The Power of Meta-Data

In my last post, What is a WEBLIB, I said that WEBLIB_QUERY was in permission list PTPT1000. How did I know that? I queried the PeopleTools tables. PeopleTools tables are tables in your database prefixed with PS, but no underscore. As you know, generally speaking, all Application Designer created records are prefixed with PS_. Most of the PeopleTools record names, however, don't contain underscores. If you haven't done so, I encourage you to take some time to get to know your PeopleTools tables. You can find a good reference on the PSST0101 site. With a good understanding of the PeopleTools tables, you can write queries and tools to help you significantly reduce your PeopleSoft administration overhead. Combining your knowledge of the PeopleTools tables with IScripts and Web development methods, you can create Bookmarklets that generate security and/or development/meta-data reports for components, etc.

Meta-data is one of PeopleSoft's differentiating factors. Many vendors provide meta-data in configuration files, but because a meta-data driven development architecture requires extra thought, most ERP vendors drop meta-data in favor of rapid, hard-coded values. Because PeopleSoft stores meta-data in the database, you, as a developer, user, and administrator, can extend PeopleSoft by writing your own tools that leverage existing meta-data.

Caveat: Please don't update the PeopleTools Meta-Data tables directly, unless, of course, told to do so by GSC or some other trustworthy Oracle/PeopleSoft expert.