PeopleSoft Systems and the Macintosh Platform
Project ORION recognizes that many offices and laboratories at the university depend upon the Macintosh as the computer of choice for high-level graphics and publishing requirements. At the same time, however, the available software products for student administration and human resources -- especially in "enterprise-wide" applications -- are largely designed for PC platforms.
One consideration in the choice of PeopleSoft systems for the university was the commitment of the vendor to provide Macintosh-compatible formats for the system services. The following letter states the current PeopleSoft efforts toward this end:
July 24, 1997
Dear PeopleSoft Customer:
PeopleSoft continues to work toward a generally available Macintosh client. We made progress with
PeopleSoft 6, but we are changing our strategy moving forward in PeopleSoft 7. This note will review our
current support for Macintosh connectivity and discuss our updated plans for delivering a general release
product.
Today, PeopleSoft offers a beta release version of our Macintosh client (based on PeopleTools 6.01b).
This client was developed using Microsoft tools to cross-compile our Win32 C++ client to the Macintosh.
This version of the client successfully runs PeopleSoft transactions on the Macintosh, but performance
results have been mixed. Our HRMS applications perform at acceptable levels, the
Financials/Distribution/ Manufacturing applications do not. In addition, Microsoft has indicated they will
not continue to invest in their cross-compilation tools for the Macintosh.
After working on the performance issues with the PeopleSoft 6 Macintosh client we realized that
improved performance would depend on the three-tier processing option being developed for PeopleSoft 7.
Our most recent white paper set expectations that a generally available Macintosh client would be built on
a version of that release.
We intend to deliver Macintosh connectivity with PeopleSoft 7, but we have changed our development
approach:
We have decided not to update the beta PeopleTools 6.01 Macintosh client to the three-tier
environment of PeopleTools 7. We had originally planned to deliver this port three months after
the generally available release of PeopleSoft 7. The beta version of the 6.01 Macintosh client
will not be supported as a generally available product.
Instead of delivering an updated version of the PeopleTools 6.01 client for PeopleSoft 7, we
intend to certify our new Java-based Web Client on the Macintosh. This certification will be
available with the initial release of PeopleSoft 7 in September.
There are several reasons for changing our development approach:
By using Java to develop our Macintosh client instead of a cross-compiled version of our Win32
C++ code we reduce the number of separate code lines from three (Win32 C++, Win32 C++
cross-compiled to Mac, Java) to two (Win32 C++ and Java). This means that our Macintosh
customers will have the same resources available to them as our other supported platforms.
Microsoft is investing more resources on Java development for the Macintosh than on Win32
C++ cross-compile technology.
Our Web Client will be a viable solution for Macintosh users in September. This gives
Macintosh users a generally available client option even earlier than the originally planned port
of the Win32 C++ client to three-tier processing. The Web Client will not provide all of the
functionality of the Windows client, but it will deliver the ability to run PeopleSoft panel groups
on the Macintosh with acceptable performance. Additionally, users will also be able to run
queries and view workflow worklists with this client.
With this new development approach we believe we are taking the best technical approach and the most
expedient approach to delivering a PeopleSoft client for the Macintosh. With our Web Client, Macintosh
users get the earliest possible exposure to our three-tier transaction processing functionality built on a
code line (Java) which is strategic to PeopleSoft.
We look forward to delivering this exciting and aggressive technology to our customers. If you have
additional questions concerning our Macintosh strategy please contact your PeopleSoft Account Manager.
Sincerely,
Stan Swete
Director, PeopleTools Product Strategy