Infor Releases First in String of Tie-in Applications for Salesforce.com.
Infor launched Inforce Everywhere, which is built on top of Salesforce.com’s Force.com development platform, pulls data such as invoices and shipments from Infor ERP systems into Salesforce.com’s CRM application, synchronizing the information with customer contacts, sales quotes and other associated data points.
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News Courtsey : http://www.pcworld.com
Infor Receives 2012 MarketTools Achievement in Customer Excellence Awards for Support and Consulting Services.The accolades demonstrate Infor’s outstanding commitment to customer satisfaction for its consulting services at the onset of a software purchase and to customer support to help keep Infor solutions running at peak performance. This is the fourth year in a row that Infor has won a MarketTools ACE Award.
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Courtsey http://www.marketwatch.com
So being into BaaN, we all must have faced the option of create to run-time or convert to run-time option for tables/domains at least once. Often I have observed people badly stuck in dilemma while it comes to choose the best option between these two.
Today our discussion will try to answer following questions:-
1.Most important. most basic but often ignored question:- why it is required at all?
2.When to choose convert over create run-time and vice-versa?
3. How to troubleshoot issues/errors faced during CRDD (Create/Convert to Run-time Data Dictionary)?
Obviously I’ll be explaining in my own way and will be eagerly expecting suggestions/feedback from your side.
So here we go …….
1. Why it is required at all?
Create/Convert run-time both create/modify the application data into run-time data..okk this is a bit bookish explanation.
In simple term, you create a table via maintain table session, the metadata only gets created at application level.It is of no use until it get’s converted into run-time which the application refers at run-time. So run-time actually brings the application data at file-level in the Operating System under the path ${BSE}/dict or ${BSE}/../dict [ this one is the traditional path used in BaaN IV, but there is no restriction about where the path should be].
Tables and Domains’s run-time data gets created/converted in the same path.
Once the run-time data is ready it is then ready to get created in the database. Database definition of the table must be always in sync with RTDD( run-time data dictionary) of table, otherwise there is a problem in accessing the table. Error 512 will come up.
2. When to choose convert over create run-time and vice-versa?
Well the answer is pretty simple.
When you create a table / domain for the very first time ( i.e they were not present in application as well as database ) go for create run-time option.
When the table/domain is already existing there is change in that particular table/domain definition go for convert to run-time option.
So what really convert-to run-time does? Is there any extra layer of complexity involved?
Yes, there is a point to worry about….Consider following cases:-
a. suppose your table definition contains 5 fields. There are 1000 rows in the table.
You delete 2 fields. Now after CRDD the database definition of the table must get synced with RTDD; that implies that in database too, there will be only 3 fields.
So what about those 2 fields and there existing value in the table?
b. Your table definition contains 5 fields again and it is having 1000 rows.
This time you add 2 more fields in the table. What value are you expecting for those 2 fields for each of 1000 rows present , after proper CRDD?
These 2 cases has been taken into account in the underlying functionality of Convert to run-time data dictionary.
Here is how it works,
1. just before starting convert, BaaN takes dump/backup of existing data.
2. It drops the table and drops thr table definition.
3. It creates the table definition as per new definition mentioned in application.
4. It creates the table at database side( it is clear that database definition also gets created as per new definition from RTDD)
5. Then it checks the column/field mismatch between newly created table in DB and the backup taken in step 1.
6. In case of point a. explained above, it simply discards those two fields and pump data back into table for rest 3 fields.
In case of point b. , it checks the domain/data type for those 2 newly added fields and sets there value as per their default value; i.e if the new 2 fields are integer default value will be 0(numeric ZERO) , if they are string default value will be ” “(Blank/Space but not NULL).Again the default value depends on the domain type and the default value set for that domain.
3. How to troubleshoot issues/errors faced during CRDD (Create/Convert to Run-time Data Dictionary)?
Mostly you’ll the error you’ll face during CRDD is : “serious error in bdbreconfig”
This means that not all domain/table could be converted into run-time.
There might be many reason.Some of the most common reasons are:-
1. Your are converting your table without converting the domain linked to the table field.
2.”.new” file generated during reconfig and it could not be removed.
3. Permission problem in the directory path where your RTDD will get stored.
Solution of the problem will depend on the situation, discussing solution of every possible solutions will be a bit lengthy here…instead I’ll give you standard process checklist following which you’ll over come the problem most of the time :
1. before starting CRDD process take seq dump of table and keep it safe with you.
2. make sure domain is always converted/created before you convert table.after converting/creating domain independently logout-login to refresh bshell cache.
3. check access permission of the directory path i.e. ${BSE}/dict/{package_combination}
4. During CRDD if “.new” file is generated then do the following:-
a. remove the .new file, remove the .old file, rename the existing table-def file .eg:- if during CRDD of tdsls401 .new file is generated then you can see 3 files , tdsls401.old, tdsls401 and tdsls401.new.Remove .old and .new and rename tdsls401 as say tdsls401.fullonbaan.
b. delete entries of this particular table from following table via ttaad4100 (GTM):
ttadv500 Conversion indicators
ttadv501 Reconfiguration indicators
ttadv502 Conversion parameters table def. / domains
ttadv503 Reconfiguring Restart Data
ttadv504 Reconfiguring Restart Data II
ttadv505 Logged changes
c. logout and login. then run CREATE RUNTIME and not convert….
In most of the cases this will help you out.
Obviously there are some cases where you have to go to DB and drop the table and recreate it. At that point of time the seq dump you have taken will come into picture.Obviously you cannot upload it directly then as table definition has changed. So you have to delete/add columns from sew dump manually in order to align the data with current table definition and then upload it.
So, you see it’s all pretty simple…try it yourself and let me know what all new things you explore!!
Waiting to hear from you guys soon!!
Baan Software Environment is basically a UNIX variable which stores the BAAN environment files. All the files pertaining to the BaaN Software is stored in BSE.
This folder basically consists of binary or compiled program files. The files in this folder are platform dependent and cannot be ported to other machine. This folder consists of all the .exe files pertaining to the BaaN software for e.g. bshcmd.exe, bdbpre.exe, bdbpost.exe etc.
This folder consists of the following files
Program objects
Program Scripts
Report Scripts
Forms
Menus
Include Scripts
So in the Application folder we have a subfolder {Package}{VRC}
ex: tdB40Cc4live
So for forms we will have one more subfolder under tdB40c4live f {package} {module}{language} ex : ftdpur2
So under this particular package and module will be the actual definition of forms
Ex: f{mod}{session no} {form No} {lang}
fpur0100m00012
So the basic path of this form will be
$BSE\application\ tdB40Cc4live\ ftdpur2\ fpur0100m00012
So for Menus we will have one more subfolder under tdB40c4live m {package}{module}{language}
ex : mtdpur2
So for Reports we will have one more subfolder under tdB40c4live r {package}{module}{language}
ex : rtdpur2
So for Program Objects we will have one more subfolder under tdB40c4live
o {package}{module} ex : otdpur
So for Program Scripts we will have one more subfolder under tdB40c4live
s {package}{module} ex : stdpur
Include Scripts: So for Include Scripts we will have one more subfolder under tdB40c4live
i{package}{module} ex : itdpur
This folder will basically contain the include files consisting of common function.
This folder consits of Library or information files. Printinf – these consist of printer drivers or printer information
files
Terminf – these consists of terminal drivers or information files
Locale – These consists of multibyte information files
Informix – Information pertaining to the database.
Oracle – Information pertaining to Oracle database
This consists of data dictionaries and domains.
The syntax is
dd{Package Combination}
Ex: ddB40CC4liv
Under this folder we have
d {Package}{module} – data dictionary of a table
d {package}.pd – Domains
This has two folders one for data dictionary and other for application.
This is used to store intermediate or temporary files.
A very large database that stores historical and up-to-date information from a variety of sources and is optimized for fast query answering.
It is involved in three continuous processes:
1) At regular intervals, it extracts data from its information sources, loads it into auxiliary tables, and subsequently cleans and transforms the loaded data in order to make it suitable for the data warehouse schema;
2) It processes queries from users and from data analysis applications; and
3) It archives the data that is no longer needed by means of tertiary storage technology.
Most enterprises today employ computer-based information systems for financial accounting, purchase, sales and inventory management, production planning and control. In order to efficiently use the vast amount of information that these operational systems have been collecting over the years for planning and decision making purposes, the various kinds of information from all relevant sources have to be merged and consolidated in a data warehouse.
While an operational database is mainly accessed by OLTP applications that update its content, a data warehouse is mainly accessed by ad hoc user queries and by special data analysis programs, also called Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) applications. For instance, in a banking environment, there may be an OLTP application for controlling the banks’s automated teller machines (ATMs). This application performs frequent updates to tables storing current account information in a detailed format. On the other hand, there may be an OLAP application for analyzing the behavior of bank customers. A typical query that could be answered by such a system would be to calculate the average amount that customers of a certain age withdraw from their account by using ATMs in a certain region. In order to attain quick response times for such complex queries, the bank would maintain a data warehouse into which all the relevant information (including historical account data) from other databases is loaded and suitably aggregated.
Typically, queries in data warehouses refer to business events, such as sales transactions or online shop visits, that are recorded in event history tables (also called `fact tables’) with designated columns for storing the time point and the location at which the event occurred. Usually, an event record has certain numerical parameters such as an amount, a quantity, or a duration, and certain additional parameters such as references to the agents and objects involved in the event.
While the numerical parameters are the basis for forming statistical queries, the time, the location and certain reference parameters are used as the dimensions of the requested statistics. There are special data management techniques, also
called multidimensional databases, for representing and processing this type of multidimensional data.
Database inconsistencies can arise when two or more processes attempt to update or delete the same record or table. Read inconsistencies can arise when changes made during a transaction are visible to other processes before the transaction has been completed for example, the transaction might subsequently be abandoned.
To avoid such inconsistencies, BaanERP supports the following locking mechanisms: record/page locking, table locking, and application locking.
To ensure that only one process at a time can modify a record, the database driver locks the record when the rst process attempts to modify it. Other processes cannot then update or delete the record until the lock has been released. However, they can still read the record. While one process is updating a table, it is important that other processes retain read consistency on the table. Read consistency means that a process does not see uncommitted changes. Updates become visible to other processes only when the transaction has been successfully committed. Some database systems do not support read consistency, and so a dirty read is possible. A dirty read occurs when one process updates a record and another process views the record before the modi cations have been committed. If the modi cations are rolled back, the information read by the second process becomes invalid. Some databases, such as SYBASE and Microsoft SQL Server 6.5, use page locking instead of record locking. That is, they lock an entire page in a table instead of an individual record. A page is a prede ned block size (that is, number of bytes). The number of records locked partly depends on the record size.
Locking a record for longer than required can result in unnecessarily long waiting times. The use of delayed locks solves this problem to a great extent. A delayed lock is applied to a record immediately before changes are committed to the database and not earlier. When the record is initially read, it is temporarily stored. Immediately before updating the database, the system reads the value of the record again, this time placing a lock on it. If the record is already locked, the system goes back to the retry point and retries the transaction. If the record is not locked, the system compares the content of the record from the rst read with the content from the second read. If changes have been made to the record by another process since the rst read, the error ROWCHANGED is returned and the transaction is undone. If no changes have occurred, the update is committed to the database. You place a delayed lock by adding the keyword FOR UPDATE to the SELECT statement.
For example:
table tccom001
db.retry.point()
SELECT tccom001.* FROM tccom001 FOR UPDATE
SELECTDO
tccom001.dsca = “….”
….
db.update(ttccom001, DB.RETRY)
ENDSELECT
A retry point is a position in a program script to which the program returns if an error occurs within a transaction. The transaction is then retried. There are a number of situations where retry points are useful:
During the time that a delayed lock is applied to a record/page, an error can occur that causes the system to execute an abort.transaction(). In such cases, all that BaanERP can do is inform the program that the transaction has been aborted. However, if retry points are used, the system can automatically retry the transaction without the user being aware of this. Some database systems generate an abort.transaction() when a dirty record is read (that is, a record that has been changed but not yet committed). An abort.transaction() may also be generated when two or more processes simulta-
neously attempt to change, delete, or add the same record. In all these situations, BaanERP Tools can conceal the problem from the user by using retry points. It simply retries the transaction. If there is no retry point, the transaction is aborted and the session is terminated.
In BaanERP, updates are bu ered, so the success or failure of an update is not known until commit.transaction() is called. If an update fails, the commit of the transaction also fails, and the entire transaction must be repeated. If retry points
are used, the system automatically retries the transaction. Retry points can also resolve potential deadlock problems. If, for example, the system is unable to lock a record, it rolls the transaction back and tries again. It is vital that retry points are included in all update programs. The retry point for a transaction must be placed at the start of a transaction. The following example illustrates how you program retry points:
db.retry.point() | set retry point
if db.retry.hit() then
…… | code to execute when the system
| goes back to retry point
else
…… | initialization of retry point
endif
The function db.retry.hit() returns 0 when the retry point is generated that is, the rst time the code is executed. It returns a value unequal to 0 when the system returns to the retry point through the database layer. When the system goes back to a retry point, it clears the internal stack of functions, local variables, and so on that were called during the transaction. The program continues from where the retry point was generated. The value of global variables is NOT reset. When a commit fails, the database automatically returns to its state at the start of the transaction; the program is set back to the last retry point. It is vital, therefore, that the retry point is situated at the start of the transaction. The db.retry.hit() call must follow the db.retry.point() call. Do not place it in the SQL loop itself as this makes the code very untransparent. When a retry point is placed within a transaction, the system produces a message and terminates the session.
BaanERP provides a table locking mechanism, which enables you to lock all the records in a speci ed table. A table lock prevents other processes from modifying or locking records in the table but not from reading them. This is useful when a particular transaction would otherwise require a large number of record locks. You use the db.lock.table() function to apply a table lock.
An application lock prevents other applications and users from reading and/or modifying an applications data during critical operations. It is not part of a transaction and so is not automatically removed when a transaction is committed. Instead, an application lock is removed when the application ends or when appl.detete() is called.
What is Dynamic SQL?
Dynamic SQL is a programming technique that accepts and executes SQL statements “On The Fly” at runtime. It adds flexibility and functionality to your applications. Dynamic SQL statements are not embedded in your source program. Instead they are stored in character strings input to or built by the program at runtime.
Why Dynamic SQL?
Most database applications do a specific job. For example, a simple program might prompt the user for an employee number, then UPDATE rows in the EMP and DEPT tables. In this case, you know the makeup of the UPDATE statement at pre-compile time. That is, you know which tables might be changed, the constraints defined for each table and column, which columns might be updated, and the data type of each column.
However, some applications must accept (or build) and process a variety of SQL statements at runtime. For example, a general-purpose report writer must build different SELECT statements for the various reports it generates. In this case, the statement’s makeup is unknown until run time. Such statements can, and probably will, change from execution to execution. Dynamic SQL is used in this situation. Another important criterion is the execution time. In some cases the Dynamic SQL can fetch data from different tables using same SQL
Advantages and Disadvantages of Dynamic SQL
Programs that accept and process dynamically defined SQL statements are more versatile than those using static embedded SQL statements. For example, your program might simply prompt users for a search condition to be used in the WHERE clause of a SELECT, UPDATE, or DELETE statement. A more complex program might allow users to choose from menus listing SQL operations, table and view names, column names, and so on.
The fact that the SQL statements can be dynamically changed, can be utilized to eliminate redundant code. This is applicable in a situation where records from a table can be selected based on the difference selection criteria based on some input parameters. This would typically get translated into two select statements separated by if statement or case statement. If the processing required for each of the records is very complex, duplicating it may result in lower maintenability of the code. This can be avoided using the dynamic SQL. Thus, dynamic SQL lets you write highly flexible applications.
However, some dynamic queries require complex coding, the use of special data structures, and more runtime processing.You might find the coding difficult, unless you fully understand dynamic SQL concepts and methods.
In practice, static SQL will meet most of your programming needs. Use dynamic SQL only if you need its open-ended flexibility. Dynamic SQL can be used in some cases where one or more of the following is unknown at pre-compile time:
· text of the SQL statement (commands, clauses, and so on)
· the number of pseudo variables
· the data types of pseudo variables
· references to database objects such as fields, indexes, tables
But it depends on programmer what he emphasizes on: efficiency or flexibility and also on the scenario.
How Dynamic SQL Statements Are Processed
1. Typically, application programs may prompt a user for the values of pseudo variables used in the statement.
2. Then statements are parsed; that is, examined to make sure that it follows syntax rules and refers to valid database objects.
3. Next, pseudo variables are bind to the SQL statement. Binding means passing the addresses of pseudo variables in the SQL statement to BaaN so that BaaN can read or write their values.
4. Then the SQL statements are executed .The SQL statement can be executed repeatedly using new values for the pseudo variables.
5. Then each record is fetched one by one from the table. These fetched records can be processed further.
SQL Programming
To use dynamic SQL in baan following functions are available:
1) SQL.PARSE Used to form a query
2) SQL .SELECT.BIND Used to bind a pseudo variable (in select statement) with program variable.
3) SQL.WHERE.BIND Used to bind a pseudo variable (in where statement) with program variable.
4) SQL.EXEC To initialize the query.
5) SQL.FETCH To execute the query.
6) SQL.BREAK To stop the execution of the query.
7) SQL.CLOSE To delete all internal information of the query.
Anticipated Payments: A payment that is not Executed, or is in its way to be executed.
Anticipated Receipt: A receipt that is not completed yet.
Archive Company: A company created for the purpose of archiving historic document and data.
Archive Projects: Projects that are stored in archive company. A project archive can be used as a repository for historic project data.
Audit: A process of performing a number of checks.
Audit Trail: A means of tracing all activities affecting information, such as data records in a database, for a defined time interval. The information is stored in the audit files.
Authorization: User’s permission to use specific terminals or sessions.
ABC Analysis: An evaluatory process in which items are classified in to those making a large contribution (An items), an intermediate contribution (B items), and a small contribution (C items) to the total turnover (INV).
AFS: Programmatic access to sessions is provided by means of a low level message protocol. This message protocol is encapsulated into a set of function primitives called the Application Function Server.
ASCII File: A text file that uses the ASCII standard code to represent characters and punctuation marks as numbers.
Baan Enterprise Modeler: Used to represent and design complex business process models.
Baan Exchange: Exchange is a Baan utility used to exchange the data between Baan database to ASCII Files and vice-a-versa. Conversion of data with predefined processing logic is also possible. This is a very effective tool, which can be used for data migration.
Baan OpenWorld: Baan OpenWorld is an enterprise integration architecture that enables new levels of inter-enterprise collaboration to optimize traditional and Internet-based business-to-business commerce. Baan OpenWorld is an integration framework built on four levels of exchange:
Baan IV: Versions are b2/ c3/ c4.
Baan Software Environment (BSE): The directory in which the BaanERP software is installed.
Baan ERP: Versions are 5.0a / 5.0b/ 5.0c.
It brings in new concepts such as Business Partners (One entity with multiple Roles i.e. Supplier, Customer), Central invoicing, Pricing Matrix, Electronic Commerce etc.
Backflushing: If you do not want to record every issue of a material or every spent production hour separately, you can apply backflushing instead.
Base Company: A financial company or a financial and logistic company that is used to book the transactions between financial companies belonging to different group companies.
Batch: A set of table revisions that is processed as a unit. A batch contains a number of tables relations between Baan tables and ASCII files that are imported or exported. Every table relation in a batch has a sequence number.
Bshell: The Baan shell (Bshell) is the BAAN Virtual Machine, a program that runs the Baan applications. The Bshell serves as an interface program between the Baan applications, operating system, user interface, and database.
Budget: A cost estimate in the preproduction stage of projects. Includes an estimate of future costs and revenues related to expected activities.
BOI (Business Object Interface): A Business Object Interface (BOI) is a Baan object. BOIs provide a connection between partner applications and third-party applications and the Baan software. Using BOI the External programs can easily integrate with the Baan System
Component Version: One and the same component can be present in different software development releases. The component must then be linked to a specific version.
Customization: Customization in Baan is mainly to bridge the gap between the organization followed business process and the Baan standard business process by modification/ addition of the software components.
Data Dictionary: A database containing data about all the databases in a database system. Data dictionaries store all the various schema and file specifications and their locations.
Data Migration: A change /Upgrade in Software version causes a structural change in Software package. The data has to be moved/migrated to accommodate the structural changes in software. Data has to be moved if a change in Database is required.
E.g.: Informix à Oracle
Database: A collection of records and tables that contain fields and columns. A database has a collection of tools that facilitate searching, sorting, and similar activities.
Database Administrator: The individual responsible for the installation, planning, configuration, management control, and maintenance of the relational database.
Database Authorizations: The set of sessions that can be used to print, display, maintain and convert the authorizations that a group of users with the same role, has for specific tables and table fields in the database.
Development VRC: A VRC, derived from a normal VRC, in which checked out software components are stored during a modification process.
Dimension: Analysis accounts for ledger accounts to get a vertical view on ledger accounts.
Domain: A description of the length and data type of table fields.
Dynamic Link Library: A feature of operating systems that allows executable routines to be stored separately as files with DLL extensions and to be loaded only when needed by a program.
Dynamic Session: A session where the developer does not have to determine exactly where forms and fields are placed, or what they look like. Instead, the developer has to define the contents and structure of the session and the sequence of the object on the form.
DAL: Data access layer that ensures logical data integrity of a database object. The DAL performs checks and actions initiated by (user) operations on the object and is triggered by the standard program.
DEM (Dynamic Enterprise Modeler):
Now called as “Baan Enterprise Modeler”.
See Baan Enterprise Modeler
DLL: Dynamic link library, a means of sharing functions between several programs that are running at the same time. This library contains functions for regular use. The library is linked to the program. At run time, the program and the library exist separately. Implementation of a DLL reduces the size of objects to a minimum because the content of a function is no longer merged with each program script.
Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP): An information processing system to control the production and distribution of goods, including financial accounting.
Entities: Separate and independent building blocks for a cluster. For example, warehouse, work center, employee, sales department, purchase department, project, customer, supplier, financial company.
Exchange Scheme: A blueprint that defines the general parameters that are used during a data-exchange process, such as the location of files, the use of an audit trail, and other default settings. The exchange scheme contains all definitions of the data that must be exported and/or imported. The ASCII files, conditions, batches, table and field relations, ranges, and conversions that belong together are grouped in an exchange scheme.
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange): EDI is used to exchange data, especially order and invoice data, by electronic means. EDI setup can be defined for external and/or internal (Multi-site) companies.
EDI Organization: Organizations represent a set of standards used in communication through EDI.
Finance Company: Company to which the finance transactions are posted. It contains all the financial accounting data
Form: A form is the screen that appears when a session is selected. It interacts with the database, and provides the user interface, which is used to manipulate data.
Function Server: A Function servers are called that specifies the particular function (method) to be carried out. Function servers consist of one or more methods/functions.
Implementation Methodology: The Implementation phase consists of two stages:
Import Procedure: A transfer of data from ASCII Files to a Baan table.
Inbound: A procedure in which goods are stored in a location of the warehouse.
Internal EDI: Receiving and sending messages between Baan (logistic) companies on the same computer system. There is no intervention from any EDI translator/communication package.
Inventory On Hand: The physical quantity (including the inventory on hold) of goods available for an item.
Inventory On Hold: A quantity of goods that has been blocked for a particular reason. Inventory on hold can arise when the location, the lot, or a number of items are blocked.
Inventory On Order: The planned receipts from production or purchases; inventory that has been ordered but not yet received. This quantity is included in the economic stock.
Journal Vouchers: A transaction for which no sub ledger (invoice) document is available. Journal vouchers can be posted to general ledger.
License: A license is used to validate the system configuration request of the customer.
Localization: Any country specific modification to the existing Baan functionality is termed as localization.
Logistic Company: It contains data of all the logistic modules
Menu: A type of item that consists of a group of items with similar characteristics that are classified under one generic item to facilitate order entry.
Message: Message is electronic document (say order acknowledgment). This can be the incoming messages or the outgoing messages.
Milestone: A milestone is an activity with zero days, usually representing a significant event in the project. Milestones determine, for example, the moment of invoicing and the calculation of earned value.
Modules: A set of software components related to a business process. Viz.: General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Inventory Control, Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP), Shop Floor Control (SFC), Sales and Purchase Control.
Multi-Finance / Multi Logistic: Several finance Companies integrated with several Logistic
Multi-Finance/Single Logistic: Several Finance Companies integrated with one Logistic Company.
Network: Network manages various dataflows viz. Incoming message file, outgoing message file and trace files.
Object: A group of objects with similar characteristics. For instance a class can be Person. The class Person consists of objects, individual instances of a class. In this case the individual person John Mackingtosch is an example of the object of the class Person.
Outbound: The act of retrieving goods from an inventory location. Also referred to as an outbound unit.
OLE: An object-based technology for sharing information and services across process boundaries and machine boundaries.
Package: A set of related modules is called a Package. Viz. Distribution, Finance, Manufacturing
Package Combination: A package combination consists of one or more integrated packages.
Package VRC (Version Release Customer): VRC is a baseline for Software components/ releases. A package can have multiple (standard or customized) VRC’s.
Parameter: Data that influence the way a package or module operates. Parameters are defined in the Parameters session of a package or module to adapt it to the specific requirements of an organization.
Patches: It consists of software components, which are mainly prepared as a software solution to a particular problem/requirement. This patch can contain various software components.
Purging and Archival: Archiving is moving transactions. Archiving involves the execution of programs which copy and transfer data from an operational company to another company, referred to as an archival company. The moment the data is copied to the archival company it is deleted from the operational company. This generates more disk space and improves program performance.
Query: A structured set of commands used to extract data from a database to present it for use.
QCD (Query Content definition): Defines how Bus Documents can be constructed by submitting a query to or invoking a function on a backend component. QCD contains backend component-specific information.
Relation: The business partners with whom the electronic data is exchanged. It may be the customer or supplier.
Report: A report is used to output data within the database. A report consists of input data, layouts and may have a report script.
It is a general term for the output of a print session.
Service Pack: It is a collection of standard patches consisting of a number of enhancements/bug fixes to the existing software release.
Session: The program that is needed to execute the action the user wants to perform.
Session Authorizations: The set of sessions that can be used to print, display, maintain and convert the authorizations that a group of users, that are identified by a role, have for specific sessions.
Single Finance / Multi-Logistic: One finance Company integrated with several Logistic Companies
Single Finance / Single Logistic: One finance company integrated with one Logistic Company
Software Configuration Management: A functionality that provides software developers with a stable development area.
Software Migration: Changing/upgrading from a lower version of software package to a higher version of software package.
Table: A data structure that is used to store data consisting of a list of entries, each entry being identified by a unique key and containing a set of related values. A table contains a number of table fields belonging to a specific domain.
Table Boosters: A way to increase the speed of accessing a database table by loading the table or specific parts of it into memory on the server.
Task: The term used to describe any activity carried out on the shop floor. Work centers and machines (for machine tasks) are used to define tasks.
Triton: Old Baan Software version 1.0/ 2.0/ 3.1a.
Tool: A reusable resource that is used in order to perform manufacturing tasks. It is a unique combination of tool type and tool number. It is used to identify a tool in the system.
User: The person that works with an application software package.
User Authorization: The authorization level assigned to a user that determines the actions of creating, deleting, editing, and viewing a document by document type.
User Data Template: A template that contains system data and authorizations related to a group of users. The data contained by the template is dumped to the userfile of all users who use the specific template.
Variable: A code that represents any of a given set of values.
Version: Used to identify entities that slightly differ from a previous created base entity. A stage in the development in which a major part of the software is modified.
VRC: The Version Release Customer code is an identification of a stage in the development of BaanERP software.
A VRC consists of:
• Version – A stage in the development in which a major part of the software is modified.
• Release – A stage in the development in which a minor part of the software is modified.
• Customization Extension – A stage in the development in which the software is only modified for a specific customer.
Zoom session: The session in which you can browse through the available records and select a record. A zoom session is an overview session in read-only mode.
Why Do We Need ERP and Business Process Automation?
Somewhere along the line we started talking about “Serious Business”, we are all “Serious” business people so this comment is not meant to slight anyone or the way business is conducted, it is meant to make people stop and assess their choices and decisions they are making in everyday business. There comes a time when the business starts to be larger than the people who started it and requires multiple people working together, sometimes in multiple locations, multiple time zones, and it just begins to press us to seriously consider how to make our lives easier and to be able to grow our Business with more profits. A few of the reasons why we need ERP and Business Process Automation.
1) Better Communications with Colleagues and Clients
2) More Efficiency = More Profits
3) Organization + Standards = More Profits
4) Company’s Databases become our Data Warehouse and our ultimate value
5) ERP leverages our existing resources
Better Communication with Colleagues and Clients:
When we are growing and changing at the rate of successful company, we often forget to stop and communicate with our customers and colleagues. Having a single system that our company use each day and all day is a good way for us to keep up and get caught up in a hurry. When a company installs ERP system it should also include their customers who are everything to the business. The minute the client feels neglected, ignored they will start to look elsewhere for their products and services. Make sure ERP system has features that lets us collaborate with our clients just like they are part of the team. ERP systems enable us, empower us, and give us access to our company databases and data warehouse.
Make sure the system works for us and our partners and clients. Not only should our ERP system give us the means to communicate with our customer list, it should also give us the means to professionally manage those communications.
More Efficiency = More profits:
Business people are often under the gun and too busy to consider how they can streamline their activities, much less automate their processes. But the fact is proven by 100% of Big Business, if we automate what we do on a routine basis, we will prosper by freeing our self up to focus on other urgent matters. If we are filling out a form, then handling it to the next person in the workflow for them to type into a spreadsheet or system, and possibly the information gets typed in four or five more times, we can immediately cut our company’s workload down by using an ERP system. A properly configured ERP system captures each of our business entries into a single company database or Data Warehouse. So it tands to reason that less work to capture this data and automated processes like invoicing, materials lists, work orders, purchase orders, and more can be created without increasing our resources. This inturn reduces direct costs and enables our resources to focus on more profitable activities.
Organization + Standard = More Profits
To have the company data in a single database or warehouse is powerful. COMPANY may speak with a one voice and one perspective of all aspects of the business. Businesses that wish to grow need to have a standard way and need to have these standards reinforced. Our customers will appreciate it when they have a support or maintenance issue and our people will have the same information on the address and/or person who is on the other end of the phone. We also appreciate that all contracts and communications with the person on the other end of the phone is just a mouse click away. More customer satisfaction is one of the guaranteed road to prosperity.
Our Company Database will become our data base and our ultimate value:
As of now we can count at least ten spreadsheets, databases, and other files and documents that “hold the company together”. When the company is incubating and business partners figure out how to work together, this is all part of the startup process. There comes a time when these files and tools become so valuable it is important to back them up, version them, ensure that everyone has the same file, and after a while we look to simplify this process so it doesn’t frustrate all of us. It is at that time that an ERP system can help by putting all these spreadsheets, documents, databases, and other files into a single place and ultimately a single database. When the ERP system is hooked up we will start to use the database for customer sales, communications, support, warranty management, accounting, Project
Management, and basically everything that is a process within our regular workday. Quite simply the company data and recorded information becomes our key to our next level of success.
ERP leverages our existing resources:
As a company grows the natural reaction is to hire enough people to cover the business and do the work and to make sure the people have a place to work and the necessary tools to do their work. An installed and functioning ERP system instantly reduces the amount of work required to reach the company objectives and profit goals. As stated earlier, by providing a system that is single entry, multiple use we have cut out a lot of rework. Sometimes reducing the workflow by 80%. So far be it for us to say that ERP is a way to cut workforce, we don’t believe in that type of business philosophy, we believe those same people that we trusted, hired, and worked with are more useful doing higher profit activities in
place of their old repetitive tasks.
Courtesy : Rahul Marothia
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