Defining a Field

 Defining a field should only take place once you have planning the Application complete. Field definitions are the cornerstone of all other definitions, we build all other definitions based upon the field definition. Fields in database terms are just like columns you would see in an excel document. Field definitions are a standalone development object that can be shared across multiple record definitions. Field attributes are characteristics of the field object, such as field name, data type, field length, long name, short name, and translate values.

With-in PeopleSoft one thing we must keep in mind about fields, the field definitions are completely separate apart from the record definitions into which these fields will be placed. Fields are created only one time and can be used across multiple record definitions. To minimize this kind of mix up, please remember fields have three separate sets of attributes that can be manipulated; first is the Field Definition its self, second is the Record Field Properties, and lastly the Data Base properties.

Next, we will talk about what types of fields the PeopleSoft environment supports.

The PeopleSoft supports these field types:

• Char     (Character)

• Long    (Long Character)

• Nbr      (Number)

• Sign     (Sign number)

• Dt        (Date)

• Tm       (Time)

• DtTm   (DateTime)

• Img      (Image)

• Iref       (Image Reference)

• Att        (Attachment)

Character field are used for names, codes and anything with letter values. Char fields are also used for fields that contain numbers that need formatting such as phone numbers, zip codes, or postal codes.
 
Long Character a long character field is alphanumeric can contain a variable length used for textual entries, such as comments or descriptions.

Number fields will allow the developer to create a field that contains a number. When defining this type of field take note of the signed field check box, this will allow or not allow a negative number to be written to the table. Note: The length of the integer and decimal can not exceed 31.

Date, Time, and Date Time fields all have a fixed length. In Time and Date fields the only additional configuration option is the formatting of the time output. All Date and Time fields have built in validation.

Image, an image field to store images in a user defined format such as a JPEG. Image Reference, use this field to change an image dynamically at run time using PeopleCode.

Attachment; an attachment field maps to a BLOB database type to hold the contents of a file attachment. 

Field Labels:

Labels are properties of the field, you choose a default label with each field. The default label is automatically used by every record definition and page unless the developer chooses a different label at the record definition or page definition layers. If you change the field label at the field label it will change the label everywhere the field is used in the entire system. When you change the field label at the record or page definition it will change the label only where the field is used from that record or on the specific page. Field length: Character fields max length 254 characters

Label Id:       The label ID serves as a unique identifier for the field label.

Long Name:  The long name can include up to 30 characters. 

Short Name: The short name can include up to 15 characters. 

        

Translate Values:


Translate values are field attributes that you assign translate values directly to filed definitions, and it is best to use translate values when: Field type is Char, Field length is 1 to 4 characters, Field values consist of small static sets of values that are not maintained by the user. Translate values are stored in the PeopleTools table PSXLATITEM which contains the following fields.

•          FIELDNAME

•          FILEDVALUE

•          EFFTD

•          EFF_STATUS

•          XLATLONGNAME

•          XLATSHORTNAME

•          LASTUPDDTTM

•          LASTUPDOPRID

•          SYNCID