Peoplesoft: when will a databasechange be committed?

As a Peoplesoft developer (working with Peopletools-release 8.47.08), I have spent quite some time resolving issues caused by unexpected database-commits. As far a I know there’s no overall topic on this in Peoplebooks, therefore I will share my experience via this blog.

1) Database-updates via DML in a SQLExec-statement (e.g. INSERT INTO PS_TEST_TABLE VALUES(‘value_field_1′,’value_field_2′), triggered via an online component:
Peoplebooks states that DML in a SQLExec-statement is only allowed in FieldChange, SavePreChange, Workflow and SavePostChange events.
There’s a big difference in the outcome per event though; when this statement is put in a FieldChange-event, the DML is committed instantly, and this is something you probably don’t want!

2) Database-updates via DML in a SQLExec-statement (e.g. INSERT INTO PS_TEST_TABLE VALUES(‘value_field_1′,’value_field_2′), triggered via an Application Engine:
These updates are being committed according the AppEngine’s commit-settings.

2) Database-updates via a component interface, triggered via an online component (e.g. component A triggers component interface B_CI, triggering component B):
These updates are being committed as soon as the CI save-method is being invoked from the calling component (e.g. component A).

3) Database-updates via a component interface, triggered via an Application Engine (eg. AppEngine AE_1 triggers component interface B_CI, triggering component B):
These updates are being committed according the AppEngine’s commit-settings.
An exception to this rule I just recently encountered: the GetFile-statement leads to an immediate commit, even when used in an AppEngine-context!

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