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LIGHTLY TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS ON PEOPLESOFT, SQR, AND RELATED AND UNRELATED TOPICS

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Modify or Clone?

When customizing functionality in a PeopleSoft system, is it better to modify an existing object, or "clone" it first to create a new copy?

Last week I discussed the naming of custom objects to make them easier to identify. But I also suggested that not all custom objects should be named this way. Some of the PeopleSoft-delivered objects might be customized but will retain their original names. How can you decide whether to customize an existing object, or create a new one?

"Cloning" refers to copying an existing object (whether it's delivered or custom) to create a new object that can then be modified. A cloned object should be named using your unique identifier.

Note: For SQRs, the procedure is a little different. Today's discussion is more generally related to record definitions, pages, components, PeopleCode, and other objects stored in the database. I'll deal with the differences for SQRs and other file objects next week.

It is easy to see the advantages of cloning. By copying an object before making modifications, we preserve the original delivered object. The new object is separate and easily identifiable. This can make upgrades easier. It also reduces the possibility of unwanted side effects that can occur when we are changing existing objects. And backing out our changes, if necessary, is as easy as dropping the new object.

However, cloning also has disadvantages and costs. In some cases it can lead to more customization than necessary, increase risk, and even make upgrades more difficult.

For example, suppose that we need to add a field and make some cosmetic changes to a page. We could clone the page and make our changes. But then the component(s) that use the page must be changed (or maybe cloned?). If we create new components, the menu is affected, security must be changed, and so on. Now instead of simplifying our next upgrade, we have complicated it.

There is another problem with cloning. Using the same example, suppose that the next upgrade delivers improvements to the page. We would do our comparisons and find that the original page had not been modified. Therefore, we would probably accept the new delivered page and move on. But what about the cloned version? If we don't know about it or don't make the connection to the original page, we might forget to apply the new delivered changes to it. We would have "frozen" the page. It would no longer match PeopleBooks, it might not work well with other portions of the system—and the situation would only get worse as future patches are applied.

Let's consider a different situation. We still want to modify the page, but in this case we need to add new functionality to it. This functionality should appear only if the page is being run by a new component we are creating. This could work, but we could end up making the page very complex and difficult to maintain. Upgrades would be difficult. In this case, cloning the page would be the best choice.

So how can we decide whether to clone first or simply modify an existing object? If you intend to create entirely new functionality that has some similarity to existing functionality, you can often save time by cloning an object. However, if you want to modify existing functionality, it is generally better to modify it in place, in the original object. As a very rough guide, if you intend to change over 50% of the appearance or behavior of an object, clone it.

(Note that you could clone the object to a backup copy and then modify the original object. This would allow you to recover the object quickly if necessary. However, use this technique sparingly or at least develop a strict naming convention for the backups. Otherwise, these backup copies will begin to proliferate, and nobody will want to delete them for fear of breaking the system.)

Let's take another example. Some people would never consider adding a field to an existing record definition. They would always create a new record as a "sibling" of the existing record. This can be a good idea. However, if it is necessary to have a one-to-one correspondence between the two tables (where a row is always created in the new table for each row in the original table), then it may be necessary to make page or PeopleCode changes. If a row is missing from the new table, will this break the system? Will SQL joins fail? Does creating a new table cause more problems than it solves?

There is nothing wrong with customizing your system, and there is nothing wrong with customizing existing objects. Cloning objects can be a very good idea, but contrary to some of the conventional wisdom, it can at times actually cause more risk and system instability. Before starting your customization, carefully consider the pros and cons of cloning vs. modifying objects in place. Don't be pressured into one method or the other by people who don't understand the implications—explain them clearly. Choose the best method for the future stability and maintainability of the system, and everybody will enjoy the benefits.

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