Setup Manager revisited
PeopleSoft Setup Manager has replaced the manual table loading sequence since PeopleSoft version 8.9. However, there are still some people reluctant to use it. For this reason, I will give a short recapitulation of what the setup manager is, how it works and why you should or shouldn’t use it.
What is the PeopleSoft Setup Manager?
The PeopleSoft Setup Manager is a tool for automating PeopleSoft application configuration. In other words, the Setup Manager helps you implement PeopleSoft modules by selecting configuration sets as a project and producing a step-by-step list of setup tasks that is specific to succesfully setup your PeopleSoft system.
How does the Setup Manager work?
The words one must remember when explaining the setup manager are implementation project and setup task list.
In the system, you are able to select products and related product features that are specific to your implementation. The system will tell you which product you are able to configure and which product features are minimally required to install a certain product. Once you have selected the product and the related product features you would like to implement, you will be able to store the configuration set as an implementation project.
Once an implementation project has been created, a setup task will be generated. The setup task list is a step by step list of tasks you must fulfill. On this online task list, you are able to manage the setup tasks, track its progress and view the task details. This online setup task list has many characteristics which are extremely useful during your implementation.
Some of the interesting points are: the sequence in which the setup tasks must be completed, the status of the task completion, a link to the PeopleBooks help for the identified task, a link directly to the first page of the component, the products and product features associated to the task, cross database impact and track and trace functionality.
As well, you are able to generate Excel to CI Templates and Data Mover Scripts for certain configuration steps.
Why should or shouldn’t you use the Setup Manager?
There are many reasons why you should use the Setup Manager. It has been a huge improvement regarding the old fashioned table loading sequence. In short the Setup Manager saves time and money, minimizes risks and leads to a better planning than the old fashioned table loading sequence. A few benefits why you should use the Setup Manager:
- An automated table loading sequence
- Stores the configuration transaction as metadata
- Centralizes the information in one database
- Generates a ‘to do’ list of task needed to get the system ready to use.
- Helps track your ‘to do’ activities.
- The ability to generate Data mover scripts and Excel to CI templates.
- The ability to create different implementation projects for a phased implementation, investigating the effect of selecting a particular set of features or supporting different teams concurrently on different functional areas.
- Improves the implementation experience accross all PeopleSoft applications.
- Reduces the time and cost required to implement a PeopleSoft Application due to flexible system setup.
- Some of the sequencing of setup tasks are in the wrong order. In a number of places the tasks precedes other tasks that the original tasks is dependent on.
- Not all setup tasks may be listed in the Setup Manager. For example, I ran into this issue when implementing HR Helpdesk where the groupworklist and policies were not tasks list in the setup task list.
- The ability to create an implementation project by selecting business processes in stead of products is only minimally available. If you receive this error message: “ No business process data exists in the system (218,116) Setup Manager has not been installed. Important System Data is missing”, it means the setup manager does not support Business Process for the application.
Conclusion
Eventhough some people are reluctant to use the setup manager, I would recommend the Setup Manager when implementing PeopleSoft or a new PeopleSoft module. The Setup Manager has been around for a while and is definitely a huge improvement on the old table loading sequence. Eventhough there are some minor issues, it is easy to use, saves time, saves money, minimizes risk and leads to better planning, so why not use it.
See it in action
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It’s really good for me, thanks very much.
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