Document Processing - Chain to Profiler Action

When linking Datafile to other systems – for example for website updates or warehouse management integrations, or even for updates into other companies within the Datafile system -it can be a requirement to create ‘update’ files for the works orders added or updated. You may also have requirements to produce labels or other documents for the works orders added and so on.

This new feature, like the options available in SOP/POP documents, allows configuration of a Profiler action to be triggered after the print of a works order document.

Installation

Document Design

Parameter Screen 16 ‘Selection Criteria / Auto Run’ of the Bill of Materials Print and Build Documents have been updated to allow link to a Profiler procedure.

Premier Installer users can right-click on the menu option and choose to Configure Optionbefore selecting the appropriate document number. Alternatively, users can select Installationfrom the main menu followed by Application Manager and then Document Design Manager. Select the Bill of Materials documents and then whether updating the Print or Build Documents before choosing the document to update.

Selecting the PARAMETERS option on the ribbon will display the first general document parameters screen. Use the ‘Action’ button to move to parameter screen 16.

Automatically Link to Profiler Action – set this to activate the call to the Profiler option after the document has been processed.

Profiler Action – reference the Profiler option to be called. The format is AAA/M/O where AAA is the three-letter application ID, M is the menu number to be called, and O is the option number on that menu to be called.Although you can call other options – a Profiler UDR for a label print for example – you are likely to be referencing a Q-menu auto action.

Link Item – reference the data item to be passed as the ‘selection item’ to the Profiler action. With Works Order processes the link item is likely to be the works order reference or the document reference.

Keep Exclusive Lock on WOH – when printing a Works Order Print or Build document the system places an exclusive lock on the works order and would normally release that lock on save/update. If the following profiler actions require an exclusive lock on the same works order, then it can be useful to maintain the lock into the Profiler action so other users cannot access in the middle of the action. Note though Profiler must be specifically configured to release this lock if set.

Profiler Application Design Notes

Q-Menu Design - Unless calling an option such as a Profiler User-Defined report where you can configure a ‘L-List’ selection then you will likely be linking to a Profiler Q-menu action. The first action in the Q-menu should be a screen on the constant file with a single input for the works order link item. This will allow the constant record to be updated with the ‘link’ item from the BOM document and can be used as the value item in the selection criteria in subsequent actions.

Constant Files – as multiple users may be processing the BOM document at the same time this means that you need to configure the profiler application for a user-specific constant database.

In the Location of Files set the live file pathname including ‘***’ – this will be replaced with the user-id when running the application.If this is the first time a use has accessed this process the file will be automatically created from the base file.

You can also use the ‘***’ filename principle for any ‘work’ files that may be used within the Profiler application.

Releasing Exclusive Locks – if the stock integration set to retain the exclusive record lock then an option needs to be added into the Profiler Q-menu to release that exclusive record lock.

The option type of J allows for update of file/record locks, Parameter 1 is the database the lock is to be updated for, Parameter 2 is the locking action to be performed.

The locking action is formatted as M/T/NNN – where M is the lock method and set to either L to lock a record/file or U to unlock a record/file, T is the lock type and set to R to lock/unlock a record and F to lock/unlock a file. If locking/unlocking a record, then NNN is the data item on the constant file that contains the prime index of the record to be locked or unlocked