Peoplesoft Interview questions - SQR

1. What are the sections and paragraphs available?

There are five sections and three paragraphs available in SQR programming. The sections include

a. Begin-setup End-setup.
b. Begin-program End-program.
c. Begin-procedure End-procedure.
d. Begin-heading End-heading.
e. Begin-footing End-footing

And the paragraphs include

Begin-select paragraph.

Begin-SQL paragraph.

Begin-document paragraph
2. Is it possible to increase the array size once defined?
No, it is not possible to increase the Array size once defined
3. What is Load-lookup? Give the Syntax for Load-Lookup?
The LOAD-LOOKUP command defines an array containing a set of keys and values and loads it into memory.
With LOAD-LOOKUP, you can reduce the number of tables that are joined in one SELECT. Use this
command in conjunction with one or more LOOKUP commands.
Syntax: begin-setup
load-lookup
name=prods
table=products
key=product_code
return_value=description
end-setup

4. Can you Call a SQR from another SQR? How?

We can call one SQR program from another SQR program using Call.callsystem. But this is possible only in
UNIX Operating system.
 5. Briefly explain Most commonly used SQC’s in SQR programs?

: Some of the most commonly used SQC’s are

1.STDAPI.sqc : This Is Process Scheduler Interface which is used to initiate and terminate some
field values such as Process_instance & Run_cntl_id

2.SETENV.sqc : This is used to set the Default Environment based on the Database such Printer
Type, Paper Size,Date formats Etc….

3.NUMBER.sqc : This file contains generalized routines to format numbers.

4.DATETIME.sqc : This file contains generalized routines to format dates and times.

6.RESET.sqc : This is an important Footing SQc.

6. What are the commands used in filehandling of sqr?

Using File Handling we can Import. Steps are

1. Opening a File Using ‘OPEN FOR-READING’ command.
1. Reading Data From File Using ‘READ’ command.

Writing Data into Table Using ‘BEGIN-SQL’ paragraph & ‘INSERT’ command

7. What are On-break parameters?

ON-BREAK causes the specified action to perform in a tabular report when the value of a field changes.
The default action prints the field only when its value changes (PRINT=CHANGE).Mainly used for
Redundancy of Printing on a page.

8. How can you Debug SQR programs?

We can Debug SQR using Debugging Commands such as

2. #IF DEBUGxxx

#END-IF

2. DISPLAY and

3. SHOW
 9. What is the difference between sqr and sqc?

SQR SQC

1.This is nothing but the Actual 1.This is like a function in SQR.

Source program.

2.This consists of Program Section. 2.This does not consists of program Section.

3.This can be Compiled & Executed. 3.This cannot be Compiled and Executed.

4.We cannot call one SQR from 4.We can call one SQC from another SQC or another SQR
or SQC. SQR program.

10. What are different types of variables in sqr?

Types of variables in SQR are

1. Column Variables.

2. List Variables.

3. System Variables.

4. Document Variables.

5. Substitution Variables.

User Defined Variables

11. Is there any read-only variable in sqr?

Column Variables & System Variables are Read-Only Variables.

12. How to pass Inputs for sqr program while running from windows?
Using ASK & INPUT Commands.
13. How to pass Inputs to the SQR while running through the Process Scheduler?
Using Procedures & SQC’s to access data on Run Control Page (Run Control Fields).
14. What is the purpose of Stdapi.sqc
This is a Process Scheduler Interface sqc which is used to initiate and terminate some field
values such as Process_instance & Run_cntl_id
15. What is the SQT file? What are the advantages of SQT files?
SQT’ file is nothing but resultant file after the compilation (i.e.) Runtime File. By using this SQT file for
Execution we can increase the Performance of the program by reduciong the Compilation Time.
16. What is the SQC used to read data from translate table?

‘READXLAT.sqc’ is the SQC used to read data from Translate Table.

17. Which section is mandatory in an SQR program?

‘BEGIN-PROGRAM’ Section is Mandatory for an SQR program.

18. How will you display an image in SQR?

Using ‘DECLARE-IMAGE , END-DECLARE’ command.

19. What is use of SETENV.SQC?

This is used to set the Default Environment based on the Database such Printer Type, Paper Size, Date
formats Etc….

20. How will you perform ERROR handling in SQR?

We can do Error handling in SQR using some command line flags such as –O, -L,-ZMF,-XMB and using
Error handling commands such as

ON-ERROR = Skip/Warn/Stop (for Compile time errors)

ON-ERROR = Procedure Name (for execution stage errors).

21. How many ways of performance tuning are there in SQR?

1. Using LOADF-LOOKUP & LOOKUP.

2. Using ARRAYS.

3. Using MULTIPE REPORTS.

4. Using SQT Files.

 5. Using –Bnn Command line Flag.

6. Running on BATCH SERVER.

7. Using Proper Programming Logic in SQR such as Using BREAK statement in EVALUATE
Command.

8. Proper SQL tuning such as using Sub queries instead of Joins.

22. Can you call procedure in oracle from Sqr? How?

To call a database procedure using Begin-select paragraph, the syntax is as follows:

Begin-select

<Procedure name> [(report arguments)]

from Dual

End-select

To call from Begin-sql, the syntax will be

Begin-SQL

<procedure-name>;;

End-SQL

23. Can you connect more than one database using one Sqr? How?

Yes.

24. What are the differences between Load lookup and Array

ARRAYS LOAD-LOOKUP

1. Arrays can be declared in any section. 1. Load-Lookup is declared in only in

SETUP section only.

 2. Number of rows are not automatically 2. Numbers of rows are automatically added. gives a error if
the number of added.

Exceeds the specified number.

3. We should insert data in to Array by 3. Rows are automatically inserted in to

programming. Load-Lookup.

4.We can retrive any number of fields. 4.We can retrive only Two fields from

from a table. a table.

5.We have Length & Data type. 5.We don’t have Length & Data type.

6.We cannot directly print from Array. 6.We can directly print from

Load-Lookup.

25. What are the steps required to run the SQR from peoplesoft environment?

Three steps we have to fallow to run the SQR program from the peoplesoft environment (Process
Scheduler). These steps include

a. Making the SQR program API aware by calling two procedures (stdapi-init, stdapi-term) from
the Begin-program section and including the Stdapi.sqc in the bottom of the program.
b. Create new run control table or using existing run control table and creating run control page,
component and register the component. Creating new run control SQC if we create a new run
control table.
c. Giving the permission to the user by giving process groups.

26. How to pass command line flags to a sqr report running through process scheduler?

Using override options in the process definition in the Process Scheduler in the People Tools.

27. What are On-break parameters?

ON-BREAK causes the specified action to perform in a tabular report when the value of a
field changes . The default action prints the field only when its value changes
(PRINT=CHANGE).Mainly used for Redundancy of Printing on a page.
 28 .How does peoplesoft Process monitor knows that the process (Say sqr report) is at what
stage such as initiated, in process, completed etc

From the Field Value of ‘RUNSTATUSDESCR’field from ‘PS_PMN_PRCSLIST’ table.

29. How can u Debugging SQR programs?

We can Debug SQR using Debugging Commands such as

3. #IF DEBUGxxx

#END-IF

2. DISPLAY and

3. SHOW

30. How to refer a global variable in local procedure?

After special character (ex.#,&) we use underscore(_) after that variable name.
31. What is -Bnn flag?
This is used to specify the number of rows that are to be taken from Dbase to the Buffer because
default the system takes 10 rows at a time.
32. What is -Tnn flag?
This is mainly used for testing purpose. We can restrict the system to generate only a specific
number of pages instead of generating all pages for testing. This is used in Windows
Environment.
33. What is -RS & -RT Flags?
RS is used to generate SPF file ie; stopping the program after the comilation. _RT is used to run
the SPF file .This is also one kind of Performance increasing technique by saving the compilation
time.
34. What are the sections in Sqr? Which one is necessary?
Setup, Heading, Footing, Program & Procedure Sections. Program section is the Mandatory
section.
35. What is -debug command line flag?
This is used for Debugging in SQR.
36. How to place an corporate logo in sqr?
Using “Declare Image” command
37. what are the debugging commands in sqr?
Show & Display are debugging commands
38. what is the difference between them?
Show is used to display more than one variable at a time.
Display is used to display only one variable at a time.