Related Content: Basics

What is Related Content Service Framework?

The PeopleSoft Related Content Framework enables to link application pages with contextually relevant collaborative content. In simple terms, Related Content Service Framework allows extension of a transaction without customizing the component, also allows the user to perform more actions, tasks, and to see related information without leaving the transaction. Brings additional, supplemental information into the transaction in a bottom or side frame. Related content services are ideal for the scenarios when the user wants to access two pages at same time, or some display only information like Help instructions etc.,

Related content services can be any collaborative, analytical, or informational content that is useful for completing business tasks. Related content services include any content such as PeopleSoft components; pagelets or tiles that are offered as services to be consumed by applications; or related discussion forums, wiki pages, or links. Related content services can be configured within the same database, among multiple PeopleSoft databases, and between a PeopleSoft database and external sources.

Related Content allows you to display associated information on the same page. This tool will split the screen at the bottom (right side, new window) to display additional information for the page you are working on.

Limitations 

• A  component must be registered to select it to assign related content.
• The related content menu and the Related Content frame will not be displayed on pages that have the pagebar option set to disabled.
• The related content menu and the Related Content frame will not be displayed for modal or secondary pages.
• If the modal or secondary page has a related actions menu or glyph on a field that has a service targeted to open in Target Content, the frame will be opened in a new window instead.
• The related content menus, the Related Content frame, and related actions menus and links will not be displayed for content that has been produced for WSRP consumption. For example, the Related Actions menu will not be displayed on a pivot grid that has been produced as WSRP content.
• The Related Content frame configured for a classic page will not be displayed when that page is rendered inside any fluid wrapper, such as in a fluid activity guide or in the fluid master/detail container.

Types of services that can be created

• Application class: when Peoplecode needs to be run to execute business logic.
• Non-PeopleSoft service type accesses any non-PeopleSoft pages, external content, or services.
• PeopleSoft Component: the component can be from the local PeopleSoft system or from a remote PeopleSoft system.  
• Embeddable Pagelet: is used to define a PeopleSoft Pagelet wizard created embeddable pagelet to be used as a service. 
• OBIEE (Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition) Pagelet: is used to define a PeopleSoft Pagelet wizard created OBIEE data source-based pagelet to be used as a service.  
• PeopleSoft Query: is used to access PeopleSoft Query definitions. The query results can also be filtered based on the query definition and the parameters that it requires.  
• PeopleSoft Script: can be used in situations in which an iScript has been used to develop the application functionality based on PeopleSoft data or non-PeopleSoft data, such as stock quotes or weather information.

Sample Example:

• Display Employee Document Component on Maternity Page related content.

1. Development Process of the Related Content Service

A. Define Related Content Service.

To define a related Content Service, navigate to

Main Menu -> People Tools -> Portal -> Related Content Service -> Define Related Service

B.   Manage Related Service Definition.

After assigning the related service definition to a PeopleSoft component, user can configure the related content service and related actions. Service parameters, security, layout etc., can be defined.

Main Menu > People Tools > Portal > Related Content Service > Manage Related Content Service  

Page Down you will see Assign Related Content to an Application Page 

Add Service, and find the navigation where related content needs to be used --> Configure Related Content Page.

       Open Content Reference of the employee document component [component that you want to show when clicking Related Content dropdown] and add following information

       Navigation: PeopleTools > Portal> structure and content

      Go to content reference attributes groupbox .

      Name:                RCF_SERVICE_PARAMETER

      Attribute Values: EMPLID, EmployeeId; EMPL_RCD, Employee Record

      When you assign a content reference as an anonymous service, the system automatically defines service parameters for the components that provide either a valid search record or contextual record. You can manually define the RCF_SERVICE_PARAMETER attribute on the Content Ref Administration page for any content reference, such as for pagelets, iScripts, or for other content references that do not have a valid search record. If this RCF_SERVICE_PARAMETER attribute exists, the system automatically uses the attribute values as the service parameters for the content reference.

      The RCF_SERVICE_PARAMETER attribute overrides the default behavior of component-based URLs. The system will not retrieve the service parameters from a valid search record or contextual record, rather the system supplants any search record parameters with the parameters included in the Attribute Value field.

The related content service will be displayed in the component to which it is attached to.