Mass export employee photos

Recently was trying to figure out how to mass download/export employee photos from PeopleSoft and followingis what I came up with. It works but the exported image quality is not that great. We are using the delivered application engine HR_EMPLPHOTO to mass import picutes in. The photos are loaded to PS_EMPL_PHOTO table and it creates four photo sizes - CARD, LIST, ORCH and PAGE. The CARD one is the best in terms of picture quality.

The basic idea is to read this table and write the contents to a file. Based on the upload process I know that the picture file format is JPG. The raw image data is stored in the EMPLOYEE_PHOTO field, but we cannot just select this field. I am looping through the employee population, fetching the data and storing it in the record object and then using the WriteRaw method of the File class to write the image to a file. 

Local string &emplid, &filename;

Local Record &imageRec;
Local SQL &imageSQL;

&imageRec = CreateRecord(Record.EMPL_PHOTO);
&imageSQL = CreateSQL("SELECT EMPLID, PHOTO_SIZENAME, PHOTO_IMGNAME, EMPLOYEE_PHOTO, PSIMAGEVER FROM PS_EMPL_PHOTO WHERE EMPLID = :1 AND PHOTO_SIZENAME = 'CARD'", &emplid);

If &imageSQL.Fetch(&imageRec) Then
   &imageFile = GetFile(&filename, "W", %FilePath_Absolute);
   &imageFile.WriteRaw(&imageRec.EMPLOYEE_PHOTO.Value);
   &imageFile.Close();
End-If;

Taleo Web API - managing user groups in a user profile

I have been using Taleo (or Oracle's) SOAP based web API to transmit data to Taleo from PeopleSoft. As part of this service I am creating/updating user profiles in Taleo based on actions taken in PeopleSoft. Recently received a request to manage/update the user groups associated with a user profile based on action done in PeopleSoft.

I am running PeopleTools 8.61.x, HCM 9.2 but this should be possible as long as you can make a SOAP call out from PeopleSoft. 

User Groups are part of the UserAccount construct as shown below. Following is a simple construct to pull up or search for an user account and then assign a user group to the user account.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <UserAccount> <Loginname searchType="search" searchTarget="../../.." searchValue="user@emaildomain.com" /> <Groups> <Group> <Name searchTarget="." searchType="search" searchValue="Group-Code-01" /> </Group> </Groups> </UserAccount>

To delete all the User Groups assigned to an user the request XML will be like below.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <UserAccount> <Loginname searchType="search" searchTarget="../../.." searchValue="user@emaildomain.com" /> <Groups action="reset" /> 

</UserAccount>

  

To delete only a specific user group from the list of assigned user groups on an user profile the request will be like below.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <UserAccount> <Loginname searchType="search" searchTarget="../../.." searchValue="user@emaildomain.com" /> <Groups> <Group action="remove"> <Name searchType="search" searchTarget="." searchValue="Group-Code-01" /> </Group> </Groups> </UserAccount>

One can combine the above actions in a single request like removing all or one user group and assigning a new user group.

Uploading files to SharePoint Online

Here are the steps to upload files to SharePoint Online using PeopleSoft's services/service operations.

I am running PeopleTools 8.61.x and there are some properties that are discussed below that are only available in the latest tools release. 

At a high level there are three steps

1. Generate Access Token

2. Using the access token generate Form Digest

3. Finally using both the access token and form digest upload file to SPO.

Service and Service Operation build

1. Created a Document Template (N_SPO_URI_TEMPLATE) with the following primitives defined as text.

TenantID, TenantName, SiteName, SPOFolder and FileName

2. Defined two non-rowset based messages - N_SPO_REQUEST and N_SPO_RESPONSE

3. Created a consumer REST service called as N_SPO.

4. Created three service operations all with REST method as POST - 

N_SPO_ACCESSTOKEN_POST, N_SPO_FORMDIGEST_POST and N_SPO_UPLOADFILES_POST

For the service operation N_SPO_ACCESSTOKEN_POST the REST base URL is 

https://accounts.accesscontrol.windows.net/ and template is {TenantID}/tokens/OAuth/2

For the service operation N_SPO_FORMDIGEST_POST the REST base URL is https:// and 

template is {TenantName}.sharepoint.com/sites/{SiteName}/_api/ContextInfo as we cannot provide any variables in the base URL.

Finally for the N_SPO_UPLOADFILES_POST service operation, the REST base URL is https:// and template is {TenantName}.sharepoint.com/sites/{SiteName}/_api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeURL('/sites/{SiteName}/{SPOFolder}/')/Files/add(url='{FileName}',overwrite=true)

All other settings are default settings.

5. Updated the integrationGateway.properties file as follows - (this parameter may be available only in the latest tools release)

ig.UseDomainName.ExternalOperationNames=N_SPO_FORMDIGEST.v1,N_SPO_UPLOADFILES.v1

Had to provide external operational service name for these two. The first one related to access token generation worked without having to define it here. 

6. For the SPO site to which I want to upload the file, I need a Client ID and Secret, which is kind of like the user ID/password to make the connection. SharePoint admin can generate this. Value for &ApplicationID, &TenantID also provided by SharePoint admin. Value for variables like &TenantName, &SiteName, &SPOFolder derived by parsing the SPO URL to which I had to upload the file. &attachFileName is derived from the complete file path of the file to be uploaded.  

7. Now comes the peoplecode part to invoke these service operations. 

/* step 1 */

/* intialize service operation and update URL variables */

&reqMsg = CreateMessage(Operation.N_SPO_ACCESSTOKEN_POST);
&Doc_Tmpl = &reqMsg.GetURIDocument();
&COM_Tmpl = &Doc_Tmpl.DocumentElement;
&reqMsg.URIResourceIndex = 1;
&COM_Tmpl.GetPropertyByName("TenantID").Value = &TenantID;

/* this is how form-data can be provided */

&reqMsg.SegmentContentType = "application/x-www-form-urlencoded";
&bRet = &reqMsg.SetContentString("grant_type=client_credentials&client_id=" | EncodeURLForQueryString(&ClientID | "@" | &TenantID) | "&client_secret=" | EncodeURLForQueryString(&ClientSecret) | "&resource=" | EncodeURLForQueryString(&ApplicationID | "/" | &TenantName | ".sharepoint.com@" | &TenantID));

/* following HTTP property may only work in latest tools release */

&bRet = &reqMsg.IBInfo.LoadRESTHeaders();
&bRet = &reqMsg.IBInfo.IBConnectorInfo.AddConnectorProperties("Disable_URLEncodingBody", "True", %HttpProperty);

/* submit request and the parse json response */

&respMsg = %IntBroker.SyncRequest(&reqMsg);
&sResp = &respMsg.GenXMLString();

&AccessToken will have the access token received in the response. 

/* step 2 */

/* intialize service operation and update URL variables */

&reqMsg = CreateMessage(Operation.N_SPO_FORMDIGEST_POST);

&Doc_Tmpl = &reqMsg.GetURIDocument();

&COM_Tmpl = &Doc_Tmpl.DocumentElement;

&reqMsg.URIResourceIndex = 1;

&COM_Tmpl.GetPropertyByName("TenantName").Value = &TenantName;

&COM_Tmpl.GetPropertyByName("SiteName").Value = &SiteName;

/* add properties to request header, &AccessToken is from step 1 */

&bRet = &reqMsg.IBInfo.LoadRESTHeaders();

&bRet = &reqMsg.IBInfo.IBConnectorInfo.AddConnectorProperties("Authorization", &AccessToken, %Header);

&bRet = &reqMsg.IBInfo.IBConnectorInfo.AddConnectorProperties("Accept", "application/json;odata=nometadata", %Header);

/* submit request and the parse json response */

&respMsg = %IntBroker.SyncRequest(&reqMsg);

&sResp = &respMsg.GenXMLString();

&FormDigest will be populated form the response.

/* step 3 */

/* intialize service operation and update URL variables */

&reqMsg = CreateMessage(Operation.N_SPO_UPLOADFILES_POST);

&Doc_Tmpl = &reqMsg.GetURIDocument();

&COM_Tmpl = &Doc_Tmpl.DocumentElement;

&reqMsg.URIResourceIndex = 1;

&COM_Tmpl.GetPropertyByName("TenantName").Value = &TenantName;

&COM_Tmpl.GetPropertyByName("SiteName").Value = &SiteName;

/* if SPO folder path has space in it then it has to be encoded like &SPOFolder = EncodeURL("Shared Documents/General/SPO Test"); */

&COM_Tmpl.GetPropertyByName("SPOFolder").Value = &SPOFolder;

&COM_Tmpl.GetPropertyByName("FileName").Value = &attachFileName;

/* read the file to attach and GetBase64StringFromBinary */

&MTOMFile = GetFile("filename.xlsx", "R", %FilePath_Absolute);

If &MTOMFile.IsOpen Then

   &theBase64encodedString = &MTOMFile.GetBase64StringFromBinary();

   &MTOMFile.Close();

End-If;

/* add the bas464string to request message */

If (&reqMsg.SetContentString(&theBase64encodedString)) Then

   &reqMsg.SegmentContentType = "binary";

   &reqMsg.SegmentContentTransfer = %ContentTransfer_Binary;

End-If;

/* add properties to request header, last property is a HTTP property */

&bRet = &reqMsg.IBInfo.LoadRESTHeaders();

&bRet = &reqMsg.IBInfo.IBConnectorInfo.AddConnectorProperties("X-Request-Digest", &FormDigest, %Header);

&bRet = &reqMsg.IBInfo.IBConnectorInfo.AddConnectorProperties("Authorization", &AccessToken, %Header);

&bRet = &reqMsg.IBInfo.IBConnectorInfo.AddConnectorProperties("Accept", "application/json;odata=nometadata", %Header);

&bRet = &reqMsg.IBInfo.IBConnectorInfo.AddConnectorProperties("Content-Type", "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet", %Header);

&bRet = &reqMsg.IBInfo.IBConnectorInfo.AddConnectorProperties("Base64toBinary", "Y", %HttpProperty);

/* submit request and the parse json response */

&respMsg = %IntBroker.SyncRequest(&reqMsg);

&sResp = &respMsg.GenXMLString();

Parse the response or check response status &respMsg.HTTPResponseCode

or &respMsg.ResponseStatus to complete the processing.

Hope this helps.

Mass upload/download files

Recently I was presented with a requirement wherein the user should be able to mass upload files from their local workstation to PeopleSoft and then mass download the files from PeopleSoft to their local workstation. The files would be stored in the database record.

I am running PT 8.59.x and PeopleSoft does provide a couple of functions MAddAttachment and DetachAttachment for this exact requirement. 

The MAddAttachment function is pretty straight forward. I was able to call it via FieldChange event, where in a dialog box is presented to the user to select a single file or multiple files and the files are loaded to the URL value provided as part of the function parameter. The function also has a parameter which can limit the number of files uploaded at a time. Just like the AddAttachment function this function also converts the filenames which have special characters like a space, amersand, plus sign etc. to underscores. More info about this under the "Understanding the File Attachment Functions" and "File Name Considersations" section in Peoplebooks.

For my requirement I was displaying the files loaded via MAddAttachment in a grid on the page. Now I provided another button, and on FieldChange of this button the plan was to invoke DetachAttachment to run through the files in the grid and download them locally to the user's workstation. For some reason this does not work. The code would run through the grid but would download only the last file in the grid, no errors anywhere.  So following is what I did to get around this limitation.

I am using GetAttachment first to read through the grid rowset and download the files to a temporary location on the server. I am programmatically creating a folder structure to download the files to. Then I am using java clases to compress or zip up the files in the temporary folder. Process to compress files available here. Then I am using PutAttachment function to upload the single compressed/zip file back into the database. Finally I am calling DetachAttachment to download the compressed/zip file to the user's local workstation. As part of post-cleanup I am using DeleteAttachment to delete the compressed/zip file from the database and then using RemoveDirectory to delete the temporary location created on the sevrer to download the files to.

Peoplecode to zip/archive files

Following is a way to archive, compress or zip up files via peoplecode. Alternative would be to use command line calls to products like winzip, 7-zip etc. For this test I am running PT 8.59.x. The same should also be possible in slightly older Peopletools releases too, like PT 8.56.x

Oracle provides java classes that can be used for this task. This method will create a new archive file and add files to the root location of the archive or zip file. 

The solution uses the following three java classes that are delivered with PeopleTools

1. java.io.FileOutputStream

2. java.util.zip.ZipOutputStream

3. java.util.zip.ZipEntry

/* initialize Java Obejct &myArchive */
Local JavaObject &myArchive = CreateJavaObject("java.util.zip.ZipOutputStream", CreateJavaObject("java.io.FileOutputStream", &zipFileName, True));

In the above line of code &zipFileName is the complete path of the archive file that we will create.

&fileNametoAdd - will have the complete path to the file that we will be adding to the archive. 

In order to get the filename value from the file path do the following.

&FilePath = Split(&fileNametoAdd, "\");
&fname = &FilePath [&FilePath.Len];

Local JavaObject &ArchiveEntry = CreateJavaObject("java.util.zip.ZipEntry", &fname);

/* Add Archive entry to OutputStream */

&myArchive.putNextEntry(&ArchiveEntry);

/* now add the file to the archive */

/* Read source file into input stream */

Local JavaObject &in = CreateJavaObject("java.io.FileInputStream", &fileNametoAdd);

/* Java Array that will read bytes from input file */

Local JavaObject &filebuffer = CreateJavaArray("byte[]", 1024);

Local number &byteCount = &in.read(&filebuffer);

   

/* Read bytes from input file and load it byte array  - Do until all bytes are read*/

While &byteCount > 0

      /* Write Bytes of Data to corresponding Archive Output Stream */

      &myArchive.write(&filebuffer, 0, &byteCount);

      &byteCount = &in.read(&filebuffer);

End-While;

   

/* Close input stream */

&in.close();

/* Close archive */

&myArchive.close();

Securing PDF

Following is a way to secure pdf files generated via non-BI Publisher technology like SQR. For this test I am running PT 8.59.x. Should be available in slightly older Peopletools releases too, like PT 8.56.x

Oracle provides java classes that can be used for securing a pdf file. This method will add a password to the pdf file, so that a password is prompted to the user while opening the pdf as well as adds a digital signature to the pdf. This class does both so if the requirement is to only password protect a pdf file, we still have to add a signature but make it small or invisible. 

This method also requires a digital certificate signed by one of the approved adobe certificate authorities called as AATL. The certificate has to be pfx format (can be converted using tools like openssl). If a self-signed certificate is used, the process still works but the end user will receive a warning banner in adobe reader once the document is opened and will have to manually trust the certificate by adding it to the adbobe trust store. 

The solution uses two java classes that are delivered with PeopleTools

1. java.util.Properties

2. oracle.xdo.common.pdf.signature.PDFSignature

Local JavaObject &jProp = CreateJavaObject("java.util.Properties");

&jProp.setProperty("signature-enable", "True");
&jProp.setProperty("pdf-security", "True");
&jProp.setProperty("pdf-open-password", &EncryptPswd);
&jProp.setProperty("pdf-permissions-password", &EncryptPswd);
&jProp.setProperty("pdf-changes-allowed", "0");

&EncryptPswd is the password that will be used to open the pdf file. 

&inFile is the complete path to the source pdf file and &outFile is the complete path of the secured pdf file. 

Local JavaObject &pdfSignature = CreateJavaObject("oracle.xdo.common.pdf.signature.PDFSignature", &inFile, &outFile);
   
&pdfSignature.setConfig(&jProp);
&pdfSignature.setLocale("en");

&digPswd is the password of the pfx digitial certificate file and &digSign is the complete path to the pfx file. Make sure the paths use "//" insread of "/" or "\\" instead of "\".

&pdfSignature.init(&digPswd, &digSign);

Following plots the signature in the pdf file. If a signature is not needed then make it small or invisible. Adjust the values as required. 

&xCord = 0;

&yCord = 0;

&width = 0;

&height = 0;

&pageIndex = 1;

&sReason can be some text or blank if none is required.

      
Local JavaObject &jFloatArray = CreateJavaObject("float[]", &xCord, &yCord, &width, &height);
&pdfSignature.addSignatureField(&pageIndex, &jFloatArray, "PSoftSign");
&pdfSignature.sign("PSoftSign", &sReason);
&pdfSignature.cleanup();

clean-up memory once done.

&jProp = Null;

&pdfSignature = Null;

&jFloatArray = Null;

/* delete the un-encrypted file */

Local object &delFile = CreateJavaObject("java.io.File", &inFile);

&delFile.delete();

PS Query - Employee Photo

There are couple of options to include images in query output. In this example I am displaying employee pictures which are stored in the database (under the identification data component). I am running PT 8.59.x on HCM 9.2.

The simplest method is to include the table EMPL_PHOTO in the query and join the EMPLID field and display the EMPLOYEE_PHOTO field. On the query properties select "Image Data" that way the image is displayed in the output.

The EMPL_PHOTO table has a field called as PHOTO_SIZENAME and stores each image in 4 different sizes, CARD, LIST, ORCH and PAGE. Hence it is advisble to add a condition/filter to select the appropriate size. In my case I am filtering based on LIST.

The other option is to use drilling URL expression type. 

In this scenario we have to build two queries. The first query will query data from EMPL_PHOTO table and the query properties have to set to "Image Huperlink".

The second query will include EMPL_PHOTO and other tables. Add an expression of type "Drilling URL" and select "Image URL"

In the next dialog box, provide the details of the first query and verify the two key fields EMPLID and PHOTO_SIZENAME are peopulated correctly. The field PHOTO_SIZENAME has to be in the "field list" so will be displayed in the result. So while defining the Image URL you can map the result to this field. This way the crypting URL (expression) need not be displayed as a field in the result but the values in the PHOTO_SIZENAME column will appear hyperlinked. Clicking on this field will display the image.   

Displaying/exporting PeopleSoft image/picture files

There isn't a good way to display/export images or picture files deliverd by PeopleSoft. Some smaller images can be viewed via Application Designer but not the ones that are used on fluid tiles. So wrote this small routine to view the images online as well as create a file with the same information which can be shared with the team.

For this POC running PT 8.58.x, HCM 9.2

Created a SQL object N_IMAGES_SQL, selecting image name and version from the PSCONTDEFN table. Selecting only SVG files as those are the ones generally used on fluid tiles. 

Created a page and added a long field of the type HTML Area to the page. 

N_TEST_WRK.HTMLAREA in the code below is that field.

So displaying the images returned by the SQL on the online page along with the image name. When this happens the images are also written to the web server cache folder. So created another string with path to the physical files in the web server cache folder and created an html file. Via a browser opened this html file and saved it as a pdf which can now be shared with the team.   

Complete peoplecode below

Output

Generating excel output with multiple sheets using RTF Template

So as the title suggests, in this exercise I am testing PeopleSoft's BI Publisher reporting engine to output an excel file, while using a RTF template. In addition to producing the output in excel format, I have to split the result into multiple sheets within the same excel workbook. So lets get started.

For this POC I am using Oracle BI Publisher Desktop 12.2.1.4.0. 

I am displaying a simple table with two columns on each sheet within the workbook. In order to name the sheet within the workbook I am using the following form field tag

<?spreadsheet-sheet-name: {.//N_SHEET_NAME}?> where N_SHEET_NAME is a data element in my XML data source.

My XML data source is structured as shown below.

 

In my RTF template, I have the following two tables separated by a page break. So the first table is on page 1 of the RTF file and the second table is on page 2.

Table 1 form field definitions have been defined as below.

F = <?for-each:N_PERSON_DATA?> 

E = <?end for-each?>

Below the table I have defined the following tags.

<?for-each-group:N_PERSON;./N_SHEET_NAME?>

<?spreadsheet-sheet-name: {.//N_SHEET_NAME}?>

<?end for-each-group?>

After this there is page-break which was created by Ctrl + Enter.

Table 2 follows a similar construct as explained below.

F = <?for-each:N_ADDRESS_DATA?>

E = <?end for-each-group?>

<?for-each-group:N_ADDRESS;./N_SHEET_NAME?>

<?spreadsheet-sheet-name: {.//N_SHEET_NAME}?>

<?end for-each-group?>

Excel output below.

Sheet 1

Sheet 2

Composite Query

Composite Query enables us to combine data from existing queries and then apply filters, aggregates, and so on before presenting the report results, which show the combined data set. Composite Query retrieves multiple levels of related information on existing queries and presents the combined data as a single and flattened query result. There is good amount of info on how these work, limitation etc so I am not going to cover those here. I found them pretty useful to create inline SQL or query which isn't  possible via the regular PS Query (Query Manager) or even via Connected query feature in PeopleSoft.

So for this POC I am running PT 8.58.05 on HCM 9.2 (PUM 35). The SQL or output that I am trying to re-produce is as follows. 

I am listing employees from PS_JOB but I want to list their min ORIG_HIRE_DT value regardless of their current relationship in the orignatization. 

So I created two simple queries in Query Manager as follows.

Parent_Query

SELECT A.EMPLID, A.EMPL_RCD, (CONVERT(CHAR(10),A.EFFDT,121)), A.EFFSEQ,  (CONVERT(CHAR(10),A.LAST_HIRE_DT,121))
  FROM PS_JOB A, PS_EMPLMT_SRCH_QRY A1
  WHERE ( A.EMPLID = A1.EMPLID
    AND A.EMPL_RCD = A1.EMPL_RCD
    AND A1.OPRID = 'PS'
    AND ( A.EFFDT =
        (SELECT MAX(A_ED.EFFDT) FROM PS_JOB A_ED
        WHERE A.EMPLID = A_ED.EMPLID
          AND A.EMPL_RCD = A_ED.EMPL_RCD
          AND A_ED.EFFDT <= SUBSTRING(CONVERT(CHAR,GETDATE(),121), 1, 10))
    AND A.EFFSEQ =
        (SELECT MAX(A_ES.EFFSEQ) FROM PS_JOB A_ES
        WHERE A.EMPLID = A_ES.EMPLID
          AND A.EMPL_RCD = A_ES.EMPL_RCD
          AND A.EFFDT = A_ES.EFFDT) ))

Inline_Query 

SELECT A.EMPLID, A.ORG_INSTANCE_ERN, MIN( (CONVERT(CHAR(10),A.ORIG_HIRE_DT,121)))
  FROM PS_PER_ORG_INST A, PS_PERS_SRCH_QRY A1
  WHERE ( A.EMPLID = A1.EMPLID
    AND A1.OPRID = 'PS')
  GROUP BY  A.EMPLID,  A.ORG_INSTANCE_ERN

Navigated to Reporting Tools > Composite Query > Composite Query Manager and stepped through the wizard.

1. Gave a name to the composite query

2. Provided the Query 1 and Query values. So in my case Query 1 = Parent_Query and Query 2 = Inline_Query. Unfortunately we cannot have more than one inline SQLs, so this looks like a limitation.

3.   Sepcified Query Joins as shown below.

4. On the Output fields page I made the selections as shown below.

5.  On the final page set the status as active and saved the page.

Hovering over the gear icon next to the SQL button presents the option to Run/Preview the data or ouput.

Application Engine Plug-ins

PeopleTools provides a feature where in we can alter the SQL or PeopleCode actions of any Application Engine program, without customizing the delivered AE program. The configured plug-in action is executed at runtime. This effectively allows us to modify the code without actually customizing or re-designing the Application Engine program.

Configure the selected SQL or PeopleCode action of the Application Engine program by adding new SQL, PeopleCode, or both and/or by replacing the existing SQL or PeopleCode action through PIA in the AE Action Plugin page (PeopleTools, Application Engine).

Note: You can add or replace only SQL and PeopleCode actions in the Application Engine program. Only sections with steps having SQL or PeopleCode actions of the Application Engine program, which you plan to configure, will be displayed in PIA. This feature is not designed to add new sections or steps to an existing Application Engine program.

Actions belonging to the same step of the same section of the Application Engine program can have multiple plug-in actions defined. The plug-in action type does not have to match the action type that is selected for configuration. You can re-use the same SQL or PeopleCode plug-in action multiple times for different Application Engine programs.

The Application Engine action that is being configured cannot be used as a plug-in to configure another Application Engine program. Also, you cannot define a plug-in for the Application Engine action that is already been used as a plug-in.

For example, if Application Engine program A action Y is configured to use Application Engine program B action X as a plug-in, then Application Engine program A action Y cannot be used as a plug-in for any other Application Engine program. Also, you cannot configure a plug-in for Application Engine program B action X.

For the following test I am running PT 8.58.05, HCM 9.2 on PUM 35.

So AEMINITEST is my delivered program and then I created another standard AE program called as N_PLUGIN. My custom AE just has one step with action as peoplecode under MAIN. I have enbled disable restart under object properties of my custom AE.

In my custom peoplecode action I have the following code.

The delivered AE AEMINITEST has 2 steps under MAIN, first one is a SQL and then second one is peoplecode. I added a line of text to the peoplecode to understand the flow (obvisously this is not necessary).

Next logged into PIA and navigated to PeopleTools > Application Engine > AE Action Plugin and pulled up AEMINITEST.

I tried the following 4 tests.

1. Run my peoplecode action after AEMINITEST's peoplecode 

Value of variable TEST in AEMINITEST is 2 (0,0)

Value of variable TEST in N_PLUGIN is 20 (0,0)
Application Engine program AEMINITEST ended normally

Here I tried if I can display the value of the variable in my N_PLUGIN prgram which is set in the parent AEMINITEST program. This would work only if the variable is declared as global or component, not as local or if its auto declared. Similarly values from AET records could possibly be shared.   

2. Run my peoplecode action before AEMINITEST's peoplecode

Value of variable TEST in N_PLUGIN is 20 (0,0)

Value of variable TEST in AEMINITEST is 2 (0,0)
Application Engine program AEMINITEST ended normally

3. Run my peoplecode action replacing AEMINITEST's peoplecode

Value of variable TEST in N_PLUGIN is 20 (0,0)
Application Engine program AEMINITEST ended normally

4. Replace AEMINITEST's SQL with my peoplecode action

Value of variable TEST in N_PLUGIN is 20 (0,0)

Value of variable TEST in AEMINITEST is 2 (0,0)
Application Engine program AEMINITEST ended normally

So this is a great feature and will definitely assist when customizing Application Engine programs.