Randomly Generated Data - Oracle SQL

select
  trunc(dbms_random.value(1, 11)) as seconds
from dual
connect by level < 11
(You could join the results to a table using rownum I guess)

SQL to Group or Chunk Date Time Fields by n Minutes

Say you want to chunk some statistics data into 10 minute intervals. as of Oracle 11g you can use the extract() function that will pull out hours, minutes and the like from a DateTime column.
select
  to_date(trunc(dttm_stamp) || ' ' || extract(hour from dttm_stamp) || ':' || lpad(ceil(extract(minute from dttm_stamp)/10 + 0.1) * 10 - 10, 2, '0'), 'dd-mon-yy hh24:mi') as dttm_stamp
, count(some_field) "count"
from 
  ps_statistics_table
group by
  trunc(dttm_stamp) || ' ' || extract(hour from dttm_stamp) || ':' || lpad(ceil(extract(minute from dttm_stamp)/10 + 0.1) * 10 - 10, 2, '0')
;

Note the +0.1 bit that handles the range of results, up to that point spanning from 0 to 6. We can't have nn:60 as a vaild DateTime. This is also why we have the -10 part.

Also note that depending on the platform that is actually executing the SQL you may have to fiddle around with the DateTime formats. 'dd-mon-yy hh24:mi' might not cut it for you. PeopleSoft will require 'yyyy-mm-dd hh24:mi' for example.

A breakdown of the entire line:
select
  dttm_stamp as a
, extract(minute from dttm_stamp) as b
, ceil(extract(minute from dttm_stamp)/10 + 0.1)  as c
, ceil(extract(minute from dttm_stamp)/10 + 0.1) * 10 - 10 as d
, lpad(ceil(extract(minute from dttm_stamp)/10 + 0.1) * 10 - 10, 2, '0') as e
, trunc(dttm_stamp) || ' ' || extract(hour from dttm_stamp) || ':' || lpad(ceil(extract(minute from dttm_stamp)/10 + 0.1) * 10 - 10, 2, '0') as dttm_stamp
from ps_statistics_table
;

The final results from the first query:
17/11/2013 10:00:00 AM 99
17/11/2013 10:10:00 AM 120
17/11/2013 10:20:00 AM 50
17/11/2013 10:30:00 AM 10
17/11/2013 10:40:00 AM 65
17/11/2013 10:50:00 AM 77
17/11/2013 11:00:00 AM 189
17/11/2013 11:10:00 AM 201
17/11/2013 11:20:00 AM 235
17/11/2013 11:30:00 AM 188
17/11/2013 11:40:00 AM 105
17/11/2013 11:50:00 AM 77

Merging PDFs Produces Blank Pages

So you're creating a number of individual PDFs, doing something with them, and then you want to merge them all into one, nice, long PDF at the end.

Something like this:
/* Merge! */
Local boolean &booMergeSuccess = &objMergeTool.mergePDFs(&arrFiles, &sNSMergedFileDestination | &sDirSep | "merged.pdf", &sError);

You can see this in Communication Generation for example.

But when you open the PDF only the first page has data, the rest are blank. What's going on?

I finally reduced this down to being something "wrong" with the individual PDFs that were being created, before they were merged. It wasn't the templates. It was something specific to the PDF files themselves.

Comparing them to an environment where (luckily) the merge did work showed that the PDFs that did merge had no security, while the ones that didn't merge did have security. File > Properties > Security.

xdo.cfg was the same in both environments. So where was this coming from?

I noticed that, in 8.53 at least, there are some new parameters for BI Publisher Report Definitions, namely PDF Security. The default for pdf-security was True.

I changed this to False and the merge worked. Finally.

This is overriding the global value at the report level. The global value is set at:
Reporting Tools > BI Publisher > Setup > Global Properties

tl;dr solution:

update PSXPGLBPROP
set propvalue = 'False'
where proplname = 'pdf-security';


Order SQL Using A Given, Distinct List

Say you have a requirement of updating the preferred phone number using a given, ad hoc, ordered list, where #1 in the list was the preferred number, if it exists, followed by #2 in the list and so on. Basically order by X, Y, Z.

This SQL will fit the bill: It's much easier to read the SELECT version first, as we can use the WITH clause:

with x_order as
      (         select 1 as ord, 'HOME' as phone_type from dual
      union all select 2 as ord, 'MOB'  as phone_type from dual
      union all select 3 as ord, 'WORK' as phone_type from dual
      union all select 4 as ord, 'SWK'  as phone_type from dual
      union all select 5 as ord, 'OTR'  as phone_type from dual
      union all select 6 as ord, 'FAX'  as phone_type from dual)

select * from ps_personal_phone ph
where emplid = '12345678'
and ph.phone_type =
      (select a.phone_type
      from
        ps_personal_phone a
      , x_order b
      where a.emplid = ph.emplid
      and b.phone_type = a.phone_type
      and b.ord =
            (select min(b2.ord)
            from
              ps_personal_phone a2
            , x_order b2
            where a2.emplid = a.emplid
            and b2.phone_type = a2.phone_type))
;

And the UPDATE version:
update ps_personal_phone ph
set ph.pref_phone_flag = 'Y'
where emplid = '12345678'
and ph.phone_type =
      (select a.phone_type
      from
        ps_personal_phone a
      ,
            (         select 1 as ord, 'HOME' as phone_type from dual
            union all select 2 as ord, 'MOB' as phone_type from dual
            union all select 3 as ord, 'WORK' as phone_type from dual
            union all select 4 as ord, 'SWK' as phone_type from dual
            union all select 5 as ord, 'OTR' as phone_type from dual
            union all select 6 as ord, 'FAX' as phone_type from dual) b
      where a.emplid = ph.emplid
      and b.phone_type = a.phone_type
      and b.ord =
            (select min(b2.ord)
            from
              ps_personal_phone a2
            ,
                   (         select 1 as ord, 'HOME' as phone_type from dual
                   union all select 2 as ord, 'MOB' as phone_type from dual
                   union all select 3 as ord, 'WORK' as phone_type from dual
                   union all select 4 as ord, 'SWK' as phone_type from dual
                   union all select 5 as ord, 'OTR' as phone_type from dual
                   union all select 6 as ord, 'FAX' as phone_type from dual) b2
            where a2.emplid = a.emplid
            and b2.phone_type = a2.phone_type))
;

Table Lock

Some useful tables when something somewhere has a table locked:
SELECT * FROM V$LOCK;

SELECT * FROM dba_blockers;

SELECT * FROM dba_locks;

SELECT * FROM dba_waiters;

SELECT * FROM V$SQLTEXT WHERE ADDRESS IN (SELECT SQL_ADDRESS FROM V$SESSION WHERE SID IN (SELECT HOLDING_SESSION FROM dba_blockers));

SELECT * FROM V$SESSION WHERE SID IN (SELECT HOLDING_SESSION FROM dba_blockers);

SELECT * FROM V$SQLTEXT WHERE SQL_ID = '21hy5qgd56a6g';

SELECT * FROM V$SESSION WHERE SID = 152;

Move a File Using PeopleCode

There's no generic function to move files in the PeopleCode universe, only to open them. Here's an elegant solution using the Java io package.
Local JavaObject &fromFile = CreateJavaObject("java.io.File", &strFromPath);
Local JavaObject &toFile = CreateJavaObject("java.io.File", &strToPath);
&fromFile.renameTo(&toFile);

And this is where our ED workflow redesign team went insane.

Tracing Application Engines

Tracing particular Process Definitions
This SQL script can make things a little clearer.

select '-TRACE ' || (
1    + -- Initiate the Application Engine Step trace
2    + -- Initiate the Application Engine SQL trace
4    + -- Trace dedicated Temp Table Allocation to AET file
128  + -- Initiate the Statement Timings trace to file, which is similar to the COBOL timings trace to file
256  + -- Initiate the PeopleCode Detail to the file for the Timings trace
1024 + -- Initiate the Statement Timings trace, but, instead of writing to the trace file, this trace stores the results in the following tables: PS_BAT_TIMINGS_LOG and PS_BAT_TIMINGS_DTL
2048 + -- Adding this value requests a database optimizer trace file
4096 + -- Request a database optimizer to be inserted in the Explain Plan Table of the current database
8192   -- This value sets a trace for Integration Broker transform programs
) as TRACE from dual;

select '-TOOLSTRACESQL ' || (
1    + -- Trace SQL statements
2    + -- Trace SQL statement variables
4    + -- Trace SQL connect, disconnect, commit and rollback
8    + -- Show fetched rows (indicates that it occurred, not data)
16   + -- Show all other API calls except ssb
32   + -- Set Select Buffers (identifies the attributes of columns to be selected).
64   + -- Show database API specific calls
128  + -- Show COBOL statement timings
256  + -- Show Sybase bind information
512  + -- Show Sybase fetch information
4096 + -- Show manager information
8192   -- Show Mapcore information
) as TOOLSTRACESQL from dual;

select '-TOOLSTRACEPC ' || (
1    + -- Trace instructions
2    + -- List the program
4    + -- Show assignments to variables
8    + -- Show fetched values
16   + -- Show stack
64   + -- Trace start of programs
128  + -- Trace external function calls
256  + -- Trace internal function calls
512  + -- Show parameter values
1024 + -- Show function return values
2048   -- Trace each statement in program
) as TOOLSTRACEPC from dual;

Tracing on the Server:
./psft/pt/8.52/appserv/*/psappsrv.cfg is where you can set tracing for Batch server instances.

[Trace]
;=========================================================================
; Trace settings
;=========================================================================
; SQL Tracing Bitfield
;
; Bit       Type of tracing
; ---       ---------------
; 1         - SQL statements
; 2         - SQL statement variables
; 4         - SQL connect, disconnect, commit and rollback
; 8         - Row Fetch (indicates that it occurred, not data)
; 16        - All other API calls except ssb
; 32        - Set Select Buffers (identifies the attributes of columns
;             to be selected).
; 64        - Database API specific calls
; 128       - COBOL statement timings
; 256       - Sybase Bind information
; 512       - Sybase Fetch information
; 1024      - SQL Informational Trace
; Dynamic change allowed for TraceSql and TraceSqlMask
TraceSQL=0

;-------------------------------------------------------------------------
; PeopleCode Tracing Bitfield
;
; Bit       Type of tracing
; ---       ---------------
; 1         - Trace Evaluator instructions  (not recommended)
; 2         - List Evaluator program        (not recommended)
; 4         - Show assignments to variables
; 8         - Show fetched values
; 16        - Show stack
; 64        - Trace start of programs
; 128       - Trace external function calls
; 256       - Trace internal function calls
; 512       - Show parameter values
; 1024      - Show function return value
; 2048      - Trace each statement in program  (recommended)
; Dynamic change allowed for TracePC
TracePC=0

;-------------------------------------------------------------------------
; AE Tracing Bitfield
;
; Bit       Type of tracing
; ---       ---------------
; 1         - Trace STEP execution sequence to AET file
; 2         - Trace Application SQL statements to AET file
; 4         - Trace Dedicated Temp Table Allocation to AET file
; 8         - not yet allocated
; 16        - not yet allocated
; 32        - not yet allocated
; 64        - not yet allocated
; 128       - Timings Report to AET file
; 256       - Method/BuiltIn detail instead of summary in AET Timings Report
; 512       - not yet allocated
; 1024      - Timings Report to tables
; 2048      - DB optimizer trace to file
; 4096      - DB optimizer trace to tables
TraceAE=0

;------------------------------------------------------------------------
; Performance Monitor Tracing Bitfield
;
; Bit       Type of tracing
; ---       ---------------
; 1         - Trace All performance monitor agent activity
TracePPM=0

Portal Navigation Path - Oracle PL/SQL Function

Thanks to Jake Gowens a.k.a. Zapp Brannigan

FUNCTION navString (prtlName IN CHAR, prtlObjName IN CHAR) RETURN VARCHAR2 IS

  prtlLabel         VARCHAR2(30);
  prtlParent        VARCHAR2(30);
  result            VARCHAR2(255);

BEGIN

  prtlLabel := '';

  SELECT MAX(PORTAL_LABEL), MAX(PORTAL_PRNTOBJNAME)
    INTO prtlLabel, prtlParent
    FROM PSPRSMDEFN
   WHERE PORTAL_NAME = prtlName
     AND PORTAL_OBJNAME = prtlObjName
     AND PORTAL_REFTYPE = 'C';

  if prtlLabel IS NOT NULL then
    if prtlParent = 'PORTAL_ROOT_OBJECT' then
      result := prtlLabel;
    else
      result := navStringF(prtlName, prtlParent) || ' > ' || prtlLabel;
    end if;
  end if;

  return result;

END navString;

Example:
Select navString(a.portal_name, a.portal_objname)
From psprsmdefn a
Where portal_uri_seg2 = 'JOB_DATA';

Returns:
Workforce Administration > Job Information > Job Data

Automatically Generate Upgrade Scripts

Snippet of PeopleCode that takes a Project and creates an upgrade script for all the Records in that Project. Does 90%+ of the work for you.

Requires a Prompt to select the Project, a button to put this code under, and a HTML Area to output the results to.

If None(NS_MN_TEST.PROJECTNAME.Value) Then
   MessageBox(0, "", 0, 0, "Enter a Project Name");
Else
   
   Local string &title, &result, &fields;
   Local integer &f;
   
   Local Record &recPSPROJECTDEFN = CreateRecord(Record.PSPROJECTDEFN);
   &recPSPROJECTDEFN.PROJECTNAME.Value = NS_MN_TEST.PROJECTNAME.Value;
   &recPSPROJECTDEFN.SelectByKey();
   
   Local Record &recPSOPRDEFN = CreateRecord(Record.PSOPRDEFN);
   &recPSOPRDEFN.OPRID.Value = &recPSPROJECTDEFN.LASTUPDOPRID.Value;
   &recPSOPRDEFN.SelectByKey();
   
   &title = &title | "/*" | Char(13);
   &title = &title | "     WORK UNIT:     " | &recPSPROJECTDEFN.PROJECTNAME.Value | Char(13);
   &title = &title | "     DEVELOPER:     " | &recPSOPRDEFN.OPRDEFNDESC.Value | Char(13);
   &title = &title | "     DATE:          " | String(%Date) | Char(13);
   &title = &title | "     DESCRIPTION:   " | &recPSPROJECTDEFN.PROJECTDESCR.Value | Char(13);
   &title = &title | "     INSTRUCTIONS:  EXECUTE IN THE TARGET" | Char(13);
   &title = &title | "     DEPENDENCIES:  " | Char(13);
   &title = &title | "*/" | Char(13) | Char(13);
   
   &title = &title | "-- List of Records that have data converted by this script:" | Char(13);
   
   
   Local SQL &sql = CreateSQL("SELECT OBJECTVALUE1 FROM PSPROJECTITEM A, PSRECDEFN B WHERE A.PROJECTNAME = :1 AND A.OBJECTTYPE = 0 AND A.OBJECTID2 = 0 AND B.RECNAME = A.OBJECTVALUE1 AND B.RECTYPE = 0", NS_MN_TEST.PROJECTNAME.Value);
   
   Local string &recName;
   While &sql.Fetch(&recName)
      
      If Left(&recName, 3) = "NS_" Then
         
         &title = &title | "--    " | &recName | Char(13);
         
         &result = &result | Char(13) | "-- " | &recName | Char(13);
         &result = &result | "Delete From ps_" | &recName | ";" | Char(13);
         Local Record &rec = CreateRecord(@("record." | &recName));
         &result = &result | "Insert Into ps_" | &recName | "(" | Char(13);
         For &f = 1 To &rec.FieldCount
            If &f = 1 Then
               &fields = "  " | &rec.GetField(&f).Name | Char(13);
            Else
               &fields = &fields | ", " | &rec.GetField(&f).Name | Char(13);
            End-If;
         End-For;
         &result = &result | &fields | ")" | Char(13);
         &result = &result | "Select " | Char(13) | &fields | "From ps_" | &recName | "@nsconv.unsw.edu.au;" | Char(13);
         
      End-If;
      
   End-While;
   
   &title = &title | Char(13) | "SPOOL ON;" | Char(13);
   &title = &title | "SET ECHO ON;" | Char(13);
   &title = &title | "SPOOL 'c:\temp\" | Substring(&recPSPROJECTDEFN.PROJECTNAME.Value, 4, 7) | "_data_conversion.log' REPLACE;" | Char(13);
   
   
   NS_MN_TEST.HTMLAREA1.Value = &title | Char(13) | Char(13) | &result | Char(13) | Char(13) | "commit;" | Char(13) | Char(13) | "SPOOL OFF;";
   
End-If;
Paste your text here.


Searching Through Views

If you make a change on a Record or View you should check its impact. App Designer doesn't search through SQL definitions but you can do that yourself in SQL:

select SQLID from PSSQLTEXTDEFN
where sqltext like '%SOME_TABLE%'

Posting CommGen to Report Manager

As delivered Communication Generation (CommGen) produces the final, merged output of letters on the Server. There is no way to configure it to send to Report Manager or Process Monitor.

However, there is an easy fix.

Each Process Instance has its own directory made at run-time, and all files in that directory are published to Process Monitor and Report Manager. We just need to make a simple tweak to create the Merged File Output in the process's Process Instance directory instead of the file destination directory as defined on the Run Control (by the way it would pay to modify the run control accordingly as well; hide the now unused File Output field etc.).

Application Package SCC_COMMGEN:Model:CommGen


/* This method merges all the communications that have been generated so far */
method MergeCommunications

...

   rem &sFileDestination = &rsRunCtlParms(1).SCC_CG_RUNCTL.FILE_PATH.Value;
   &sFileDestination = "log_output/AE_SCC_COMMGEN_" | &ProcessInstance;

Just change the one line, as above. This will have the merged file go to Report Manager and Process Monitor instead of a directory on the server. I suspect this issue may be a left over from version 7, where users could run on the client and have it appear on their local drive.