XMLP

USM Regional Conference

XML/BI PublisherPeopleTools Release 8.48

November 16, 2007

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What is XML Publisher?

Starting in release 8.48, Oracle XML Publisher (XMLP) was incorporated into PeopleTools to enhance the reporting capability of PeopleSoft Applications.

XML Publisher is synonymous with BI Publisher (Business Intelligence). The two terms are interchangeable.

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What is XML Publisher?

XML Publisher is a Java-based reporting tool that makes report generation more efficient by separating the data extraction logic from the report layout.

DataExtraction

Report Layout

XML Publisher

Report Output

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What is XML Publisher?

Report templates can be created using common software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, etc., while data sources can come from PeopleSoft Queries, rowsets, XML document objects, or XML files.

The separation of data sources and report templates allow end users to modify the report layout, using familiar desktop applications, without the assistance of technical developers once the data source of the report is created.

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Running a Query-Based XMLP Report

Main Menu > Reporting Tools > XML Publisher > Query Report Viewer

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XMLP Report Output Types

There are four XMLP report output types:

HTM

PDF

RTF

XLS

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Data Source

Let’s examine the data source for the delivered report that we just ran:

Main Menu > Reporting Tools > XML Publisher > Data Source

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Types of Data Source

There are four types of XMLP report data sources:

PS Query

Rowset

XML File

XMLDoc

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Report Definition

It is in the Report Definition that a Data Source is associated with one or more layout template files.

Navigate to the Report Definition component. Open up the report definition named JPM_CATI_RPT(“Content Items Report”).

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Report Definition

Main Menu > Reporting Tools > XML Publisher > Report Definition

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Report Definition - Template

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Report Definition - Template

Notice the Level 1 and Level 2 scroll areas on the Template page. Each report can have multiple templates. But only one template can be the default template. When the report is run, any of the templates can be specified.

Notice that each template can have one or more template files associated with it. Each template file assigned to a template must have a unique effective date.

In order to be available at runtime, a template file must be “Active”.

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Report Definition - Template

You will not be able to save a report definition unless it has been associated with at least one active template file. Therefore, you must design the layout of your report (the template) before you can create the report definition.

On the Template page, template files can be uploaded, downloaded, and previewed. When you preview a template, generic data is used to provide an example of the layout of the report.

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Setting Up XML Publisher

Setting up your PeopleSoft system to use XML Publisher requires just a few steps.

The XDO configuration file identifies the location of the cache directory for your application server domain.

There must be at least one “Report Category,”which is a required attribute for all report definitions and sub-templates.

It is a good idea to install the Template Builder plug-in for Microsoft Word. This will make it easier to design RTF templates for your reports.

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Setting Up the XDO Configuration File

In the “appserv” directory, under “PSHOME”you will find a file called “xdo.cfg”.

One of the “property” tags in this file identifies the “system-temp-dir.”

The value for this property must point to the CACHE directory for your application server domain.

For example, if your application server domain is called CSDMO90, the system-temp-dir setting in the xdo.cfg file would be: [PS_HOME]/appserv/CSDMO90/CACHE.

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Setting Up the XDO Configuration File

This example is from a Windows server environment, where the name of the application server domain is HRDMO90 (The Application Server does not need to be restarted after the xdo.cfg file is modified):

<config version="1.0.0" xmlns="http://xmlns.oracle.com/oxp/config/"><properties>

<!-- System level properties --><property name="xslt-xdoparser">true</property> <property name="xslt-scalable">true</property><property name="system-temp-dir">T:\PT848\appserv\HRDMO90\CACHE</property><property name="system-cachepage-size">50</property><!-- PDF compression --><property name="pdf-compression">true</property><!-- PDF Security --><!-- <property name="pdf-security">true</property> --><!-- <property name="pdf-open-password">user</property> --><!-- <property name="pdf-permissions-password">owner</property> -->

</properties></config>

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Setting Up Report Categories

Report Category is a required field for all report definitions and sub-templates.

Report categories define groups that enable control over who can access and edit report definitions and sub-templates.

There is one delivered report category: ALLUSER.

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Setting Up Report Categories

Main Menu > Reporting Tools > XML Publisher > Setup > Report Categories

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The Template Builder for Microsoft Word

This plug-in for Microsoft Word helps facilitate the development of RTF template documents in Microsoft Word.

It allows you to associate an XML file with a report template, and easily map the tags in the XML file to fields that appear in the report.

Much of the basic syntax that is necessary will be imbedded in the form fields in the Word document.

You must have Microsoft word installed prior to installing the plug-in.

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The Template Builder for Microsoft Word

The following navigation will allow you to download the Template Builder for Microsoft Word:

Main Menu > Reporting Tools > XML Publisher > Setup > Design Helper

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The Template Builder for Microsoft Word

You can also find the Design Helper in the <PSHOME> directory:

<PSHOME>\webserv\<webservername>\applications\peoplesoft\PORTAL\ps\xmlp\xmlp_desktop.zip

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Steps to Create Your Own XMLP Report

You can create your own XMLP report using the following steps:

1.Create a Query.

2.Create the Data Source.

3.Create the Template.

4.Create the Report Definition.

5.Run and test the XMLP Report.

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XMLP Roles

In order to run or develop XMLP reports, the users need these roles:

XMLP Power User (Running XMLP reports).

XMLP Report Developer (Creating XMLP definitions).

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Step 1: Creating a Query

Main Menu > Reporting Tools > Query > Query Manager

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Step 2: Creating the Data Source

Main Menu > Reporting Tools > XML Publisher > Data Source

On the “Data Source” search page, select Add a New Value:

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Step 2: Creating the Data Source

When the Data Source page displays, click on each of the Generate hyperlinks near the bottom of the page. Save the Data Source definition.

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Step 2: Creating the Data Source

Click on the hyperlink for the Sample Data File.

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Step 2: Creating the Data Source

Save that XML file to an appropriate directory. You will need to retrieve it in the next step, when you import it into your report template.

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Step 3: Creating the Template

Open up Microsoft Word. The Template Builder, that was installed earlier, provides a new pull-down menu and a tool bar menu.

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Step 3: Creating the Template

Start a new document in Word. Under the “File”menu, select “Page Setup…”. Set the left and right margins to 0.5”.

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Step 3: Creating the Template

On the Template Builder menu, click on the Data menu, and select “Load XML Data…”:

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Step 3: Creating the Template

Select the XML file that was created when you saved the sample data file while defining the data source. A message will appear indicating that the data was successfully loaded.

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Step 3: Creating the Template

Save the Word document as an RTF file.

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Step 3: Creating the Template

Put a title at the top of the document and center the text:

Below the title, on the left side, type the following text: “Query Name:”. One line below, type “Number of Rows:”

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Step 3: Creating the Template

Place your cursor in your document to the right of the text “Query Name.” From the Template Builder menu, select “Insert, Field…”. The Field Creator dialog will appear.

Find the @queryname field in the list. Double-click on it so it appears to the right of the corresponding label you have created in your report. Apply the same technique with the @numrows field.

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Step 3: Creating the Template

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Step 3: Creating the Template

Create a blank line or two in your document, under the fields you just added.

A table is a convenient way of displaying the results of our query because there are multiple rows of data. Click on the Insert menu and select “Table/Form…”:

Table Structure Window

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Step 3: Creating the Template

In the Data Source window on the left, click on the word “Row” (which appears bold) and drag it into Table Structure window in the middle. When the pop-up prompts you to choose from three menu items, select “Drop All Nodes”.

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Step 3: Creating the Template

You have defined the structure of the row for the table.

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Step 3: Creating the Template

Click the “OK” button to insert the table into your document. Save the document again.

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Step 3: Creating the Template

Click Preview on the Template Builder menu and select PDF. Notice that four different types of output are available for preview: PDF, HTML, Excel, and RTF. The preview does not use real data.

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Step 3: Creating the Template

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Step 4: Creating the Report Definition

Main Menu > Reporting Tools > XML Publisher > Report Definition

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Step 4: Creating the Report Definition

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Step 4: Creating the Report Definition

Click the Upload button. Select the RTF template file that you have previously defined.

Note: You will not be able to save a report definition unless it has at least one active template file assigned to it.

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Step 5: Running and Testing the XMLP Report

Main Menu > Reporting Tools > XML Publisher > Query Report Viewer

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Modifying the Template

After you test a report, you may decide to make changes to it to improve the layout.

Your modified template will not be applied to the report until you re-associate it with the report definition.

Each report definition can have multiple templates defined. Only one template can be the default template for a report definition.

Each template must have at least one active template file associated with it. Within each template, each template file must have a unique Effective Date.

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Modifying the Query Definition

Any changes you make to the criteria in the query that affects the number of rows returned will be reflected the next time the XMLP report is run. There is no need to change or update any setting in the data source definition or report definition.

If you add more fields to an existing query (modifying the SELECT clause), this will not be reflected in the report until you regenerate the sample data and schema files associated with the Data Source definition.

Also, you need to modify the report template to show the new field(s) and associate the new template with the report definition.

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Sorting Data

You have the option of defining the sorting rules in the query definition. But you can also specify sorting preferences in the template of the report.

You can dictate the sorting rules while defining a table or you can do it in a more manual way by inserting the code into the template directly.

When you are defining a table, you have the option of sorting the rows by any column in that row.

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Sorting Data

When you click on the word “Row” in the middle of the Insert Table/Form dialog box, the “Sort by”field appears along with several other options on the right.

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Adding Images to Your Reports

You can insert a .jpg, .gif, or .png file into a template.

After you decide where you would like an image to appear in your report, place your cursor in that position. In MS Word, click Insert > Picture > From File…

Use the “Insert” menu that is part of the regular Word menu, not the “Insert”menu item in the Template Builder menu.

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Conditional Formatting

You can choose to change the formatting of your report output based on whether or not a certain condition is met. XML Publisher supports the use of “if”statements.

The following syntax is placed at the beginning of the conditional area: <?if:condition?>.

The following syntax is placed at the end of the conditional area: <?end if?>.

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Conditional Formatting

To insert an “if” statement in your MS Word template, you can insert the appropriate syntax directly into the template or place the syntax in a “Text Form Field.”

If you choose to hide the syntax in a form field, you have to define a “Text Form Field.”Make sure the “Forms” toolbar is visible in Word.

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USM Regional Conference

Wrap Up and Additional Questions