Getting Started with PeopleSoft Query

This chapter provides an overview of PeopleSoft Query and discusses:

PeopleSoft Query business processes.
PeopleSoft Query implementation.
Other sources of information.

PeopleSoft Query Overview

With PeopleSoft Query, you can extract the precise information that you are looking for by using visual representations of your PeopleSoft database, without writing Structured Query Language (SQL) statements. The queries that you write can be as simple or as complex as necessary; they can be one-time queries or queries that you use repeatedly.

You can use PeopleSoft Query in the following ways:

To display data in a grid (on the Run tab).

You can preview queries within Query Manager, displaying the result set in a grid for review. This option is useful as you refine your queries.
To run queries as a separate process.

You can run queries as a separate process and have results sent to a separate browser window by clicking the HTML link from Query Manager or Query Viewer.

Note. Query Viewer is a read-only version of Query Manager. See chapter Creating and Running Simple Queries, section Using Query Viewer for additional details.
To schedule a query.

You can schedule queries to run at predefined times or on recurring schedules. The results of scheduled queries are routed to PeopleSoft Report Manager.
To download query results to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

You can have the data downloaded and formatted as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. This option is available in your query search results, or after you run or schedule a query.
To serve as a data source for Crystal Reports.

With Crystal Reports, you can apply advanced formatting to the output of your queries. If you have access to the Windows version of Query Designer, you can run improvised or predefined queries directly to Crystal Reports 9. If you do not have the Windows client installed, you can schedule a predefined Crystal Report to run on a Process Scheduler server, and have the results routed to PeopleSoft Report Manager.

See Launching Crystal Reports 9 with Microsoft Windows-based PeopleSoft Query.

See Using Crystal Reports 9.
To determine to whom to forward information.

You can write queries that PeopleSoft Workflow uses to determine to whom to send emails, forms, or worklist entries. This type of query is called a role query.

See Understanding PeopleSoft Workflow.
To create a data source for PeopleSoft nVision reports.

PeopleSoft nVision can use queries as a data source.

See Understanding PS/nVision.
To serve as a data source for defining online analytical processing (OLAP) Cube Manager dimensions and facts.

Queries are a primary data source for PeopleSoft Cube Manager, which you can use to build OLAP cubes.

See Introducing PeopleSoft Cube Manager.
To serve as a data source of the same name for PeopleSoft XML Publisher.

With XML Publisher, you can apply advanced formatting to the output of your queries and streamline report and form generation.

Queries that are used as data sources for XML Publisher need to be run through Reporting Tools, XML Publisher to see XML Publisher-related formatting.

See Getting Started with XML Publisher.

PeopleSoft Query Business Processes

This process flow illustrates the PeopleSoft Query business processes:

PeopleSoft Query business process flow

PeopleSoft Query Implementation

PeopleSoft Query is automatically installed with your Enterprise PeopleTools installation.

Before using PeopleSoft Query, you must set up query security:

Step	Reference
1. Define query profiles.	See Defining Query Profiles.
2. Build query access group trees.	See Building Query Access Group Trees.
3. Work with query trees.	See Working with Query Trees.
4. Define row-level security and query security records.	See Defining Row-Level Security and Query Security Records.

Other Sources of Information

This section provides information to consider before you begin to use PeopleSoft Query.

In addition to implementation considerations presented in this chapter, take advantage of all PeopleSoft sources of information, including the installation guides, release notes, PeopleBooks, red papers, the Updates + Fixes area of Customer Connection, and PeopleSoft's curriculum courses.