Executive Summary

PeopleSoft configuration frameworks and Page and Field Configurator can help you maximize efficiency and minimize hassle.  In May 2023, at RECONNECT Live! at BLUEPRINT 4D, Oracle’s Joe Willever and Kelly Mills shared high-level overview of key configuration frameworks, and then dived deep into Page and Field Configurator.  In case you missed the conference, you can read about the highlights here.

With recent Page and Field Configurator enhancements, you’ll no longer be tempted to add messy customizations.

Instead, you’ll opt for strategic configurations that offer the following:

1. Minimal Impact of Change – No more headaches when it comes to updates.
2. Effortless Image Uptake – Say goodbye to those days of wrestling with complex customizations during upgrades.
3. User Interface Tailored to You – Align your user interface with your organization’s needs.
4. Easier Adoption – Increased productivity, reduced training needs, and happier users all around.
5. And No Coding Requirements – Most configurations can be done without a single line of code.

Over the last few years, the PeopleSoft team has rolled out several frameworks to help you eliminate or isolate customizations—including Drop Zones, Forms and Approval Builder, Event Mapping, and Page and Field Configurator (the focus of this post).

• Drop Zones are designated areas on a page where you can place your custom content. During upgrades, these zones remain untouched.
• Forms and Approval Builder is a guided process for business analysts to create organization forms. With no coding and no app designer necessary, this is a highly popular approach. Recent enhancements include classic to fluid conversion and reporting using dynamic views.
• Event Mapping allows you to add custom events that upgrades will completely bypass. This controls page displays and behaviors, so you can add PeopleCode to a page without triggering a customization.
• Page and Field Configurator is a user-friendly front-end for implementing event mapping. It simplifies pages, streamlines entry, empowers functional users, and uses field and role-based criteria so you can control who sees what and when.

Keep reading to learn more about Page and Field Configurator. You can also watch a demo of this powerful framework. (The demo begins at timestamp 14:15.)

Page and Field Configurator Quick Tips & Tricks

Page and Field Configurator was originally released in 2017, and PeopleSoft has continued to invest in it every year since.

• 2018 brought Fluid Pages and more criteria comparisons.
• 2019 introduced ADS and expanded role criteria.
• 2020 released masking and the ability to apply multiple sequences additively.
• 2021 launched lower-level criteria, field changes, advanced filtering, system variables, increased number of sequences, and a comments box.
• And 2023 welcomes in search page masking for custom search records.

Currently, Page and Field Configurator offers three levels of configurations:

• Standard Configurations
  • Basic features like change labels, hide fields, disable fields, and require entry
  • More advanced controls including default values, set fields to blank, and system variables
• Masking Configurations
• Change Tracking

Change Tracking is set to revolutionize how functional users, compliance teams, and PeopleSoft Operations Managers handle changes. This configuration offers the ability to:

• Track Changes – Find out who made a change, what was changed, and when it happened.
• Conduct Efficient Searches – Swiftly search for changes in specific areas instead of getting lost in auditing.
• Input Field and Role-Based Criteria – Apply criteria to changes, tailoring your tracking process.
• View Changes Online – Access change history conveniently without revealing sensitive information in the log.

The Change Log is displayed as a simple header and line table, with information related to who made a change, when the change occurred, what type of change was made, and specific details regarding the original version versus the new update.

Furthermore, Insight Dashboards, launched from a Home Page Tile, enable users to quickly filter and drill down to analyze each change.

Keep in mind that Change Tracking is not intended to replace auditing. Change Tracking is for digging into specific fields on specific components with specific criteria, while auditing encompasses a very large volume of data.

Key Takeaways

PeopleSoft Configuration Frameworks are becoming more powerful than ever, and the Page and Field Configurator is especially valuable. The more you can eliminate and isolate customizations, the easier your upgrades will be.

To learn more about Page and Field Configurator, don’t miss the presentation that inspired this blog post. Led by PeopleSoft leaders Joe Willever and Kelly Mills, this presentation includes a brief demo (beginning at timestamp 14:15) and Q&A from users just like you.  You can watch the recording here: PeopleSoft Configuration Frameworks Overview and Page and Field Configurator Update.