Showing posts with label PeopleTools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PeopleTools. Show all posts

Tuesday 3 October 2017

PeopleTools 8.55- Pivot Grid Enhancement

 People Tools 8.55 introduces a number of important enhancements to the Pivot Grid functionality, beginning with the Fluid UI adoption of PeopleSoft Related Content framework. By using enhanced Pivot Grids, users can access a wide variety of transactional and analytic content online, in context with their daily work, rather than requiring them to produce static reports.
Pivot Grids content will be available to users within dynamic Fluid Tiles, on the Related Content pane, on Fluid Dashboards as well as a number of other easily accessible uses within the PeopleSoft applications.
New Pivot Grid enhancements in 8.55 release of People Tools span multiple aspects of this important functional area. People tools 8.55 focused more on concerns for performance as well as the ease of use of Pivot Grids for developers and business analysts to design, construct and publish Pivot Grids. From People Tools 8.55, Composite Query is added as a source for Pivot Grid content, a feature that greatly extends the reusability of a portfolio of underlying modular query sources.
Pivot Grids also provides the option for users to “Save As,” so that users  can name and save a Pivot Grid definition for their own future use. This section describes the new features for Pivot Grid, including:

  • Simplified Analytics
  • Introducing Editable Facet in Fluid
  •  Introducing  Single select and Multi select Facets
  • Sort Data in Pivot Grid Fluid
  •  Drilling URLS in Fluid
  • Format Date Fields in Pivot Grids Charts/Grid
  •  Introducing new Aggregate Function ‘Count Distinct’
  •  Introducing new Dual Y Axis
  •  Display Mode Section now Removed
  •  Introducing Threshold Settings Configuration
  •  Introducing Composite Queries as Data Source
  •  Copy Pivot Grid Model Now available for all users.

Create Contextual Reports using Simplified Analytics:

1.       Starting People Tools 8.55, Simplified Analytics feature enables users to create contextual reports when accessing an application page.
2.       The Simplified Analytics feature is only available for fluid components, and this feature must be enabled for fluid components before users can use the Simplified Analytics wizard to create and view analytic reports.
3.       Users can create own Pivot grid models for Simplified Analytics, starting People Tools 8.55!
4.       Associate one or more pivot grid models to a component
5.       Map page fields to the prompts that are associated with the template model and define the required context.




Introducing ‘Editable Facet’ for Fluid:

1.       Use the Editable Facet field in Pivot Grid Wizard to enable the data source columns as editable facets (prompts) in fluid view.

2.       Enable this option for the columns that are set as Axis or Value and not Display in the column type.

3.       Different operators are available for different type of fields.

4.       Editable facets are valid only while viewing the Pivot Grid models in fluid view.

Note: Editable facets are not applied while viewing the pivot grid in classic view.



Introducing Single-select and Multi-select Facets:

1.       Use the Specify Data Model Options page, Fluid Mode Options section, Facet Selection region to set the facet display options to display the single-select and multi-select facets as charts and as lists in fluid views.
2.       In the chart facets, drill down by clicking the chart data point in the facets.
Note: Update Filters option can be used in the Menu Options list to add or remove existing facets in the model.Inorder to sort data in facets and filters, use the Facet Sort icon at the top-right of each facet




  Sort Data in Pivot Grid Fluid:

   Sorting the data is possible in four areas of the Pivot Grid fluid views: detailed view, facets or filters, charts, or grids, (sorting facts only).




  Drilling URLs in Fluid:

1.      Use the Specify Data Model Options page, Fluid Mode Options section, Drilling URL Options region to define how mapped drilling URLs will appear in fluid view.
2.      The available options are Full Page Modal, Modal Window, New Window, and Replace Window.



   Format ‘Date’ fields in Pivot Grid charts/grids:

1.       Use the Date Format field on the My Preferences page (Main Homepage, My Reference, and Regional Settings) to set the format of the date fields in Pivot Grid charts and Pivot Grid grids.
2.       The format settings at this page are applied for all date values in fluid view.

   Note: This applies to classic view as well.



   Introducing new Aggregate function ‘Count Distinct:

1.       Beginning from People Tools 8.55, additional option Count Distinct is available to define the aggregate functions.
2.       Note that Count or Count Distinct aggregates are available for the fact fields that are set to character.



   Introducing new ‘Dual Y Axis’:

1.       This is available only for the columns that are set to Y axis.
2.       Use this column to set the corresponding Y axis column as a dual Y axis on the Pivot Grid charts; this means that the system will display a second Y axis on the chart.
3.       The values for the second Y axis will be plotted like a Series on the chart.
4.       Now use Multiple Columns as Y-Axis.
5.       When Pivot Grid Wizard is used to specify axis information, multiple columns can be set as Y axes, and these Y axes will be plotted as series on the charts.


   Display Mode’ section now removed:

1.      Beginning from People Tools 8.55, the Display Mode section is no longer available in Pivot Grid Wizard, Specifying Data Model Options page.
2.      Use the Pivot Grid Viewer search page to open and view the Pivot Grid models in either fluid view or classic view.
PeopleTools-8.54


PeopleTools-8.55

  Introducing Threshold Settings Configuration:

Ø  Use the Configure Thresholds page to configure the basic threshold settings for the grids and the charts. 

  Note:All threshold settings are applied for both classic and fluid views.


   Introducing Composite Queries as Data Source:

1.       People Tools8.55 onwards, composites queries can be associated as the data sources while creating Pivot Grid models.
2.       The steps used to create composite query Pivot Grid models are similar to the steps used to create PS Query or component Pivot Grid models.


   Copy Pivot Grid Models’- now available for All Users:

1.       In the previous People Tools releases, only Pivot Grid administrators could copy an existing Pivot Grid models while viewing the models in Pivot Grid Viewer.
2.       Beginning from People Tools 8.55, all users can use the Save As option in the Menu Options list to copy the current Pivot Grid model and save it as a different one.
3.       If personalisation are defined for the current Pivot Grid model, then personalisation are also copied and included in the new model.



   Pivot Grid Configuration

   While creating a pivot grid model, the configuration is stored as application data in numerous People Tools Pivot Grid Tables.    

   Application Data can be migrated using either:
  •     Data Mover ->  No compare or validation.
  •       Data Migration Work Bench -> Ability to perform a compare


   Migrating Pivot Grids Models with Data Mover:

1.       On the source database, select Reporting tools, pivot grid, pivot grid Administration.
2.       Select the Generate Scripts Tab.
3.       Search for and select the pivot grids to export.
4.       Optionally include personalization.
5.       Click Generate Scripts.
6.       Copy the Export Scripts to a file.
7.       Copy the Import Script to a file.

   To Export the Pivot Grid Model:

1.       Sign onto Data Mover for the source database
2.       Open the export script in Data mover.
3.      Modify the script for the output file locations and name, if desired.
4.      Execute the script.
5.      The .dat and Log files are created.

    To Import the Pivot Grid on the Target Database:

1.       Sign on to data mover on the target database.
2.       Open the import script in Data Mover.
3.       Modify the script for the output file locations and name, if desired.
4.       Execute the script.

    NOTE: This will import the Pivot Grid only-the PS Query for the pivot grid must exist on the target database.

    Data Migration Work Bench
  ·         Ability to perform a compare



   Best Practices:
       Use query with no joins and unions
       Don’t use the query that has and expression as the axis field.
        Make sure that Query performance should be efficient enough to render quickly in the grid and in the chart.
       Pivot Grids offer a strong option for analytical reporting needs.  
       The data needed to manage the company will be at user’s fingertips.
       PeopleSoft Pivot Grids enables users to drill down to the transactional level. 
       Eliminates the need for exporting the data to excel and pivoting it over there
       Another added advantage is that user could configure related actions.

  Benefits:
       Pivot Grids offer a strong option for analytical reporting needs.  
       The data needed to manage the company will be at user’s fingertips.
       PeopleSoft Pivot Grids enables users to drill down to the transactional level. 
       Eliminates the need for exporting the data to excel and pivoting it over there
      Another added advantage is that user could configure related actions.
    Limitations:

       It does not have a vertical scroll bar for viewing data, but it displays all possible rows based on the current layout.
        Pagination is not available.
        Pivot Grid supports up to 75 axes and values and the character limit for each is 30.

Author: Keerthi Chaitanya P
Kovaion Consulting- PeopleSoft Practice


Monday 11 September 2017

PeopleTools 8.56- Classic Plus

Introduction:
With the new release of PeopleTools 8.56, Oracle has introduced many features which take the User Experience to whole new level and Classic Plus is one amongst them.

Not all the components/pages can be  converted to fluid and Oracle has come up with a new feature in PT 8.56 called Classic Plus (Classic+) which converts classic pages to Fluid ones and thus brings unified look and feel within PeopleSoft.       

Business Benefits:
  •  Improves end user experience exceptionally when the user switching between classic and fluid pages.

 Development Benefits:
  • Reduces amount of rework drastically as the page layout will adjust automatically in Classic Plus compared to changing the component property to fluid mode.

 Best Practices:
The following steps are recommended to make use of Classic+ feature for the application.
  •  Enable global Classic Plus setting in Branding System Options.
  • Enable “Apply Fluid like theme for Classic” in Style tab at component level.
  • Test the page layout and adjust whereever necessary.

 Development of Classis Plus:

Step 1: Enable global Classic Plus setting in Branding System Options.


Navigate through Navigator -> PeopleTools -> Portal -> Branding -> Branding System Options and select Theme Style Type as Fluid like theme for Classic under Classic Components sections and click on save as shown in the screenshot below.

Let us take an example of Personal Data page of converting from classic to fluid using Classic+ feature.

Personal Data page before enabling Classic plus:


Step 2: Open the component in application designer and enable Fluid like theme for Classic option under style tab and save the component as show below.



Personal Data page after enabling Classic plus:


Limitations:
  •  The feature is limited to look and feel only and the classic plus pages are not as responsive as Fluid pages.
  • Rework on some page layout adjustment may be required for complex pages as this feature changes the size of objects.
  •  Though it is a small and simple change, users will not be able to enable as it requires a customization at component level.
      Author: Lakshmi Deepak P
      Kovaion Consulting -PeopleSoft Practice
      Email: lakshmi.deepak@kovaion.com

Thursday 8 January 2015

PeopleSoft Fluid User Interface

 With the latest release of PeopleTools 8.54  , Oracle has introduced  the Fluid User  Interface experience.
The Fluid UI provides the users with the ability to access PeopleSoft applications across a variety of form factors from smart phones to tablets to desktops/laptops. Fluid also provides a common user experience on variety of devices regardless of the screen size. Through this responsive design, browser will resize itself depending on device size.

Lets have  a look at the home page that is rendered after the latest peopletools has been used.



The important features of home pages are as below:
  •  Home Pages
  •  Tiles
  • PeopleSoft Search widget
  •   Notifications widget
  • Actions widget
  • Navigation Bar widget.
The fundamental feature of the Fluid Model is the Home Page which provides the base for the users or the customers to navigate and carry out the respective works.
In a way Fluid home pages are similar to the current home pages but  fluid model provides the end user with the new User experience that renders well on the dashboard or the home pages.

Tiles/Grouplets are lifeline of Fluid UI page. Tiles help the user to navigate to a fluid page or classic PIA page.

Business Benefits

  •  Device independent
  • Gives the response based on user device
  • Can be personalized based on needs e.g. Tiles can be added or deleted from homepage based on personal needs

      Development Steps 

Let us design a simple fluid UI page for following requirement..
  • To create a fluid homepage for Recruiter
  • To add a tile for Applicant search
      1) Development of Fluid Home Page


Developing a fluid home page is fairly easy and is done through PIA.
Navigation:  Peopletools> Structure and Content>Fluid Structure and Content>Fluid Homepages.

Add a new homepage. Usage Type should be Landing Page as shown in figure below.


       2)      Development of a Fluid Component

Development of a fluid component goes in the same traditional PeopleSoft way- creation of fields, record, page, component, menu and finally creating the content reference. Fluid properties are defined at page and component level.

Step1: Create a new fluid page



While creating a new fluid page, choose Layout Page. Layout page is the template page for a fluid UI page.

Step2: Select Fluid UI Page Properties

After page is created, fluid UI properties can be set in Page properties.



In Page properties, user should focus more on Form Factor Override and Suppress Form Factor.
Form Factor Override: Overrides the style of page based on device size.
Suppress Form Factor: Suppresses the page from displaying based on device size. E.g.  If Small is checked, page will not appear on most smart phones.

Step 3: Create a new component.

Creating a new fluid component works in the same traditional PIA way. But the search pages are not displayed for fluid applications.

Step 4: Set component fluid properties



As shown in above figure, there are two main checkboxes, Fluid mode and Small Form Factor Optimized


Step6: Add the Tile in home page

Navigation: Main Menu>Fluid Home>Homepage 
  1. Click on Action Widget
  2. Click on Personalize
  3. Click on Add Tile
  4. Select the content reference which has to be added as a tile.
  Fluid UI is ready for test.








Clicking on tile 'Applicant List' will open  the designed Fluid UI page.






















Best Practices:
 Always check Display on Small form Factor Homepage while creating the content reference. This will show the tile on small devices
.
Limitations:
  • Classic PIA search for a component does not work in Fluid. User should create a separate search by selecting the correct layout.
  • Currently, only light weighted applications can be deployed in fluid mode e.g. components like add a person, job data which demands heavy data entry are not suited for fluid mode.
  • Currently, some features, like spell check, rich text editor, Find In for grids, Download to Excel, modal movement or re-sizing, are not available in fluid.

         Author: Madhur Mohini
  Kovaion-Peoplesoft Consulting Practice
         Email: madhur.mohini@kovaion.com