It was initially demonstrated at the PeopleSoft UK Regional User Group Conference at Heathrow on 24th March 2004 as part of a seminar on techniques for loading data between PeopleSoft 7.5 to 8.8 HRMS. You can download the PowerPoint presentation from this here.  We'll see how it goes from there.

Downloads

Overview (Excerpt from Documentation)

The DataLoader program is designed to ease the task of analysing differences between Oracle database environments, and transfer data between environments either directly (either as live data or as a text file), or indirectly through the use of templates (if the tables in different environments have different structures) or by other programmatic means.

It was originally designed as a tool for simplifying the comparison of table structure and sample data between two versions of PeopleSoft HRMS (7.5 and 8.8) but during the course of the project expanded to become an all-purpose tool for migrating data.

The basis of DataLoader is to load data into an environment through the use of a CSV (comma-separated text) file. If you have Excel (or similar Spreadsheet) loaded on your PC, you can edit the text file directly from the application.

Each file will generally refer to a single table that needs to be migrated from one to another (or many other) environment(s).

The file (called a “script”) consists of a set of instructions detailing how to load the data from one environment to another. Optionally, this can be followed by a blank line, column headings, and a list of fixed data to be loaded into the table. You can then edit this data in the spreadsheet as is required, and mark whether or not to copy portions by use of a Y or N flag by each row.

The instructions used can be very simple (“Overwrite” on its own would load the data from the file into the table name given by the filename of the script), removing the existing data in the table and replacing it with this data. Alternatively, they can be complex scripts involving the reading from / writing to multiple tables, taking user input if necessary, utilising variables to share data between scripts, and performing processing conditional on specified flags or environments being used.

Template processing deserves a chapter in its own right, with its ability to abbreviate text to fit it into destination fields, create unique keys, build up a cross-reference table, and ignore duplicates by taking the last item in each group of records.

Comparisons between environments is easy-to-achieve. Simply specify a list of table names (or two table names side-by-side if the tables have been renamed between the databases), click on the “Compare” button, and the program compares the field structures, listing the differences (“same”,”missing in source”,”missing in destination”) between fields in a spreadsheet, and generating a default script for loading data from the source to the destination environment, together with the data from each environment to allow for comparison between actual data. You can even open and edit the generated files directly from DataLoader using an external Spreadsheet program such as Excel, or an internal CSV editor.

DataLoader shares many of the features of PeopleSoft’s Data Mover program. In some areas, Data Mover excels, in others DataLoader is easier to use.

For example:-

• In DataLoader, you can list a number of scripts to run, and execute them consecutively at the click of a button
• DataLoader will automatically build scripts for you to load data which are easy to customise to your own requirements – e.g. you can auto-create a script to load using the CSV fixed data method, the import / export (1:1) “live load” method, or the Template “live load” method.
• DataLoader is based on CSV files, so you can easily and visually describe columns of data within your script file – useful for building a load template.
• DataLoader has a “column count comparison” feature which will record source & destination row counts and write them to a CSV log file together with a comparison check.
• Multiple environments can be used within a single script, so that one script can be used to both load data from a source environment, and place it into one or more destination environments
• Scripts can be made generic through the use of global variables, source / destination environment identifiers, conditionals (based on variable value, environment, or a global on-line flag) and user prompts if required.
• Log Files are stamped with date and time for each line for timing and identification purposes. Logs can be built up indefinitely, or can be backed up and started anew each time the application is started
• You can run a script or set of scripts for any number of destination environments
• You can run a portion of a script if you wish to during testing
• You can comment out statements that you do not want to run in a batch job, but run individual commented statements for testing purposes
• You can add and execute lines to the script on-the-fly without changing the physical script – good for one-off jobs or trying things out.
• You can specify a settings file which loads every conceivable default, including a list of scripts to be executed
• You can have multiple settings file, and load the required settings file into memory within the program
• You can share settings between different settings files (such as environment details) using a shared “include file”
• Data Loader is an Open Source project, so you can contribute to the functionality of the project yourself.  It also means that it is not bogged down with the corporate beaurocracy associated with maintaining a large product like PeopleSoft.

However:-

• Data Mover is a standard PeopleSoft product
• Data Mover works for database platforms other than Oracle
• Data Mover is supported through your support contract

 Feature comparison grid

Instructions / Copyright Notice from Installer

License Agreement (mandatory legal stuff):-
=========================================

This license agreement applies to the FreeWare version of the Software.

This is an electronically held end-user license
agreement.
IT IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT, AND SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY.
INSTALLATION OF THE SOFTWARE IMPLICITLY ASSUMES
ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

1. Definitions

(a) "Software" means "DataLoader",
    written by Simon Huggins.
    It also covers any accompanying data files,
    such as help documentation / text files.
    It also covers any future updates within the
    term of the license agreement.

(b) "FreeWare version" means the version of the
    software that is intended for use without cost
    to the user. Except for reasonable distribution
    costs, it is an infringement of this agreement to
    charge a selling price for this product.

(c) "Simon" means Simon Huggins, or his licensors,
    if any.
    
(d) "User" is the person or set of people (of
    which only one person may use the software
    in the same period of time) that may make use
    of the Software. It can also be an automated
    process that makes use of the Software.

(e) "License" is a permit to allow a user access
    to the Software. A license is subject to
    renewal. These terms and conditions may be
    altered upon renewal, or upon revisions of
    the Software within the license period.
========================================================

2. License

This agreement allows you to:-

(a) Install and use the Software on a single computer
    and make one copy of the Software in machine-
    readable form, for the sole purpose of backup.
    Any such copy must include all components of the
    originally installed Software, including all
    Copyright notices and any other mention of Simon.

(b) Install the software on a shared internal network
    device, provided that the number of concurrent users
    of the software does not exceed the number of
    licenses for the software purchased. A license for
    use of the software must be purchased for each user.

(c) Distribute any files that you amend using this
    software freely, or at cost, to other users without
    renumeration to Simon.
    
(d) You may make alterations and additions to the data
    provided for purpose of example as part of the
    Software for use only by other licensed users of
    the Software. Distributing such data in a manner
    that could make it available to unlicensed users
    constitutes a breach of this agreement.

(e) The software may be copied to other parties, so long
    as it is copied in its original pre-installation
    format to allow for proper installation. It is
    acceptable to contain the entirety of the
    pre-installation version of the Software within an
    archive file. The other parties will also be subject
    to these terms and conditions.
    The Software must be distributed with a clear
    indication that it is FreeWare.
    Distributors may charge a fee for
    administration costs only, and may not charge for
    the software itself.
========================================================

3. License Restrictions

Other than as set forth in section 2, you may not make
or distribute copies of the Software, or electronically
transfer the Software from one computer to another by
any means. You may not decompile, reverse engineer,
disassemble, or otherwise reduce the Software to a
human-perceivable form. You may not rent, lease or
sublicense the Software. You may not modify the Software
or create derivative works based upon the Software.
========================================================

4. Upgrades

If this copy of the Software is an upgrade from an
earlier version of the Software, it is provided to you
on a license exchange basis. You agree by your
installation and use of this copy of the Software to
voluntarily terminate your earlier end-user license and
that you will not continue to use the earlier version of
the Software nor transfer it to another.
========================================================

5. Ownership

This license agreement gives you limited rights to use
the Software. Although you own the media on which the
Software is recorded, you do not become the owner of,
and Simon retains the title to, the Software. All
rights not specifically granted in this Agreement,
including National and International Copyrights, are
reserved by Simon.
========================================================

6. Limited Warranty

Simon warrants for a period of ninety (90) days form
the date of delivery, that when the Software is used
with a recommended hardware configuration, the Software
will perform in substantial conformance with the
documentation supplied with the Software, and that the
media will be free from defects in materials and
workmanship under normal use. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY, ALL OTHER WARRANTIES OR
CONDITIONS, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE
WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANDABILITY, FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IF
APPLICABLE LAW IMPLIES WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE
SOFTWARE, ALL SUCH WARRANTIES ARE LIMITED IN DURATION
TO NINETY (90) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF DELIVERY. No oral
or written or electronically transmitted information or
advice given by Simon, its dealers, distributors,
agents or employees shall create a warranty or in any
way increase the scope of this warranty.
========================================================

7. Exclusive Remedy

Your exclusive remedy under Section 6 is to return the
Software to the place you acquired it, with a copy of
your receipt and a description of the problem. Simon
will use reasonable commercial efforts to supply you
with a replacement copy of the Software that
substantially conforms to the documentation, provide a
replacement for the defective media, or refund to you
your purchase price for the Software, at its option.
Simon shall have no responsibility if the Software
has been altered in any way, if the media has been
damaged by accident, abuse or misapplication, or if the
failure arises out of use of the Software with other
than a recommended hardware configuration.
========================================================

8. Limitations of Damages

SIMON SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES
FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF PROFITS, OR SIMILAR),
WHETHER BASED ON BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING
NEGLIGENCE), PRODUCT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF
SIMON OR HIS REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND EVEN IF A REMEDY SET
FORTH HEREIN IS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED OF ITS ESSENTIAL
PURPOSE.
========================================================

9. Basis for agreement

The limited warranty, exclusive remedies and limited
liability set forth above are fundamental elements of
the basis of the agreement between Simon and you.
Simon would not be able to provide the Software on an
economic basis without such limitations.
========================================================

10. Consumer end users

The limitations or exclusions of warranties and
liability contained in this agreement do not affect or
prejudice the statutory rights of a consumer; i.e. a
person acquiring goods otherwise than in the course of
a business.
========================================================

End of FreeWare Version agreement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~