On The Peoplesoft Road : Peoplesoft Database creation

The Database creation will be the main step on the Peopelsoft road installation.

First of all and before to go on an unknown road, some basics have to be known : difference between PeopleTools and PeopleSoft Application, the PeopleTools based version of the PeopleSoft Application, what are DEMO/SYS/PeopleTools System databases, what are DataMover and Application Designer, what is the bootstrap mode, what does the PS and people users.
I'll try to explain as simple as I can, and don't hesitate to add comments if you see bugs.

1. Difference between PeopleTools and PeopleSoft Application
The PeopleTools are a set of tools (external of the database) like DataMover and Application Designer. But they are also a Application Server and Process Scheduler.
The PeopleTools are a set of database objects (embedded onto the database). These objects hosts all the environement to allow the Application to run as well, like all the page definition, all the processes, a metamodel (tables definition, views definition, index definition, tablespace definition...). This list is not limited but at least (I hope) give an idea. The external tools and internal (embedded on the database) are linked and work together.

PeopleSoft Application host only the database objects link to the business module for which it was created.

I hope you see the difference, one is behind (PeopleTools), one is the real business (Application).

2. The PeopleTools based version of the PeopleSoft Application
When Peoplesoft dev team develop a new Application, the developers work generally on the last PeopleTools release. When the Application is ready to be sold to the customer, they "export" all the objects (including PeopleTools and Application objects) with the DataMover (a specific SQL language definition) to have a dat file. Once this export has been done, they didn't recreate it each time a new PeopleTools release is out later. This is the Application database version.
When you install a PeopleSoft Application, you may want to work on the last available PeopleTools release which can or can be not be the same as the developers when they created the Application itself.
That's why, we have often to upgrade the PeopleSoft Application to the latest PeopleTools release. That means you have to install the latest PeopleTools release, then the PeopleSoft Application then upgrade the Application Database as well regarding the Database version of your Application and your exected PeopleTools version.
Basically the Application Database version is the PeopleTools version when the Application has been created.
3. What are DEMO/SYS/PeopleTools System databases ?
Basically, there are three type of databases we can create.
DEMO : if you load an Application in DEMO mode, that means a set of data sample will be load, for training
SYS : if you load an Application in SYS mode, that means no data (or only what required), for production
PeopleTools System : if you choose this mode, you'll load only the PeopleTools objects, take care, if you want to load an Application, the Application Database version must be the same as the current PeopleTools. It's very rare to use it, unless you want a Performance database or for some other reason.

4. What are DataMover and Application Designer ?
DataMover is a query tool (update/delete/insert) which allow to manipulate the data, import, and export from/to file.
Application Designer is a development tool, to create/delete/update objects (record, Peoplecode, page definition...) in the Peoplesoft metamodel. Application Designer doesn't work directly against the Oracle object, there is a translator which check the meatamodel before querying the database.
You create a projet, a set of objects/definitions (...), and build it to create a SQL script file which you can run immediateley or later within your lovely query tool (SQL*Plus of course).

5. What is the bootstrap mode ?
You can connect in bootstrap mode only within DataMover.
Bootstrap mode means you use the owner of the objects, and you connect directly to the database in 2tier mode (and not in 3tier mode through the Application Server). This is used for administration task, and shouldn't be used for the development. This user doesn't know the Peoplesoft metamodel, it's not an Application user.

6. What does the PS and people users
On the Peoplesoft database, there are three specials users : the owner of database (see above) used for the administration task in bootstrap mode, PS and people.
PS : an Oracle user and an Application user.
The PS Oracle user host three tables with all the Application users and authorizations. Once the tables are created at the beginning of the install process, this user is not allowed to create a session against the database.
The PS Application user is the super admin user, basically PS has all the rights.Note that PS is the main user available for HRMS, it's VP1 for FSCM, PSCR for CRM application.
PEOPLE is an Oracle user account, no objects at all, and only SELECT rights on the PS'tables.
When you connect (except in bootstrap mode) to DataMover or Application Designer, Peoplesoft will create a connection to the database with the PEOPLE user, read if the user has the right has well to connect and to use DMS and/or AppDesigner. Once the check are ok, Peoplesoft reconnect you to the database with the owner of objects.

Then, and only when you have understood those concepts, you can go in the Peoplesoft database creation which can be split in three mains steps (I'll insert the links when the articles will be ready) :
1. Database creation (db creation and Application loading)
2. Upgrade your application to your PeopleTools version (only if required)
3. Post creation tasks

Have fun,