and should not be

relied upon in making purchasing decisions.

The development, release, and timing of any

features or functionality described for Oracle’s

products remains at the sole discretion of Oracle.

“I upgraded my application from 8.3 to 8.9. Now my query

includes additional security joins and this is impacting

performance. What if I don’t want the additional security

joins?”

PS/Query Security Joins

• When you join two different records with the same query security record, join the security record once for optimization

• But when you need to join the same record twice the security join needs to be applied twice

GSC Resolution 200973569

• Prior to 8.44 PS/Query only joined the security record one time. This could cause incorrect results in certain situations.

SELECT A.DEPTID, C.NAME, B.NAME

FROM PS_JOB A, PS_FAST_EMPGL_VW2 A1, PS_NAMES B, PS_PERS_SRCH_QRY1 B1, PS_NAMES C

WHERE A.EMPLID = A1.EMPLID

AND A.EMPL_RCD = A1.EMPL_RCD

AND A1.ROWSECCLASS = 'ALLPANLS'

AND B.EMPLID = B1.EMPLID

AND B1.ROWSECCLASS = 'ALLPANLS'

AND C.EMPLID = B1.EMPLID

AND ( A.EFFDT =

(SELECT MAX(A_ED.EFFDT) FROM PS_JOB A_ED

WHERE A.EMPLID = A_ED.EMPLID

AND A.EMPL_RCD = A_ED.EMPL_RCD

AND A_ED.EFFDT <= SYSDATE)

AND A.EFFSEQ =

(SELECT MAX(A_ES.EFFSEQ) FROM PS_JOB A_ES

WHERE A.EMPLID = A_ES.EMPLID

AND A.EMPL_RCD = A_ES.EMPL_RCD

AND A.EFFDT = A_ES.EFFDT)

AND A.EMPLID = B.EMPLID

AND … …

C.EMPLID = B1.EMPLID

would only return rows of data when the

emplid is also equal to supervisor id.

C.EMPLID = B1.EMPLID

would only return rows of data when the

emplid is also equal to supervisor id.

The correct SQL should be

PS_PERS_SRCH_QRY1 C1 and C.EMPLID = C1.EMPLID

The correct SQL should be

PS_PERS_SRCH_QRY1 C1 and C.EMPLID = C1.EMPLID

PS/Query Security Joins

• The 8.44 correction introduced in a change in behavior for prior existing PS/Queries and although technically correct, performed slower

• If you do not want multiple inclusion of the security join:

INSERT INTO PSVERSION (OBJECTTYPENAME,VERSION) VALUES ('QRYSELFJ',1)

• The existence of 'QRYSELFJ' in PSVERSION table is checked by PS/Query (as of PT8.47)

• Alternative for situations where you need to include the same field multiple times include • Expressions

• Views

“We need production reporting but the report

processing is consuming my server.”

Monitoring QueriesQuery Administration Utility

• PeopleTools > Utilities > Administration > Query Monitor

• Administrative Information and Enable/Disable Query

• Ability to Kill Long Running Queries on Executing Tab

• Ability to Enable/Disable Stats for Test vs Production

Monitoring QueriesQuery Administration Classes

• Query Classes provide many methods and properties for

examining the QueryStatistics via PeopleCode API

• AvgExecTime

• AvgNumRows

• ExecCount

• LastExecDtTm

• Delete

• View real-time and historical performance data using

Performance Monitor

• Perf Mon Event 355

“Is there a difference in performance among the

different supported data sources for XML

Publisher for PeopleSoft?”

Reports

Checks

Labels

Invoices

XML File

Optimal Data Source for XML Publisher for PeopleSoft

• Supported Data Sources

• PSQuery

• RowSet

• XmlDoc

• XML File

TranslationTranslation

LayoutLayout

Data SourceData Source

• Relational based data sources, such as PSQuery and RowSet, will involve processing to align relational with XML structure

• The processing required may impact performance of production reporting, however…

• A batch program such as SQR or Application Engine can preprocess a relational data source to XML

Reports

Checks

Labels

Invoices

XML FileOptimal Data Source for XML Publisher for PeopleSoft

• … it is often possible to preprocess the relational data source to

prepare XML File for use at report time

TranslationTranslation

LayoutLayout

Data SourceData Source

• Example: HCM 9.0 North American Payroll XML Publisher Reports

• PeopleTools researching a generic Query to XML File capability

• Then use XML File as the Data Source

“How can I see my Query results (data) formatted in

XML? “

Generating XML

• Add a Return statement to method CleanOutput() of the

PSXP_RPTDEFNMANAGER:ReportDefn Application Class

• Files placed in %PS_SERDIR%\files\XMLP\Data and

%PS_SERDIR%\files\XMLP\RptInst directories

Generating XML

• Create an xdodebug.cfg file and place it under

[PS_HOME]\JRE\Lib (where your active JRE is installed)

• The file should include the following two entries:

LogLevel=STATEMENT

LogDir=c:\temp or any appropriate temp directory

• Run your XMLP report

An xdo.log file (and related xml, xsl, translation and template

files) will be written to the specified LogDir.

“Do I need schema in order to define an XMLP

report? If so, how do I generate one?”

Schema & Sample Files

• Both Schema and Sample files are required for PDF

mapping

• Schema file is required for bursting

• Schema and Sample files are auto generated only

for PS/Query data source

• For non-PS/Query data sources

• User must generate schema using an external tool such as

XML Spy, Visual Studio etc.

• Sample files can be created using notepad, a representative

clone of your actual data file, etc.

Generating Schema with Excel 2003+

• Have your XML data or sample file ready

• ‘File | Open’ in Excel 2003+. ‘Open XML’ dialog box pops up.

Select either ‘As an XML List’ or ‘Use the XML Source task

pane’

• Click OK. Ignore the following warning message coming from

Excel

• Click OK


• The XML Source window will

appear on the right

• Open VBA,Tools/Macro/Visual

Basic Editor (Alt+F11). Type in the

following:


• Click “Enter”

• the XML schema string appears

• Copy this string into any text editor (ie Notepad, etc)

• Add the following string at the top of the file:

• <?xml version="1.0" ?>

• Save the file with an ‘xsd’ extension

• Schema can now be uploaded to the XMLP Data Source.

• There are several websites like

http://tools.decisionsoft.com/xmlpp.html that will format

your xml data or schema files for free

“XML Publisher for PeopleSoft means more decisions

regarding report templates. How do I choose?”

XML Publisher ReportingChoosing a Template

xOutput Formulas

xHigher performance on very large reports (hundreds of mega bytes)

xxPDF Output

xHTML, Excel and potential other output formats

xSub-templates

xRuntime parameters

xTranslation files

x

x

x

RTF

Flexible Field-data mapping (XPath vs. simple name matching)

Charts

xPixel perfect positioning (using Adobe)

xExisting PDF Template (government forms)

Custom/dynamic output

PDFFeature

“Sub-templates are a new concept for us. How do

they work?”

RTF Sub-templates

• Can include image, text, XSL templates, etc.

• Usually used for logos, headers, footers, etc.

• Each primary template can import multiple sub-templates

Header_Std_lower.rtf

RTF Sub-templates

• Add to Content

Library

• Sub-

templates

files stored in

database

• No

definitional

link to

primary

template

RTF Sub-templates

• Imported from primary template using Sub-Template ID

(<?import:psxmlp://STDHEADER?>)

Retrieved at runtime by core engine using psxmlp protocol

(Java to PeopleCode call)

Within in

PIA

Test/preview using file system import

<?import:file:///c:/temp/Header_Std_lower.rtf?>

Within

Template

Builder

Runtime Parameters

• Can be added to any template

• Delivered set through the ReportDefnclass

• Can programmatically add via XML PeopleCode API

• Need to be declared before use

“I need to run reports for every department in our

global operations.”

BurstingReport by Burst Key

Bursting by EmplID

emplid: 1002emplid: 1000 emplid: 1001

DeptId: 02DeptId: 01

Bursting by Deptld

emplid: 1002

emplid: 1003

emplid: 1000

emplid: 1001

Use for Security & for Distribution

<PayChecks>

<PayCheck>

<EmpId>1000</Empld>

<DeptId>01</DeptId>

<Salary>1000</Salary>

</PayCheck>

<PayCheck>

<EmpId>1001</Empld>

<DeptId>01</DeptId>


</PayCheck>

<PayCheck>

<EmpId>1002</Empld>

<DeptId>02</DeptId>


</PayCheck>

</PayChecks>

CountryState: USNYCountryState: USCA

Bursting by Country by Region

emplid: 1000emplid: 1001emplid: 1002

emplid: 1003emplid: 1004emplid: 1005

• Single burst field

BurstingComposite Key Bursting with XML Publisher

• Create composite key in data source

e.g. Use Query expression to concatenate

employé 1012

employé 1011

employé 1010

Emplid 1002

Emplid 1001

Emplid 1000 EmplID 1003

EmplID 1004

EmplID 1005

CountryRegion: USCA CountryRegion:CABC PaysRégion:CAQB

Bursting templates/translation

• ‘Template controlled

by’ does not have to

match ‘burst by’

• Default Template ID

specified on Run

Control

• Could include one

template per data

value

• Multiple languages per

template

COUNTRY_REGION

COUNTRY_REGION

W2

T4

T4

“How do I make my XMLP reports reflect dates and

times based on the recipients setting?”

Recipient Time Zones

• Report template must be of type “RTF” or “XSL”

• Ensure user time zone is one of the standard 3 character

delivered time zone codes ( “PST”, “EST”, etc.)

• XML Publisher does not recognize custom time zones and will

revert to the “GMT” time zone

• Include the offset from GMT for each date-time element

• 2008-07-27T12:48:00.000+02:00

• Appropriate abstract format mask must be used in the

template in order to display the time zone

• <?format-date:DATE_TIME_FIELD;'SHORT_TIME_TZ'?>

“When Query Access List Cache is

enabled, Crystal Reports & Queries seem

to run slower for User Id’s that have a

large number of roles assigned”

Query Access List Cache

• Open the SQL definition PSQRYACCLISTFASTSQL in App Designer (pside.exe), and replace the following SQL

SELECT DISTINCT C.RECNAME , C.RECDESCR FROM PSROLECLASS A , PSROLEUSER B , PSQRYACCLSTRECS C , PSVERSION D WHERE A.ROLENAME = B.ROLENAME AND C.CLASSID = A.CLASSID AND C.VERSION = D.VERSION AND D.OBJECTTYPENAME = 'QAL' AND B.ROLEUSER = '%s'

WITH

SELECT DISTINCT A.RECNAME ,A.RECDESCR FROM PSQRYACCLSTRECS A,PSVERSION B WHERE A.VERSION = B.VERSION AND B.OBJECTTYPENAME = 'QAL' AND A.CLASSID IN (SELECT C.CLASSID FROM PSROLECLASS C, PSROLEUSER D WHERE C.ROLENAME = D.ROLENAME AND D.ROLEUSER = '%s')

“We always seem to have some users who jump on

the latest version of Office before we can upgrade

our servers and others who keep using older

versions long after our servers are upgraded. Any

suggestions for us regarding Office 2007?”

PS/nVisionOffice 2007

• PS/nVision is now certified with Office 2007

• Recommendation is (as in the past) to use the same version of

Office for all PS/nVision environments:

• Report Batch Server

• User Browser Workstation

• Report Designer Client Workstation

• Different versions of Office in the mix have often worked in the

past but a workaround will be required in certain instances

PS/nVisionOffice 2007

• Office 2007 will save nVision

reports as .xlsx

Process Process

SchedulerScheduler

ReportReport

RepositoryRepository

Web Server

Crystal ReportCrystal Report

COBOLCOBOL

Application EngineApplication Engine

SQRSQR

XML PublisherXML Publisher

nVisionnVision

Batch ServerApp Server

Report Server

Report Designer

Report User

• Designers using

Office 2007 need to

rename or save as

.xls before running

the report in an

environment using

Office 2003.

• End users need to save as .xls

before using Office 2003 to

open a report generated with

Office 2007

May require

explicit

saveas .xls

May require

explicit

saveas .xls

XML PublisherOffice 2007

• PT bundles the BIP Template Builder • While Customers can download Template Builder the bundled version is the Certified, Recommended Version

• Offcycle certifications may create an interim gap in time

• For e.g. the recent certification of Office 2007 • Customers will want to download the version 10.1.3.3 of the Template Builder from the Oracle website.

• Or be on a Tools Patch of 8.49.07 and 8.48.16 or high (which updates the PT bundle)

•

“PeopleTools provides several reporting tools.

When would I use nVision vs. XML Publisher vs.

Crystal Reports?”

REPORTING NEED EXECUTIONDATA ORGANIZATION PLATFORMSFORMATTING

Report Development

nVISION

XML

PUBLISHER

CRYSTAL

REPORTS

PS/QUERY

SQR

Forms Based (PDF, Word, etc)

��

Pixel Precision Formatting

��

MICR

��

��

Graphics/Logos

��

��

��

��

Charting

��

��

��

��

Simple Tabular

��

��

��

��

��

SubReport

��

��

Matrixed

��

Financials, Ledger, Trees

��

Reporting w/Logic /Processing

��

Scheduled/ On Demand

��

��

��

��

��

Ad-Hoc

��

Bursting

��

��

Drill Down

��

��

Windows Batch Server

��

��

��

��

��

Unix/Linux Batch Server

��

��

��

��

390 Batch Server

��

Excel Integration

��

��

Which

Reporting

Tool?

BOE

Server

��

“When using multiple schedulers in multiple OSs,

for load balancing, how can I assign AE process to

execute in a particular OS?”

Scheduling Scenario

• System setting - Unix is the primary OS and system load is set to ‘Assign To Server In Any O/S’

• A Master Scheduler

• Customer has 4 schedulers - 2 on NT and 2 on UNIX• Each is set up as ‘use for load balancing’ & ‘redistribute to same OS’ and a Master Scheduler is booted

• They want all AE processes to run on Unix - except 3• The 3 exceptions have been hard coded to run on a particular NT scheduler

• But… sometimes the remaining AE processes are getting picked up by NT schedulers

• Why? Is there any way to specify that these AE processes run only on the Unix Schedulers?”

Process Category

• Define 2 Process Categories for AE processes (AE_NT

and AE_UNIX)

• Process Scheduler -> System Settings -> Process Category Admin

tab

• Assign the 3 AE processes you always want to run on NT

to process category AE_NT

• Assign the rest to process category AE_UNIX

• NT server definitions - set ‘max concurrent’ AE_NT > 0

and AE_UNIX = 0

• Unix server definitions - set ‘max concurrent’ AE_NT = 0

and AE_UNIX > 0

“When running an AE process to Window (output),

did you know you can have more than just the run

status displayed in popups?”

Run Status popups

• By default the popup windows reflects the request run

status

User Defined Progress

• Add the following PeopleCode

to display a customized status

message in popup window

• import PT_PRCS:API:*;

• Local PrcsApi &api = create

PrcsApi();

• &nret =

&api.notifyToWindow(QE_AE

STATUS_AET.PROCESS_IN

STANCE, "Executing

initialization steps…");

“Did you know you can define links to Application

pages from the Process Request result page?”

Links in Report results

• This can be done by defining links to pages on process

definition

OR


Example

• Upon completion of process TREEMAINT, user may either

(1) Go to View result of an audit, (2) Go to Repair Tree

page.

• You can setup these links for navigation from the process

result page via Process Definition URL Links page.


• URL Keys page is used to supply key values needed to pull

up the appropriate data in the page

• Values can be in the format of meta-variables or inline bind

variables


• Submit the process TREEMAINT to run from Tree Manager

-> Tree Auditor…


• On completion of process request, user clicks to view request/report

details from process monitor (or via notification email …etc)

• User will find URL link(s) associated with the generated instance


• User can then click the link to navigate directly to the page

with the appropriate keys populated

• (ie. Process Instance and Run Control ID in this example)

“Tired of losing your PeopleSoft Tree changes?”

Collaborative work on PeopleSoft Trees

• On the PeopleTools Options page, select the ‘Use Tree

Update Reservation’

Check Out Tree

• Tree opened in Read Only

• ‘Check Out Tree’ to reserve/lock for update

• Tree or branch can be reserved/locked by Owner ID and

Timestamp

Release Tree

• Reservation released when user selects ‘Release Tree’,

closes the tree or when ‘Max Tree Inactivity Period’ is

reached

• timestamp on LAST_ACTIVITY_TIME field updated whenever

owner performs any action on tree - including navigation

Accessing a Reserved Tree

• If tree is currently checked out, user will be notified of the

User Id of the person holding the reservation

<Insert Picture Here>

PeopleSoft Enterprise

Reporting Tips &

Techniques Looking Ahead

“How do I map my data to a government supplied

PDF form when it contains repeated elements?”

PDF MappingLooking Ahead

• Full Path Mapping

PDF Full Path Mapping – 8.50

• Enable mapping PDF form fields to XML

elements positioned under any level in the

data source XML structure.

• No schema required. Only sample xml file

is needed

<Paychecks>

<PayCheck>

<EmpNo>00001</EmpNo>

<Company>

<Address>1 Company st. CA 00001</Address>

<Description>Company Info</Description>

</Company>

<Employee>

<Address>1 Employee st. CA 00001</Address>

<Description>Employee Info</Description>


<Vacation>12</Vacation>

......

</Employee>

</PayCheck>

<PayCheck>

......

......

</PayCheck>

</PayChecks>

“How can I email the results of a Scheduled Query

or XMLP report?

Emailing ReportsLooking Ahead

• Query Report Scheduler supports email now.

• Email actual report file as attachment.

• Multiple levels of validation

“Every time I run my report it outputs the exact

same filename. In fact, it overwrites the existing

file.”

Prevent File OverwriteToday

• Specify only the folder name when writing to a file

• Report name is system generated

• Each run of the report overwrites previous report

with that name

• The workaround is to specify a different folder

Descriptive Report NamesLooking Ahead

• Report output names (and file names) are now

customizable using a name template

• Plain text intermixed with output parameters:

• %BTV%: Burst value (bursting mode only)

• %ASD%: As of Date

• %RID%: Report ID

• %Field% (any candidate burst field under highest repeating element)

• ie %EMPLID%

Descriptive Report Names

• Can be set on the Output page

• Or programmatically using ReportFileName property on the

ReportDefn class.

• If set, it will override UseBurstValueAsOutputFileName property

“I have a PS/Query that uses ‘in tree’ criteria.

Problem is I need to select a different set of nodes

just about every time I run it”

inTree CriteriaToday

• For criteria, DEPTID as “in tree” and try to save.

Tree Prompt OptionLooking Ahead

Tree Prompt Option

Tree Prompt Option

Tree Prompt Option

“What happens if I need to keep certain reports for

7-10 years or longer?

Report Retention DaysToday

• System wide setting impacts all report retention

Report Retention DaysLooking Ahead

• Maximum retention days setting allowed has changed

from 999 to 9999 days

• Set the default retention at four levels

• Process Type Definition

• Process Definition

• Job Definition

• Schedule JobSet Definition

Process Type Definition Default

• Takes precedence over System setting

Process Definition Default

• Takes precedence over Process Type definition or

System setting

Job Definition Default

• Takes precedence over system setting

• Used to enforce the same retention days for all

processes within a job

Override at Schedule time

• Process Request / Scheduler JobSet UI (Distribution Link)

• With output type of web/window

“Can you explain what a ‘Run Control Id’ is to a new

user? What if you never had to again?”

Run Control Today

• Required to prompt users for the parameters needed to

run the process

Generic Run Control Looking Ahead

• Register parameters

• Once “Generic Run Control Page” option is enabled

on process definition, users can “Schedule” process

Generic Run Control

• Generic run control page generated based on the

registered parameters

Reporting ConsoleLooking Ahead

• Single location/launch pad for reporting activities

• Run, schedule, monitor, view process requests

• Create ad-hoc reports

• Share and email report instance

• Manager process and report definitions

• Admin functions

• Manage process and report definitions

Reporting ConsoleLooking Ahead

For More Information

search.oracle.com

or

oracle.com

The preceding is intended to outline our general

product direction. It is intended for information

purposes only, and may not be incorporated into any

contract. It is not a commitment to deliver any

material, code, or functionality, and should not be

relied upon in making purchasing decisions.

The development, release, and timing of any

features or functionality described for Oracle’s

products remains at the sole discretion of Oracle.

Documents

- SNUG - PeopleSoft... Stephen Wills Applied Technology Sales Consultant ... examining the QueryStatisticsvia PeopleCode API