Enabling HTML Email Approvals for HCM

A few months ago Oracle release HTML Email Approvals for Approval Framework. With this OOTB feature you can now easily enable Approvals that can be managed from your mail, without having to log into PeopleSoft first.
Although the technology for HTML Email Approvals have be part of AWE for years now and is also highly used in FSCM, this is the first email templates that are delivered in HCM. The following email templates are delivered:

• Job Opening
• Job Offer
• Absence Request
• Extended Absence Request
• Promote
• Transfer
• Reporting Change
• Performance Document

Oracle Fusion HCM Cloud Implementation Partner Bootcamp

I am pleased to announce that Oracle invites partners to participate in the Oracle Fusion HCM Cloud Implementation Bootcamp. And I am even more pleased to announce that I am personally attending this bootcamp.

This hands-on two week workshop is delivered by Oracle Fusion HCM Development.  It consists of presentations, live demos and hands-on laboratory exercises. The objective is to help delivery consultants understand how to implement the latest release (R7) of Oracle Fusion HCM’s Global Human Resources and common architecture features before embarking on an Oracle Fusion HCM Applications Cloud implementation project.

PeopleSoft Campus Self Service Mobile

Oracle extends it’s PeopleSoft Mobile Applications fleet yet one more time with Campus Self Service Mobile. What differs Campus Mobile from the mobile applications until now, is the that this it is not a mobile (web) application, but a true native mobile app, built using Oracle ADF Mobile.

PeopleSoft Mobile Time Entry

Oracle has recently extended it's PeopleSoft Mobile Applications fleet, Mobile Expenses & Approvals, Mobile Company Directory, Mobile eProcurement, Mobile Inventory, with yet another application: Mobile Time Entry.

As stated on the PeopleSoft Apps Strategy blog, Mobile Time Entry is now generally available on FSCM 9.1 as a single post with Resolution Id 898134 and will also be delivered with bundle 28 that will be available on 15th of November, 2013.

PeopleTools Automated Environment Configuration

Don't you just hate it whenever you create a new instance of PeopleSoft or clone a production environment, you have to take the same manual configuration steps, like renaming the default local node, settings portal URI, configuring Integration Broker, configuring SES, etc? Wouldn't it be great if this could be automated?

That is probably what someone at Oracle also thought ...

Training on Demand: Fusion Applications Extend Applications with ADF

Recently we followed the training Fusion Applications: Extend Applications with ADF in Training on Demand format.

What is Training on Demand?

"You train online via an Internet connection, 24/7. Access streaming lectures, whiteboarding and lab activities, with the ability to search video, pause or rewind. These courses are recorded. Courses are made available on a named user basis for a term of ninety (90) days from the effective date of your order." 

The training consists of a 5 day schedule and both of us were not able to schedule 5 consecutive days with all the projects that we are working on. This was exactly the training format we where looking for. We could follow the training whenever and wherever.

Although the recorded videos are available for 90 days, we were very surprised by the fact that we had to reserve lab time to execute the practices.

"As part of this course, you are eligible for 1 time, 5 days access to live Lab Environment. Please follow the steps below to test, configure, reserve and access your lab. You can click each section title to view each full step. We highly recommend testing and configuring your system before reserving your lab." 

In fact we still had 5 consecutive days to plan away from our projects to be able to execute the practices. This was number 1 of many disappointments to follow during this training.

Extending the PeopleSoft 9.2 virtual machine with GUI and GuestAdditions

In my previous post I described the steps for getting started with the PeopleSoft 9.2 virtual machine. Although I am still thrilled that Oracle has made this generally available, I am of the opinion that it would have even been greater if the virtual machine was pre-delivered with GNOME or KDE. I am sure that a lot of customers and partners will use this virtual machine, but is everyone comfortable  with just a Linux command prompt? I think not.

Fortunately you have the root account and full access to the virtual machine, so we can go ahead and extend the virtual machine with the GUI our self.

Note, this post is not part of the virtual machine deployment as intended by Oracle. It is my choice to extend the virtual machine and it is your choice to follow this post.

Installing PeopleSoft 9.2 pre-build virtual machine

The past years I have seen a lot of people on OTN forum struggling with PeopleSoft installations. Installing PeopleSoft on uncertified OS, mismatch between versions and releases, 32 vs 64 bit, etc, etc.

Well those days are over. As of April 14, Oracle made pre-build virtual machines of PeopleSoft HCM 9.2, ELM 9.2 and FSCM 9.2 for VirtualBox available. These virtual machines enable you to get a PeopleSoft Demo up and running within an hour, without installation! No, I am not lying nor am I fooling you, I timed it! Customers do not have to invest time and effort in installing a Demo environment and developers can have a properly installed local environment for R&D.

In this post I will describe the steps you need to take to get started with the PeopleSoft HCM 9.2 virtual machine. I will be deploying the virtual machine on my laptop with following hardware:

• Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
• 8 GB RAM

Get ready to be amazed ...

Switching from VMWare to VirtualBox

Ever since I discovered virtualization, I have been creating and using dedicated virtual machines for all my PeopleSoft sandboxes and Fusion MiddleWare components. This allowed me to run multiple releases of OS and PeopleSoft on my own laptop. Until recently I was using VMWare Player and was not a big fan of VirtualBox. After running my first PeopleSoft sandbox based on the OVM templates in VirtualBox I was amazed by the performance and memory allocation. Ever since I have moved all my VMWare virtual machines to VirtualBox.

Using Gmail as SMTP server for PeopleSoft

A lot of us developers use local PeopleSoft sandboxes for (self)training and R&D. One of the biggest issues we usually encounter on local sandboxes is the lack of a SMTP server for testing workflow mail. Until today I used PostcastServer as SMTP server, but this did not actually send the mail to the mail address, but catches the mail generated from PeopleSoft locally.

Today I got triggered by a question on OTN Forum on which setting you need to set to use Gmail as SMTP server. Surprisingly there was a document on My Oracle Support that explained just that E-WF: JavaMail Exception: javax.mail.AuthenticationFailedException, Error Using Gmail SMTP Server [ID 1436910.1]

Although the document on My Oracle Support is a very highly detailed document, it missed a few key pointers and I think this information is something the community will be very grateful for.

Upgrade to PeopleTools 8.53: What you need to know

It has been a couple of weeks now that PeopleTools 8.53 has been released. Soon customers will upgrade or are even already upgrading to the new PeopleTools release.

To help customers and partner to streamline this process, an Advisor Webcast was held on February 26, 2013: PeopleTools 8.53 Upgrade.

Integration Broker basics for the PeopleSoft developer

In the past year we have answered a lot of questions on OTN Forum on the Integration Broker and how to work with web services in PeopleSoft.

We have decided to share with you a training that we have written on the basics of Integration Broker and frequent integration scenarios that a PeopleSoft Developer is faced with. The training is written using PeopleSoft HCM 9.1/PeopleTools 8.51, but still valid for PeopleTools 8.52.

Oracle ACE!

With extreme pride I can announce that I have been honored as an Oracle ACE!

What is an Oracle ACE?

The Oracle ACE Program is designed to recognize and reward members of the Oracle Technology and Applications communities for their contributions to those communities. These individuals are technically proficient when applicable and willingly to share their knowledge and experiences.

Where can I find Oracle ACEs?

Oracle Ace Directory

For more information on the Oracle Ace Program, see the FAQ.

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you, to a couple of extraordinary people:

Ramon Schliszka, our Solution Architect, for nominating me and motivating me for years.

Domien Bolmers, my former manager, for encouraging me and providing me the freedom to contribute to the Oracle community.

John van der Kooij, Software Architect, my reviewer, editor, designer, worthy colleague and most of all, dear friend. You make everything look and sound better.

Our PeopleSoft team, or better said PeopleSoft family, because that is how it feels coming to work every day.

Last but not least, my lovely understanding wife, for coping with me ‘working' on my PC on non-working hours.

Thank you Oracle for this great honor!