Utilities

Preview HTML in Message Catalog

The spell check functionality in the message catalog actually lets you preview HTML. For example if you were to specify the following in a message catalog entry:

Then do a spell check on the explanation text, you'll notice that the HTML formatting has been applied:

A good way to preview your HTML to make sure it looks like it should.Journal Upload Process and XML Link

XML Link is used in a few places, for example the PeopleSoft Finance Journal Upload process. It is part of Business Interlinks.

You can test Business Interlinks from:

PeopleTools > Utilities > Debug > PeopleTools Test Utilities

 

PeopleTools > Utilities > Administration > XML Link Function Registry

For PeopleSoft Finance Journal Upload Process:

Service = Excel_Journal_Import

WEBLIB_GL.JOURNAL_ID

Check users have access to WEBLIB_XMLLINK (PSAUTHWEBLIBVW) and WEBLIB_GLConfiguration Manager

Configuration manager is a PeopleSoft Windows based application for configuring connecting settings for two tier (database) and three tier (application server) access to a PeopleSoft installation. It creates and loads configuration files (.cfg) into the Windows registry.

The executable for starting configuration manager is pscfg.exe and lives under:

%PS_HOME%\bin\client\winx86\

Configuration manager can also be used to configure local trace settings. With the move to the PIA (PeopleSoft Internet Architecture) in PeopleSoft 8+, configuration manager is now only used for external PeopleTools application such as application designer and data mover.Personalization Settings

PeopleTools personalization options can be used to set whether you tab over grid tabs, header icons and lookup buttons when entering data into PeopleSoft pages.

As a keyboard user, this can get incredibly annoying because you have to double tab over lookup buttons. Another application for this is with barcode scanners which typically scan a value followed by tab or return.

Personalisations can be set globally through:

PeopleTools > Personalization > Personalization Options

For the PPLT PeopleTools option category level.

These are the User Options:

GRDTAB tab over grid tabs

HDRICN tab over header icons

LKPBTN tab over lookup buttons

These options can also be set for individual users using:

My Personalizations > Navigation Personalizations

There are other tab over options available here too.

Crystal EXE path not specified

When configuring the process scheduler on the NT server, the following message appears:

Errors encountered installing PS ODBC driver and Crystal Runtime

Refer to psodbccrinst.log for details

ODBC driver and NVision/Crystal DLLs installation incomplete!

The message goes on to tell you that the details of the error have been logged to %Temp%\psodbccrinst.log.

In this log file, the following error appears:

Crystal EXE path not specified, aborting Crystal configuration...

Crystal configuration failed!

What this means is that the CrystalEXEPath has not been set in the [Crystal] section of psprcs.cfg. Set this to the location of your Crystal Reports installation (where crw32.exe resides). For example:

[Crystal]

;=========================================================================

; Trace settings for Crystal

;=========================================================================

CrystalEXEPath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Business Objects\BusinessObjects Enterprise 12.0\win32_x86

Trace=NO

TraceFile=%TEMP%\CRYSTAL.TRC

Portal External URL

To add an external URL into your portal registry:

PeopleTools > Portal > Structure and Content

Add a New Content Reference

Specify the unique content reference name

Specify the sequence number to get it in the right order in the portal (if required)

Check the No Template check box if you do not want a portal wrapper (header and left-nav) around the link.

Change the URL type to Non-PeopleSoft URL

Specify the URL in the Portal URL

If you want the link to open in a new window add a content reference attribute with:

Name = NAVNEWWIN

Label = New Window (Can be what you like)

Attribute Value = true

Make sure you add the appropriate permission lists in the security tab so your users can see it. If you experience caching issues, issue the purge servlet directive.

Here's an example of how you would add a link to the PeopleSoft Wiki that displays in a new window without the portal wrapper:

DCOMCNFG for Office Applications

Sometimes you need to run DCOMCNFG on Windows servers to configure Microsoft Office (Excel/Word) applications and tweak certain settings.

Usually the directions point to navigating to the following area in the DCOMCNFG configuration page:

Component Services > Computers > My Computer > DCOM Config

Then finding the appropriate Microsoft Office application and changing its properties. Problem is, sometimes you can't find the applications even though they are installed! What's going on?

Well it turns out that if you are on a 64bit OS, you still need to run the 32bit version of DCOMCNFG as Microsoft Office is largely a 32 bit application.

To do so, here's the command:

Start > Run > DCOMCNFG -32

Simple when you know how. You should now be able to see the relevant entries e.g. Microsoft Excel Application and Microsoft Office Word 97-2003 Document. Interestingly, there's also one in there for PeopleSoft.ApplicationDesigner.

Configuration Manager Command Line

Configuration manager (pscfg.exe) includes a number of command line options. These can be displayed if you call the process with the /? parameter.

Here's the list for reference:

Usage: PSCFG [-import:<file>] [-export:<file>] [-setup [-noodbc] [-nopsodbc]] [-psodbc] [-clean] [-quiet]

-import:<file> - imports configuration settings from named file

-export:<file> - exports configuration settings to named file

-setup - setup client workstation, can be used with -import parameter

-noodbc - turn off ODBC Driver manager install during setup

-nopsodbc - turn off PeopleSoft ODBC driver install during setup

-psodbc - install PeopleSoft ODBC Driver only

-clean - remove PeopleSoft registry entries, cache files and shortcut links

-quiet - quiet mode, suppress message boxes

Some of the really hand ones here for script purposes are the -import, -export and clean options.

Here are some examples:

To import settings from an existing configuration file:

pscfg.exe -import:C:\Example.cfg

To export the current settings in configuration manager to a file:

pscfg.exe -export:C:\Example.cfg

To remove all configuration manager settings and cache so you can import configuration settings with a clean slate:

pscfg.exe -clean

pscfg.exe -import:C:\Example.cfg

The last example makes a good basis for a batch script for switching environments.

Here's a simple batch file example that sets %PS_HOME%, cleans and load a new configuration.

@echo off

rem Load configuration for <Your Environment>

echo.

echo Setting %PS_HOME% to <Your PS_HOME>

set PS_HOME=<PS_HOME>

cd \

cd %PS_HOME%\bin\client\winx86

echo.

echo Cleaning existing configuration.

pscfg.exe -clean -quiet

echo.

echo Loading configuration for <Your Environment>

pscfg.exe -import:%PS_HOME%\<YourConfigurationFile>.cfg

Clear PeopleTools Cache

The PeopleTools cache refers to the local cache on your PC for any PeopleTools programs that you run on your local PC such as application designer, data mover, and configuration manager.

The following is a VBScript that reads the location of your PeopleTools cache and clears out all files. Effectively clearing your PeopleTools cache for all PeopleSoft environments you have accessed.

To use this script, copy and paste the source code below and save the file as ClearPeopleToolsCache.vbs on your PC. Double click on it to run it. The program will prompt you to delete your PeopleTools cache, and ask that you close all PeopleTools windows before you start. The cache cannot be cleared if there are active PeopleTools applications running on your PC.

 NOTE: with so much malicious software being saved as .VBS, you will get prompted by Windows to confirm you want to run this file.

Basically the script:

Finds the cache settings base directory in the registry (the registry path will need adjusting based on your PeopleTools version)

If the cache directory exist, it delets the folder then recreates it

Dim Response

Dim CacheDir

Set WshShell = CreateObject( "WScript.Shell" )

Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

 

CacheDir = WshShell.RegRead( "HKCU\Software\PeopleSoft\PeopleTools\Release8.40\Cache Settings\CacheBaseDir")

If fso.FolderExists(CacheDir) Then

 Response=MsgBox("Delete all files from your PeopleTools cache?", 36, "Delete Cache?")

 If Response = 6 Then

 Response=MsgBox("Do you have all PeopleTools windows closed?", 36, "Delete Cache?")

 If Response = 6 Then

 On Error Resume Next

 fso.DeleteFolder CacheDir

 fso.CreateFolder CacheDir

 If Err.Number = 0 Then

 Response=MsgBox("Cache has been deleted", 64, "Cache Deleted")

 Else

 Response=MsgBox("Unable to delete cache - files may be in use.", 64, "Cache Delete Error")

 End If

 End If

 End If

Else

 Response=MsgBox("Cache Directory does not exist - Recreating", 16, "Cache Cannot Be Deleted")

 fso.CreateFolder CacheDir

End If

PeopleSoft Keyboard Shortcuts

Hot keys perform immediate actions. When you press one, the designated action occurs. Note that several hot keys perform different functions depending on the page that you are on, such as a transaction page or a search page.

ALT+1

Saves a page in a transaction.

Moves to the Search or Add button on a search or look up page.

Moves to the OK button on a secondary page.

ALT+2

Returns to the search page from the transaction page.

ALT+3

View the next row in the list when the button is active.

ALT+4

View the previous row the in list when the button is active.

ALT+5

Accesses the Look Up page.

Opens the calendar prompt.

ALT+6

Opens the pop-up window on a page.

ALT+7

Inserts a row in a grid or scroll area.

ALT+8

Deletes a row in a grid or scroll area.

ALT+9

Accesses help

ALT+0

When in Expert Entry mode, activates the Refresh button, which validates the data entered on the page.

ALT + .

View the next set of rows in a grid or scroll area.

ALT + ,

View a previous set of rows in a grid or scroll area.

ALT + /

Finds data in a grid or scroll area.

ALT + '

View all rows of data in a grid, scroll area, or search page results list.

ALT + \

Toggles between Add a New Value and Find an Existing Value on a search page.

Toggles between Update/Display, Include History, and Correct History action modes on the toolbar on a transaction page.

CTRL + J

Displays the system information page.

CTRL + K

When on a search or transaction page, accesses a page with a list of keyboard navigation shortcuts using hot keys and access keys.

CTRL + Y

Toggles the menu pagelet between collapse and expand.

CTRL + Z

Accesses the menu search box.

CTRL + TAB

Toggles the focus through the frame set.

ENTER

Activates the OK button, where appropriate.

On a search page, activates the search button.

On a look up page, activates the lookup button.

ESC

Activates the Cancel button, where appropriate.

LogParser

LogParser is a command line driven tool from Microsoft for parsing web server log files. However, it's true power is in the fact that it can be used to "query" log files (various file formats) using familar SQL syntax.

You can download the latest version from Microsoft. Once installed, add it to your system path and you can run it form the command line.

Here are some examples of LogParser commands to search for text in application server logs:

Search for errors in all application server log files

C:\Temp\Logs>LogParser -i:TEXTLINE "SELECT SUBSTR(SUBSTR(TEXT, INDEX_OF(TEXT, '['), 18), 1, 18) as DATE_TIME_STAMP, 

SUBSTR(SUBSTR(TEXT, INDEX_OF(TEXT, ']'), 1000), 5, 1000) AS LOG_TEXT 

from APPSRV*.LOG where TEXT like '%Warning%'" -o:DATAGRID

Search for warnings in particular application server log file

C:\Temp\Logs>LogParser -i:TEXTLINE "SELECT SUBSTR(SUBSTR(TEXT, INDEX_OF(TEXT, '['), 18), 1, 18) as DATE_TIME_STAMP, 

SUBSTR(SUBSTR(TEXT, INDEX_OF(TEXT, ']'), 1000), 5, 1000) AS LOG_TEXT from APPSRV_0902.LOG where TEXT like '%Warning%'" -o:DATAGRID

 NOTE: the from clause specifies the log file(s), and the where TEXT like '%' is the search term you want to find in the file. The substring formatting you see at the start is to make the output of the log file more readable so you just see a date/time stamp and the matching line(s) in the log file.

The output setting in these cases is datagrid which brings up a GUI data grid like this:

nVision

This articles provides some help around setting up nVision.

On a new Windows process scheduler install, there are a few steps required to get PeopleSoft nVision working. These include:

Install .NET Framework

Install OpenXmlSDK from PS_HOME\setup\OpenXmlSDK

Run Microsoft Excel and get past any of the initial install screens

Run PS_HOME\bin\client\winx86\psnvs.exe -register from the command line

Start nVision client (psnvs.exe) and try running a few nVision reports locally on the process scheduler.

If you see this:

Make sure you have run the PS_HOME\bin\client\winx86\psnvs.exe -register command.

In PeopleTools 8.51, running on Windows 2008 R2 and Office 2007, drill downs run from the web were giving the following OpenXml errors:

An OpenXml error occured. File contains corrupted data. (28,244)

...

An OpenXml error occured. Object reference not set to an instance of an object. (28,244)

...

DrillDown only works at the intersection of an amount row and column. (28,123)

To fix, set the UseExcelAutomation=1 flag in the psprcs.cfg file, and restart the process scheduler.

If you are trying to run the nVision client (psnvs.exe) and you receive the following message:

PeopleSoft PeopleTools DSN is missing in ODBC Data Sources.

Quit nVision, Use Configuration Manager, Client Setup, check on Install

PeopleSoft ODBC Driver, click Apply and reload nVision

It means that the ODBC configuration is not correct, and typically occurs on 64 bit versions of Windows. The instructions to fix this in the message probably won't be available to you anymore in newer versions of PeopleTools. Also, simply doing an Install Workstation from configuration manager won't work either.

To fix you'll need to run psodbccrinst.exe from PS_HOME\bin\client\winx86\. When you run this, you'll get the following messages (you can ignore the Crystal configuration failed message for nVision setup):

Installing PeopleSoft ODBC Driver

Installing PeopleSoft ODBC Driver - Complete

Crystal Runtime not found, aborting Crystal configuration...

Crystal configuration failed!

Done, press Enter key to exit...