PeopleSoft Application

Chapter 1:Developing An Application

In this chapter, you will learn how to create and modify PeopleSoft definitions using the Application Designer.

Chapter ObjectivesThis chapter teaches you how to:

Create a Project

Define a Field Definition

Create a Record Definition

Build SQL Tables

Create a Page Definition

Create a Component Definition

Chapter ContentsThis chapter contains the following lessons:

Lesson 1: Creating a Project.....................................................................2

Lesson 2: Creating a Field Definition.........................................................6

Lesson 3: Creating a Record Definition...................................................10

Lesson 4: Building an SQL Tables..........................................................13

Exercise 4-1: Create an SQL Table.........................................................18

Lesson 5: Creating a Page Definition......................................................20

Exercise 5-1: Creating a Page Definition.................................................31

Lesson 6: Creating a Component Definition............................................32

04/28/23 1-1

Chapter 1: Developing An Application Developing An Application

Lesson 1:Creating a Project

The Project Window of the Application Designer is a graphical representation of the definitions within PeopleSoft. While creating a project is not a required step in development, it is useful in organizing definitions as you configure and develop in the application.

Using projects will help:

Organize related definitions

Show definition relationships

Manage developer’s work

Simplify upgrade task

1-2 Proprietary and Confidential to CedarCrestone, Inc. 04/28/23and Arizona State University

Project Window

Definition Workspace

Output Window

Developing An Application Chapter 1: Developing An Application

Project SettingsBefore beginning to save PeopleSoft object definitions into a project, it is a good idea to check the following settings.

From the Application Designer Menu click Tools Options(These settings only need to be done once in App Designer)

From the Application Designer Menu File Project Properties

04/28/23 Proprietary and Confidential to CedarCrestone, Inc. 1-3and Arizona State University

To keep from missing

definitions during migrations, it is

best to have objects

automatically insert upon

changes.

Adding a description

and comments to the project

greatly help during upgrades

in determining customizations

to bring forward.

To automatically load your last project at

startup of App Designer


Practice – Creating a project

Access the application designer.

To create a new project:1. Click File.

2. Click New3. Click Project

4. Click

The project window should look like this.



5. Click File6. Click Project Properties

Add descriptions and comments

7. Click

8. Click File9. Click Save Project As

10. Type in Project Name (ASU_JGS_PROJ)

11. Click

Project Window should reflect the new project name.


Project names should be preceded with

ASU_ to make them easily identified during an upgrade

process


Lesson 2:Creating a Field Definition

Field definitions represent a column in a table or view. These are stand alone development definitions that can be used in multiple record definitions. A change to a field definition will be effected in any record definition it participates.

This is a partial example of the Personal Data table:

Personal Data Table

EMPLID COUNTRY_NM_FORMAT NAME NAME INITIALS

NAME PREFIX

SA0001 USA Prince,Nathan NP Mr

SA0002 USA Norman,Bruce BN

SA0003 USA Kuhn,Tricia G TK Miss

SA0004 USA Rocha,Juan JR Mr

This is a partial example of the Address table:

Address table

EMPLID ADDRESS_TYPE ADDRESS1

SA0001 HOME 1359 First St.

SA0001 WORK 1207 Monroe

SA0003 HOME 1153 Randolph

SA0004 HOME 1269 Moundview

Type of attributes to a field definition include:

Data Type


Change to EMPLID field definition would change it for both tables


Field Name

Field Length

Long Name

Short Name

Formatting

Translate Values A PeopleSoft supplied translate table is used as a prompt table on certain fields that don’t need individual tables for prompt values. Normally, a change to the values is requested and then made by a developer. Values from the translate table should be used if the following criteria is met on a field:

Field type is character

Field length is 1 to 4 characters

The set of values is static and not maintained by the users

No other fields relate to this field

A fields prompt values are not Y/N

If a field does not display these characteristics and needs a prompt validation, a separate prompt table should be constructed. To see a field’s translate values, make the field definition active, choose File, Definition Properties, Translate Values tab.

Example of the Translate table

Field: ACADEMIC_LOAD



Practice – Creating a field definition


To create a new field definition:1. Click File.

2. Click New3. Click Field


ACADEMIC_LOAD holds only 6 distinct values (F,H,L,N,P,T) but it is able to display the translate descriptions of the Long or Short names.


4. Click

A new character field opens in the workspace area.

5. Fill in the Field attributes

Enter the Field Description.


CharacterLong Character

NumberSigned Number

DateTime

DateTimeEtc.

UpperCaseMixedCase

NameSSNEtc.

Multiple labels allow the field to be used

on more than one page and have differing labels.

Check which label is default.

Enter a Field Description by:

Definition Properties Button

Or File/Definition Properties

Or Right Click in the Definition Window


6. Click

7. Click File8. Click Save

Type Field Definition Name

9. Click

Changing an existing field definition does not change the underlying SQL table in the database until after the build process.


Field definition names

should be preceded with ASU_ to make

them easily identified during an upgrade

process


Lesson 3:Creating a Record Definition

Field definitions are grouped together to create a record definition. The record definition is a representation of how the underlying SQL database table will be built in the database and how it processes.

On the toolbar there are four buttons that will change the view of the record definition.

Button Type Description

Field DisplayName Length, Format, Short

Name, Long Name

Use DisplayKey related

attributes, default values

Edits Display Edit Options

PeopleCode Display Fields with PeopleCode

Practice – Creating a Record Definition


To create a new record definition:1. Click File2. Click New3. Click Record



4. Click

The object workspace appears so that you can build a list of fields in a record definition.

5. Select tab and choose Record Type

6. Insert Fields into the Record Definition


SQL Table is the default

selection and the only one that

creates a database structure capable of housing application

data.

Insert field definition by Insert/Field

Or drag and drop field in project

Or drag and drop field from record

definition in project

All table names are created in

the database with a prefix PS_

Entering a Non-Standard SQL Table Name overrides that.

However, due to upgrade issues, it

should be used with caution.


7. Click File8. Click Save

Type Record Definition Name

9. Click

Creating or changing a record definition does not affect the underlying SQL table in the database until after the build process.


Record definition names



process


Lesson 4:Build SQL Tables

Field and record definitions are simply blueprints on how a table is to be built in the database. Until the build process is run for the record definition there is no physical database table in which to house the application data.

The build process also has the ability to alter the table structure in the database should a change to an existing field or record definition occur. This allows changes to an existing database table without losing the data that is in the table.


Build Current Project

Or

Build Current Object


Build Settings

The scope of the build is reflected in the scrolling window. This has the entire scope of the records in a project, whereas building only the current object in the definition window would have simply one record.

To check build settings:

Click




Always check this setting before creating

tables. If set to recreate and the table exist

DATA WILL BE LOST!

Drop

and/or Truncate could result in lost

data.




Practice – Building an SQL Table

Open a Record Definition in Application Designer.

To Build an SQL Table:1. Click Build or Build Button2. Click Current Definitions

3. Check Create Tables & Create Indexes & Create Views

4. Click

5. Check Output Window for Errors

6. Verify Record was created.


Normally, you’d want to Build script file

with the commands to build the table to let the database

administrator create the table in the database.


Exercise 4-1: Create an SQL TableIn this exercise, you will create an SQL Table.

InstructionsCreate an SQL table that tracks an employee’s car license plate to a valid lot number. An employee can be eligible to park their car in more than one lot.

There are four lots

1. North Lot

2. South Lot

3. East Lot

4. West Lot

Within each lot is different level of parking:

Standard

Handicapped

Valet

Include the following fields:

EMPLID

XXX_LIC_PLATE

XXX_LOT_NBR

XXX_PARK_LEVEL

Save the table as XXX_ASU_PARKING.

Give any new field and/or record definitions a description

Save all object changes to a project as ASU_XXX_PARK

Build the SQL Table

Verify the database table

Hints What fields are going to make the record unique?

Use existing fields where appropriate.

License Plates can be a combination of numbers and letters

In order to save database space the Lot number field should only take up one character but be able to display the character name.


XXX=user initials


Start a new project and save before beginning object modifications. Make sure to check settings so objects automatically save into your project.



Lesson 5:Creating A Page Definition

The page interfaces between the user and the application database. It is used to make the application data accessible for viewing and maintaining.

Level-Based ControlsThe page design is a level-based construct in order to display parent-child relationship between the database records.

A page can display up to 4 nested levels – Level 0, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.

Level 0Level 0 contains the primary keys to the underlying record of the page is normally display only with data the users entered on the search page.

Level 1-3The subsequent scrollable level is related to the previous scroll level and related by their key values. These scroll levels will be displayed by one of the following page controls:

Grid

Scroll Area

Scroll Bar

Page Definition ToolbarThe page definition toolbar is used to act upon the definition of the page itself. The following buttons will work when there is an active page in the work area.


Level 0

(Parent)

Level 1

(Child)


Button Type Alternative Description

Page Properties Alt+Enter Page Description, Page Type, Page Size, etc.

Hide/Display Project Workspace

View, Project Workspace Or

Alt+0Hides Project Workspace

Select Group Edit, Select Group Or Ctrl+P Select a group of page items

Default OrderingLayout, Default

Ordering Reorder all page controls based on page location

Test Page Layout, Test Mode Or Ctrl-T Test tab order of page design

Browser Button Layout, View in Browser How the page looks in the browser

Toggle Inspector View, Show Page Control Inspector Hide/unhide Floating definition window

Auto Size Size subpage or secondary page around page controls

Toggle Grid View, Show Grid Or Ctrl-G Display/hide the page grid

Left Label Button Layout, Left Label Position Or Ctrl-D

Position label for currently selected page control to the left of control item.

Various Alignment Buttons Align select page fields

Show Help View Page Definition help

Page ControlsPage controls can be added from the toolbar buttons, Insert menu item, or alternate keystroke when page is active in window.

Button Type Alternate Keystroke Description

Frame F Draws a frame around page controls

Group Box B Draws a group box with a header

Horizontal Rule

N Draws a line on a page

Static Text X Add static text

Grid Tab Seperator

AAdd a tab into a grid structure

Check BoxC

Check box (used with fields with finite values)

Drop Down List Box

DDrop Down List box (used on fields with translate values)



Button Type Alternate Keystroke Description

Edit Box E Edit box (used for entering/displaying record fields)

HTML Box H Adds a box to put HTML Code

Image I Add an Image

Long Edit Box L Allows entering of longer record fields

Push Button/ Hyperlink

P Adds a push button/hyperlink (gives ability to put PeopleCode for processing on a page)

Radio Button R Adds a Radio button (used for fields with finite values)

Tree T Adds a tree structure

Grid G Adds a scrollable area in grid form to establish a new level record

Scroll Area S Adds a scrollable area with a frame to establish a new level record

Scroll Bar O Adds a scroll bar with no framework to establish a new level record.

Secondary Page

Y Add a secondary page

SubPage U Add a SubPage

Chart Q Add a Chart

Practice – Creating a Page Definition


To create a new page definition:1. Click File2. Click New3. Click Page



4. Click

The object workspace appears with a new page layout to build a page definition.

5. Add Page Controls for Level 0




Add controls such as Edit boxes by drag/drop

record fields in project.



Add controls such as

Edit boxes by Insert, Edit Boxes

lets you place a dummy name

field.

Double Click on the edit box

brings up the Properties Box

for that page control


6. Fill in Edit Box Properties


Establish Record and Field Name for the data that should display on page

Other options that determine how the Edit Box will function


Add Label to the Edit Box:

7. Click


The Use tab on the properties box has all the options on how the field will function on the page

Generally, any key field on Level 0 will be set to Display Only

since it is populated from the search record.


8. Add a scrollable level 1 control

Double Click on the Grid Area will bring up the Grid Properties Box



9. Add Fields to the Scrollable Level


Determines main table of the scroll area.

Determines Level Number

Determines number of records to initially fill the

scroll area.

Make scroll area active and Insert page control to add a dummy field.

Or

Drag/Drop fields from Project Area


10. Click on the Order tab to see the level structure

11. Click or File, SaveType Page Definition Name

12. Click


Page definition names



process


Exercise 5-2: Create A Page DefinitionIn this exercise, you will create a Page Definition.

InstructionsCreate a Page Definition to display the employee’s cars that are eligible to park in the campus parking lots.

Display the following information:

Employee Id

Employee Name

Car License Plate

Parking Lot

Save the Page Definition as XXX_ASU_PARKING.

Display Parking Lot with its character name.

Verify the database table

Hints Use existing fields where appropriate.

License Plates can be a combination of numbers and letters

In order to save database space, the lot number field should only take up one character but be able to display the character name.


XXX=user initials


Lesson 6:Creating A Component Definition

The component definition is the representation of a logical business transaction. It will contain related pages that should be processed together. The pages of a component should be designed to share the same search record.

There are two tabs for viewing a component – definition and structure.

Definition TabThe component definition view displays all the page items and component attributes.


The component definition window will reveal the collection of pages that are associated with the component. Each tab represents a page definition.


Structure TabThe component structure shows records and scrolls in a tree representation. It provides information about page levels and component records and their roles. You can double-click the objects in this view to open their definitions.

Practice – Creating a Component Definition


To create a new component definition:1. Click File2. Click New3. Click ComponentThe object workspace appears so that you can build a collection of pages in the component definition.


The component structure window will reveal the structure of the buffer as well as PeopleCode that is associated with records and fields.

indicates there is PeopleCode associated with the record.


4. Insert Pages into the Component definition.


Pages can also be inserted into the component using the Drag and Drop method using pages involved in the project definition.


5. Click File, Save or

Type Component Definition Name

6. Click


Documents

PeopleSoft Application