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View overview of Ratesbook Batch Process
To overcome the possibility of large slow-running ratesbooks, this process enables the scheduling of selected ratesbooks to calculate and export during the overnight process. A ratesbook can be added to an overnight batch so that a separate option within the Timed Operations facility can be executed as required. This batch may be edited so that incorrect requests can be amended/removed. Once the ratesbook is run within the timed operations process it is removed from the schedule so it is not automatically run the next time the batch is processed. Ratesbook files created overnight are saved to unique filenames and available for exporting the following day (or as required).
Set Ratesbook Batch Process Parameter
The Ratesbook Batch process is enabled by entering a different ratesbook format to be used for overnight processing in the Batch Format in the Ratesbook Defaults Tab in Fleet Quotations System Parameters. This enables all of the following functionality.
The format (report) linked to this new parameter should have an output type of Export and be linked to a valid export facility. Although the filename used is entered by the user on creation of the ratesbook the export directory is derived from the export facility attached to this report.
Once a ratesbook has been created or an existing ratesbook opened, the Add to ratesbook batch option is available in the Tools menu (and equivalent icon made available on the Toolbar) enabling the ratesbook to be added to the batch via the Add to Batch form. Entry to this option is only enabled once all key details required for a ratesbook have been entered and validated to enable a successful save of the details.
The Add to Batch form clarifies the ratesbook details by displaying the Ratesbook Number, User ID and Ratesbook Date. The cursor is located in the Ratesbook Filename allowing entry of a unique filename. If the ratesbook filename entered already exists in the ratesbook batch then the user is warned and asked to rename before being allowed to continue.
The user should then select the scheduling period (this is typically Once Only - the default) and enter
the date it is scheduled for overnight calculation, Once these details are complete the blue
icon should be used to add the ratesbook to the timed operations
batch.
The Review/edit ratesbook batch option within Miscellaneous Options presents a standard Kestrel edit form allowing entries added to the ratesbook batch to be shown in columnar or grid format and amended as required.
Users with permission to access this option are able to add/amend/delete the records in the batch.
Run Ratesbook within Timed Operations
In order for the ratesbooks added to the batch to be processed overnight, an option is made available to the Timed Operations process called Process ratesbook batch and is available for adding to the timed operations schedule from the FQ - Fleet Quotations module drop-down list.
When triggered in the timed operations process the system processes each ratesbook in turn from the ratesbook batch and generates a file accordingly. Each file is saved to the export directory dictated to by the export facility added to the report id for the ratesbook Batch format in the Ratesbook Defaults Tab in Fleet Quotations System Parameters. The filename will be as per the entered filename in the ratesbook batch using the filename extension form the pre-determined export facility (this should be csv - comma separated value).
If any errors are encountered during the processing of the ratesbook then the system either selects OK automatically to each prompted message or halts the processing of chosen ratesbook if a major issue found preventing successful completion.
As each ratesbook is completed and file generated, the batch entry for the completed ratesbook is removed to prevent re-processing in subsequent batches.
It is advised that the option to process the ratesbook batch is not included in the core EOD chain incase the processing of ratesbooks over-runs and eats into the following day. This is obviously only relevant if large numbers of ratesbooks are being batched and/or the ratesbooks are taking significant amounts of times. If these were built into the core EOD chain then it is possible that they would still be processing when users start work in the morning and they would be prevented access to the system. If this batch ratesbook option is added outside of the core EOD chain then it could continue running in the background without preventing user access to the system.
Once the ratesbook process has been completed the ratesbook files are available for exporting from the pre-determined export directory (eg. /user1/fleet83/xfer).
Once here then the files can be copied to a PC using standard FTP functionality or by use of the Export files to PC option within the report generator menus.
If the same filename is used again then the data will be overwritten with the new details so care should be taken on the naming of ratesbook files if old entries in this directory are required for future use (new batch entries are validated against the daily batch only).