Search Categories

Search categories (PSPTSF_SRCCAT) group one or more search definitions into the unit that Global Search, component keyword search, and custom search pages query.

psLens shows the category header and its member search definitions from PSPTSF_SRCCATAT. Three related-data panels add facets and search fields, search context assignments, and project membership.

Object Relationships

• Contains search definitions: PSPTSF_SRCCATAT lists the search definitions in the category. PeopleSoft creates a category with the same name as each search definition, so most definitions belong to at least that one.
• Defines facets: PSPTSF_CATFACET lists the facets shown beside the results, and PSPTSF_FACET_DT holds the range and hierarchy bucket rules for each.
• Defines search fields: advanced search fields (PSPTSF_CATADVFD), display fields (PSPTSF_CATDSPFD), and sort fields (PSPTSF_CATSRTFD) each name a search attribute.
• Assigned to search contexts: PTSF_CTX_DET ties the category to a homepage, a portal node, or a WorkCenter.

How psLens Improves Search Category Inspection

In PIA, a category’s members, facets, and search fields are on separate tabs of the Search Category component, and its context assignments are on the Search Context administration page.

psLens puts the category, its members, its facets with their bucket rules, its search fields, and its context assignments on one page.

Search Page

URL: /searchcategories?db={database}

• Search: matches the category name as starts with, and the description as contains. Include % yourself for other patterns, or use % alone to list every category.
• Filters: last updated operator, last updated date range, and customized categories only.
• Result cards: each card shows the category name, a Global badge when the category is in Global Search, a Component badge and the component name when the category has a custom search component, the description, and last-updated metadata.

Detail Page

URL: /searchcategories/{CATNAME}?db={database}

• Search Category Properties: description, Global Search flag, display type (Grid or List), related actions flag, custom search menu and component, basic and advanced search pages, custom application class, message node, object owner, and last-updated metadata.
• Member Search Definitions: every definition in the category (PSPTSF_SRCCATAT), each linked to its detail page.
• Open Search Category in PeopleSoft: opens the category in Search Designer.
• Export as Markdown: exports the category and whichever panels are switched on.

Related Data Panels

Each panel reads optional tables. When a table is not whitelisted the panel names it instead of failing. The tables are listed under Search Framework in Whitelist Tables.

Facets & Search Fields

• Category Facets (PSPTSF_CATFACET): sequence, facet name, order, show-count flag, minimum document count, maximum children, multi-select flag, and associated facet. A facet with bucket rules (PSPTSF_FACET_DT) shows each rule with its operators and values.
• Advanced Search Fields (PSPTSF_CATADVFD): the attributes offered on the advanced search page.
• Display Fields (PSPTSF_CATDSPFD): the attributes shown on each result, with display type.
• Sort Fields (PSPTSF_CATSRTFD): the attributes a user can sort results by.

Search Contexts

Lists the rows of PTSF_CTX_DET for the category: context type (Home Page, Portal Node, or Work Center), context key, sequence, and the Default and Enabled flags.

Included in Projects

Queries PSPROJECTITEM where OBJECTTYPE = 117 to list the Application Designer projects that contain the search category.

Where Search Categories Appear Elsewhere

• Search definition detail pages list the categories each definition belongs to.
• The Search Framework Integrity Audit report finds categories that list a search definition that does not exist, and definitions missing from their same-named category.
• MCP: get_definition with type="searchcategory" returns the same data as the Markdown export.