Difference between Prompt Table with No Edit and Prompt Table with Edit?

Prompt Table with No Edit:
                                           Provides users with a list of suggested values, but does not edit the contents of the  field against the prompt table. Users can enter any value.

Prompt Table Edit:
                                 Edits the contents of the field against the values that are maintained in the specified prompt table. Selecting this option activates the Prompt Table field.          
                                                                                 

Viewing Record Definitions

You can see four views of the record by selecting View from the main toolbar:

1. Field Display:

                              Shows the basic field definition characteristics for fields in the record definition.   (Len(length), Format, Short Name and Long Name).
 
     2.  Use Display:

                            Shows key-related characteristics and default values for fields that determine how fields are used in a record. 
(Key, Ordr (order), Dir (direction), CurC (currency control), Srch (search), List, Sys (system), Audt (audit), InTypAhd, EnTypAhd, Default).

     3. Edit Diaplay:

                           Shows all editing options (edit as a validation rule) that are available for fields in a record.
(Req (required), Edit, Prompt Table, Set Control Field, Rs Dt (reasonable date), Event).

     4. PeopleCode Display:

                           Shows the different events and the user can choose required event to write PeopleCode.

(Note: Num, Fieldname, Type are commonly appear in all kinds of view.)

Types of Tables in PeopleSoft?

1. SQL Table
2. SQL View
3. Dynamic View
4. Derived/Work
5. SubRecord
6. Queryview
7. Temporary Table.

What is Translate Table?

A Translate Table(xlat) is a prompt table that serves as data dictionary to store values for fields that dont need individual prompt tables of their own.

Limitations of Translate Tables:

• Field type should be character.
• Field Length should be 1 to 4 characters.
• Field values consist of relatively small(static).
• No other Fields related to this Field.

What is Field in PeopleSoft?

Fields are basic building blocks in PeoleSoft, in database terms, they represent columns in a table or view.
Field definitions are standalone development definitions, defined in PeopleSoft Application Designer, and can be shared across multiple Record definitions. Changes to Field properties affect all records that include that Field.
Attributes of Field are:

• Datatype
• Field Name
• Long Name
• Short Name
• Field Length
• Format.

What is PeopleTools?

PeopleTools is a collection of software Programs, utility scripts, database tables and data that provide the framework for creating, using and modifying PeopleSoft applications. PeopleTools provide built-in business functionality and maintain the capability that directly increase productivity and simplify system design.

Eight Steps of Application Development

Application development is a systematic process. Between the design and implementation of the application, you define and build application definitions, establish relationships, implement security, and test every aspect thoroughly. When developing in the PeopleSoft environment, it is helpful to look at the development phase as an eight step process:

  
   1. Design the application.
   2. Create field definitions.
   3. Create record definitions.
   4. Build the application data tables.
   5. Create page definitions.
   6. Define components.
   7. Register the components.
   8. Test the application.

PeopleSoft Application Designer

PeopleSoft Application Designer is the core development tool used to build and modify PeopleSoft applications. PeopleSoft Application Designer enables you to build a variety of definitions, including:

   • Fields.
   • Records (Tables).
   • Pages.
   • Components.
   • Menus.
   • PeopleCode.
   • SQL.

PeopleSoft Internet Architecture Components

The PeopleSoft Internet Architecture consists of Four components:

• Internet Access Device
• Web Server
• Application Server
• Database Server

INTERNET ACCESS DEVICE:
        PIA is completely server-based, so client(workstations) machines to this architecture can be any kind of internet-enabled device, including:

• Web browser running on a PC or Macintosh
• Wireless device
• External or third-party system

        A Web browser is the most common internet access, which uses HTTP protocol. No applets or plug-ins are needed, a servlet installed on the Web Server facilitates all browser connections to the Application Server through JOLT. The Request sent by the browser to the web server is forwarded to the Application Server, in return the Application Server sends only the HTML, JavaScript, Cookies to the browser. The client workstation is free of any processing responsibilities because all processing occurs at server level. This is why PeopleSoft Internet Architecture(PIA) is called as "architecture without a client."

WEB SERVER:
       The Web Server is the intermediary processor that translates HTML and JOLT and maintains the session state for users accessing PeopleSoft through PeopleSoft Internet Architecture(PIA).

Functions of Web Server:

• Data relay between browser and the Application Server.
• Encryption handling.
• Managing connections between the browsers.
• Caching and serving up images, style sheets and Javascripts.
• Managing the user state or page buffers.

      The Web Server must be Java-enabled so that it can run the PeopleSoft-delivered Java Servlets that are installed as part of PeopleSoft Internet Architecture. One of these is the Portal Servlet, which relays all inbound and outbound transaction requests for the browser. Using JOLT, the Web Server communicates browser requests to the Application Server. The pure HTML that the Application Server generates is formatted and presented in the browser by the Portal Servlet. Together the Web Server and the Application Server make up the middle-tier of PIA; however, the Application Server does most of the work.

 APPLICATION SERVER:
      The Application Server is the core of PeopleSoft Internet Architecture. It handles messages from the Web Server through JOLT and executes all PeopleSoft business logic. In addition, it maintains the SQL connection to the Database Server for both browser requests and for the PeopleSoft development environment. PeopleSoft uses TUXEDO to manage database transactions. At execution time, the Application Server fetches the most recent application definitions from the Metadata Repository of the Database Server. The Application Server caches the definitions in memory and executes the business rules, based on the definitions. Definitions such as pages, are created using the Application Designer tool in the PeopleSoft 8 development environment. The Application Server consists of numerous PeopleSoft services and server processes that handle transaction requests. One of these server processes, PSAPPSRV, performs all application processing for a PeopleSoft internet session and generates the HTML to be displayed in the browser. For example, it is the PSAPPSRV process of the Application Server that builds and loads the pages which are then transmitted to the browser, as requested, through the Web Server.
      As you can see, the Application Server is truly the heart of PeopleSoft Internet Architecture.

 DATABASE SERVER:
      Just as in the PeopleSoft three-tier architecture, with the PeopleSoft 8 Internet Architecture, information is stored on the Database Server in three types of tables: System Catalog Tables, PeopleTools Tables, and PeopleSoft Application Data Tables. Each table type contains specific information that is related to running PeopleSoft applications.

      The PeopleSoft database is the repository for all information that is managed by PeopleSoft applications. Not only is application data stored in the database, but the PeopleSoft metadata is also maintained in the database. Metadata is what drives PeopleSoft Internet Architecture. Because PeopleSoft architectures have always been metadata-driven, PeopleSoft has been able to make the leap from client/server to internet-based applications without having to completely rewrite existing applications. Several internet-related definitions were enhanced in PeopleTools 8.4 to enable full internet application development. These are the HTML Catalog, images, and style sheets. Just like fields, records, pages, menus, and other definitions, these definitions are stored in the PeopleTools Tables of the Database Server, and are fully upgradeable. Multiple Application Servers can be connected to a single Database Server, which simultaneously handles the Application Server connections and development environment connections.

PIA - PeopleSoft Integration Technologies

PeopleSoft Integration Technologies:

• Application Messaging - System-to-System Communication.
• Component Interfaces - Transactions from external systems to PeopleSoft.
• Application Engine - Used in batch application processing.
• File Layouts - Used for integration with legacy systems.

PIA supports pure internet access for all PeopleSoft applications. It enables you to take advantage of all of the PeopleSoft intranet and internet solutions, as well as the PeopleSoft Integration Technologies, such as Application Messaging.

These technologies streamline integration of PeopleSoft applications with other PeopleSoft applications, custom internal systems, eMerchants, and customer trading partner systems. By supporting the open flow of information between systems, the PeopleSoft Integration Technlogies provide true internet-based system integration.

PeopleSoft Internet Architecture

The PeopleSoft Internet Architecture (PIA) is a server-centric component architecture that enables secure end user access to the PeopleSoft applications. Its components include the following:

• Internet Access Device
• Web Server
• Application Server
• Database Server

PeopleSoft Internet Architecture is really an architecture without a client. There are no PeopleSoft executables on the client. Thus, the client can be any internet device that uses standard internet technologies such as HTTP, HyperText Markup Language (HTML), and XML to communicate with the PeopleSoft Internet Application Server.

A web browser running on a PC is the most common internet client. The PeopleSoft Internet Application Server simply serves HTML and JavaScript to the web browser and the end user navigates through the PeopleSoft application just like navigating any other website.

PeopleSoft Modules

The PeopleSoft Modules are:

1. Asset Lifecycle Management
2. Campus Solutions
3. Customer Relationship Management
4. Enterprise Performance Management
5. Enterprise Portal
6. Enterprise Service Automation
7. Financial Management
8. Human Capital Management
9. Supplier Relationship Management(Procurement)
10. Supply Chain Management