Let the user have control.

That’s the theme behind the creation of user-defined objects, or UDOs.

An object is a self-sufficient entity that contains data as well as the structures and functions that are used to manipulate the data, and it is reusable based on software specification, or complete description of a system object. Each object has one or more of its own specifications.

User-defined objects are personalized, non-spec based objects that end users can create and maintain within the EnterpriseOne Applications release at runtime.

EnterpriseOne allows users to search for user-defined objects in several ways. UDOs can also be modified according to a specific language, security, and be created from multiple parts.

Six designated user-defined objects are included in the new management process for JD Edwards EnterpriseOne 9.2:

• Queries: fields and QBE columns that the user selects from a form and add conditions to in order to make the search criteria more specific.
• Grid Formats: a selection of the columns you choose to display, the sequence in which you want them displayed, and how information is displayed in your grid.
• Composite Application Framework: a user interface framework that enables JD Edwards EnterpriseOne applications to integrate with multiple third-party content and applications, as well as other EnterpriseOne applications.
• One View Reports: a Business Intelligence (BI) Publisher data model, a BI Publisher report, the report definition for the One View Report, which is the metadata for the report and resides in JD Edwards EnterpriseOne.
• One View Watchlists: a collection of items that match user-defined criteria and contain information to which users have selected to be alerted.
• EnterpriseOne Pages: the first screen end-users see when they log into EnterpriseOne. They are HTML files and can contain any HTML-enabled functionality, such as interactive process flows, URL links and web pages and company logos.

These objects are modifications that have been implemented over time, says Clayton Seeley. “Over the past several releases, we have tried to enable the end user to personalize their runtime experience without the requirement for direct modifications or development of the EnterpriseOne objects,” he said.

The goal of a user-defined object is to place the control of the application in the hands of the end user, instead of IT staff. “Enabling the end-user to personalize his or her experience, without directly modifying the base objects, makes the maintenance and updating of the system easier and seamless and, hopefully, a much better experience,” Seeley said.

More recently, a new Management Workbench has been created for User Defined Objects in EnterpriseOne version 9.2. This version will see the introduction of consolidation and synchronization of how User Defined Objects are maintained across the system, he said.

Prior to 9.2, Seeley said, user-defined objects were created and maintained through the EnterpriseOne system in different ways. “For instance, a Grid Format was created by an end user but was not able to be shared to another user easily and definitely unable to be promoted between pathcodes,” he said.

“Security/authorization of each UDO prior to 9.2 was also all over the place. It seemed like each UDO had a different application or method in order to establish who was able to do what with each UDO,” Seeley said. “With 9.2, security and authorization has been consolidated into a single application that all our JD Edwards administrators are used to: Security Workbench.”

Security Workbench is capable of establishing which users have access to what UDO and what they can do to that UDO. To complete the consolidation and synchronization, a “web-ified” Object Management Workbench (OMW) has been created to allow for an easier transfer of UDOs between pathcodes.

“UDOs can be added to OMW projects now, just like our standard objects are able to do so,” he said. “These projects can transfer from defined status codes in order to move objects between pathcodes, like from DV to PY.”

A mechanism called Design Panels, Seeley said, will pop up on the right side of the user interface to provide the user all the options for each UDO to be created. Also within the Design Panels, users can request the UDO be published from a personal object to an object that can be shared to other users or roles.

He said security and authorization have also been consolidated into a single application called Security Workbench, which will define what users or roles have access to what UDO, and how they can modify UDO. Lastly, a web Object Management Workbench has been created to make transferring UDOs between pathcodes easy.

UDOs that have been designated as “pending approval” or “pending promote” are subject to rejection by users. Users can then notify others as to why they have rejected it. Rejected UDOs then can be edited and resubmitted for approval. Once the UDO is approved, it can be shared among the users who have appropriate permissions. “As you can see, there are a great number of changes that have been made for UDOs with the 9.2 release,” Seeley said.

He recommends everyone visit http://learnjde.com for tutorials and documentation on the management of UDOs in 9.2.

More resources for you learn more about UDOs:

• Add these sessions to your agenda at COLLABORATE 17.
  • E1 Tools Release 9.2.x – Demonstration of New Features
  • Maximize User Experience in E1 – What is UX One and UDO?
  • How to Manage User-Defined Objects in JD Edwards 9.2.
  • Case Study: UDOs Don’t Have to be UFOs
  • Makings of a Stable ERP: The Allegheny County JDE Story
• Conference Presentations from COLLABORATE 16, INFOCUS 16, and SXW 16. (Conference presentations are a paid member benefit – contact [email protected] for more information)
  • What You Need to Know About User-Defined Objects with Tools Release 9.2
  • E1 Tools Release 9.2 – Demonstration of New Features
  • What Can UDO with New Technical Features in E1 9.2?
  • Automating JD Edwards MUDO (Management of User-Defined Objects
• Get involved with the JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Technology SIG to share knowledge and network with other users.
• Watch for even more education at INFOCUS 17 and COLLABORATE 18!