The JDE Connection

In this episode, fresh off INFOCUS, Chandra and Paul look back at a conference that brought plenty of energy, new faces, great conversations, and a strong reminder of what makes the JD Edwards community special. They share the sessions and customer stories that caught their attention, from AI and mobility to the very human challenge of managing change. Along the way, they dig into some of their biggest takeaways: why successful technology projects depend on bringing the right people along for the ride, why change management can’t be an afterthought, and why AI may be getting all the headlines, but it isn’t always the answer. Sometimes the smartest solution is simply choosing the right tool for the job.

03:45 Excitement and innovation in the community

07:59 Keynote customer stories were a success

11:45 Takeaways from sessions

29:10 Midwesternism of the Day

In this episode, Chandra and Paul are live at INFOCUS 2026 and are joined by special guest AJ Schifano. As AJ enters retirement, he reflects on decades of JD Edwards innovation, community, and fun. The room debates a lighthearted yet symbolic "cut it” or “keep it" challenge about Paul ponytail, culminating in a community-driven decision and plans to donate Chandra’s hair to charity. AJ shares insights on modernization as a moving target, stories from JD Edwards history, and imparts wisdom about the value of curiosity, passion, and inclusivity in tech.

01:00 Conference feedback

02:30 Informal Cut It or Keep It Poll

04:09 AJ talks about modernization

08:22 Questions from the Crowd

25:27 Cut It or Keep It Reveal

27:55 Midwesternism of the Day

In this episode, Chandra and Paul discuss the realities of software customization within JD Edwards environments. They emphasize that while extensibility tools have reduced the need for customizations, some remain necessary for business-specific requirements. The hosts lay out best practices and key dos and don’ts for customizing software, such as following naming conventions, avoiding modifications to base objects and indices, and using customer-reserved system codes. They warn against common pitfalls that can harm performance or data integrity and suggest always adhering to published development standards.

03:52 What’s more important at INFOCUS than Paul’s hair?

09:21 Customizations are a reality

11:58 Object customization best practices

14:03 Adhere to JDE naming standards

15:33 Maintaining data integrity

18:25 Do I need a custom table for a custom application?

21:44 Design for performance when customizing

23:57 Let’s talk about the Don’t Do’s

32:26 Midwesternism of the Day

Resources:

JD Edwards EnterpriseOne System Extensibility Guidelines: https://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/jdedwards/Tools/system_extensibility_guidelines/system-extensibility-guide.pdf

Development Guidelines for Application Design Guide: https://docs.oracle.com/en/applications/jd-edwards/development-tools/9.2.x/eotds/index.html

Form Design Aid Guide: https://docs.oracle.com/en/applications/jd-edwards/development-tools/9.2.x/eotfd/index.html

Event Rules Guide: https://docs.oracle.com/en/applications/jd-edwards/development-tools/9.2.x/eotev/index.html

Development Standards for Business Function Programming Guide: https://docs.oracle.com/en/applications/jd-edwards/development-tools/9.2.x/eotds/index.html

In this episode, Chandra and Paul are joined by guests Lane Lassetter of Interface, Inc. and Rajan Kaistha of RST Solutions to discuss how Interface has leveraged JD Edwards and automation tools to modernize and streamline their business processes. Lane details the challenges faced with manual AP processes and how the adoption of AP automation has significantly improved efficiency and reduced manual effort. The conversation highlights the ongoing efforts to migrate archival systems, automate additional functions such as vendor onboarding and PO approvals, and address customization debt through thoughtful upgrades.

03:56 Introducing Lane and Rajan

06:50 AP Automation, PO Approvals, and Document Archival in Laserfische

12:33 Debt reduction with AP automation

15:52 Selling the business on upgrades

18:12 Challenges of Software Upgrades with Customizations

21:27 Software Upgrades and Adoption

26:52 Importance of Awareness

34:48 Midwesternism of the Day

Chandra and Paul team up for a walkthrough of the INFOCUS conference agenda. The episode features a rapid-fire preview of keynotes, educational sessions, hands-on workshops, SIG meetups, with plenty of tips for newcomers and regulars alike. Highlights include practical advice for navigating session choices, spotlights on hot topics like AI and automation in JD Edwards.

02:54 Midwesternism of the Day

10:00 Sunday Agenda

10:39 Monday Agenda

16:16 Tuesday Agenda

24:00 Wednesday Agenda

Resources:

Register for Quest INFOCUS: https://questoraclecommunity.org/events/conferences/infocus/

In this episode, Chandra and Paul discuss key updates impacting JD Edwards customers, focusing on Critical Security Patch Updates (CSPUs) and the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit architecture. The conversation explores the reasons behind the shift to monthly CSPUs, including enhanced security in light of rapid AI advancements, and clarifies how patches are delivered, their cumulative nature, and what these changes mean for customers on older releases or 32-bit systems. They provide guidance for those behind on updates, touch on the challenges and misconceptions surrounding migration to 64-bit, and stress the importance of regular maintenance and planning to stay current.

07:31 What are CSPUs?

10:27 Why are we moving to monthly CSPUs?

13:25 What if I'm several releases behind?

16:48 Are these CSPUs 32-bit and 64-bit?

18:38 BLUEPRINT4D 64-bit Announcement

23:25 Web-only ESUs are coming in 2028

26:09 64-bit Upgrades

29:52 MIdwesternism

Resources:

Critical Security Patch Updates: https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/

JD Edwards Attitude@Altitude: https://blogs.oracle.com/jd_edwards/oracle-critical-patch-update-july-2026-for-jd-edwards

Office Hours: https://oracle.zoom.us/meeting/register/I93U-VkYQvKk4O5iumHX9g#/registration

Hosts Chandra and Paul, and guest Cindy Edwards wrap up a multi-part conversation on stress management, joy, and supporting neurodiversity in the workplace. The hosts reflect on practical techniques shared in previous episodes and discuss the importance of joy and laughter for longevity. Cindy introduces the "Healthy Mind Platter" as a tool for daily wellness and emphasizes the need for leaders to accommodate neurodiverse individuals just as they would those with physical disabilities.

06:41 The Healthy Mind Platter

10:45 Supporting neurodiverse individuals

13:40 Mental health awareness

18:43 Starting Strong for Dopamine Reward

21:56 Midwesternism

Resources:

The Healthy Mind Platter: https://drdansiegel.com/healthy-mind-platter/

Emma McAdam, Therapy in a Nutshell: https://therapyinanutshell.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyinaNutshell

In this episode, Chandra and Paul continue their discussion with Cindy Edwards focused on practical stress management techniques, particularly how individuals can regulate and process stress in real time. Cindy explains concepts like the "window of tolerance" or the "goldilocks of the brain" and brain networks involved in stress response, outlining actionable steps such as "name it to tame it," conducting body scans, reframing stressful situations, and the importance of movement and controlled breathing. The conversation highlights challenges faced by both neurotypical and neurodiverse brains in managing stress, emphasizes the role of self-awareness, and encourages the use of breaks and physical activity to restore balance.

04:05 Understanding the "Window of Tolerance" or "Goldilocks of the Brain"

08:46 Switching between brain networks

10:52 Understanding the brain's body budget

15:22 Five key things to do in the middle of stress

26:56 Importance of Acknowledging Emotions

30:45 Midwesternism

Resources:

Cindy Edwards - To Find Your Fit and https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyedwards/

Psychology References: Dan Siegel - https://drdansiegel.com/

Book references: Caroline Williams – Move - https://www.carolinewilliams.net/move

In this episode, Chandra and Paul welcome Cindy Edwards, owner of Find Your Fit, LLC, coach, trainer and speaker, to delve into the science of stress management and resiliency, especially as it applies to the fast-paced, ever-changing world of technology. Cindy breaks down applied neuroscience in an accessible way, explaining how our sensory systems and neurochemistry, especially the delicate balance of dopamine and norepinephrine in the prefrontal cortex, the so-called "Goldilocks" zone, shape our responses to stress and boredom alike. The trio discusses practical strategies for recognizing stress signals, the crucial role of sleep in mental and physical recovery, and the surprising power of laughter and human connection as natural buffers against anxiety.

08:30 Introducing Cindy Edwards

13:44 What is Stress?

18:04 Understanding stress and boredom

22:41 Midwesternism

Resources:

Cindy Edwards - To Find Your Fit and https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyedwards/

Books: Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, PhD

Chandra, Paul, and Andrew discuss the ongoing challenges and strategies around automating JD Edwards testing, focusing on the use of Orchestrator for developing and maintaining test scripts. They examine the complexities of managing consistent test data, the influence of lean principles on process standardization, and the trade-offs between centralized and decentralized ERP environments. The conversation highlights the importance of building sustainable and maintainable upgrade and integration processes while navigating organizational change and business evolution.

02:10 Shout out to all fire fighters and Goldie the Fire Goat

03:50 Update on Chandra’s July 4th marathon

10:02 Best practice

14:09 Automating using Orchestrator

19:23 Challenges with automated test scripts

21:52 Lean manufacturing practices discussed

29:17 Centralizing JD Edwards implementations

32:24 Midwesternism

Resources

Goldie the Fire Goat - https://www.facebook.com/GoldieTheFireGoat/

Goldie Merch - https://fireandstitchco.com/collections/goldie-wildland-goat

Working with Orchestration Assertions - https://docs.oracle.com/en/applications/jd-edwards/cross-product/9.2/eotos/working-with-orchestration-assertions-release-9-2-5.html

Assertion Framework: Using Orchestrator as a Test Framework - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtkWhuOZ7Ms

https://docs.oracle.com/en/applications/jd-edwards/cross-product/9.2/tutorial_orc_assertion_framework/