Infor ERP VISUAL

VISUAL Tips & Slices: Managing Work Orders by Exception

With the introduction of the Exceptions functionality in the Infor ERP VISUAL Manufacturing Window it is now possible to more efficiently manage work orders.

To start using Exceptions open the Manufacturing Window and load a work order. From the Edit menu select “Exceptions…”.

VISUAL comes with some default exceptions. To load these click the Import Default Exceptions button on the toolbar. You can edit or delete these exceptions using the buttons on the toolbar, or use the “Active” checkbox to disable an exception.

To create a new exception, select the new button on the toolbar. VISUAL will open a window with the tools to define a new exception.

Enter a name for the exception.
Enter a priority (optional).
Select where to apply the exception from the Object Type drop down box.
Enter a description for the new exception.
Select the item you wish to test from the data items column.
Select the test you wish to perform from the Operators column.
Select the function or enter a number to finish the test expression.
Click the Save button on the toolbar to save the new Exception

Note that VISUAL fills in the expression box as you select and type. If you make an error, click the “Clear Expr” button.

In our example…
Name = NotEnough2Issue
Object Type = Material
Description = Not enough material available to issue

Expression=

First select “CalcQty” from Data Items.
Then Operation “>” (greater than)
Then select “PartId” from Data Items.
Then select “PartQtyAvailToIssue” from functions.

VISUAL created the expression “CalcQty">"PartQtyAvailtoIssue(PartId)”, or in other words: If the calculated quantity for the item is greater than the quantity on hand that is available, then display an exception.

Repeat this process to create as many exceptions as you require.

Manufacturing Window Exceptions can be created to check items (Object Types)…

Materials
Operations
Services
Legs
The Work Order Header

Now that we have created our exceptions, let’s put them to work.

With a work order open in the Manufacturing Window select View, Exceptions from the menu. Items with exceptions will remain visible while items without exceptions will become faded.

Select an exception item by clicking it and a window will pop up displaying information about which check has been triggered. If you want to see a list of all of the exceptions that have been triggered by the current work order select View, List All Exceptions from the menu.

Need to filter the list more? Select File, Send to Microsoft Excel, then use your favorite tools and functions, or return to single exception view by selecting View, List all Exceptions from the menu.

Now that you can easily review work order items that may become issues or fall outside your business rules you can more readily act upon them. The Manufacturing Window Exception functions are stored by user so each user can have their own specific checks pertaining to their job functions. Manufacturing Window Exceptions are available as a standard item in VISUAL Enterprise versions 6.5.2 and above.

Gary Ussery is a business consultant specializing in Infor ERP VISUAL. He can be reached at 864.848.1172.

VISUAL Tips & Slices: Automating Infor ERP VISUAL

Do you need to add some error checking to your Infor ERP VISUAL processes? Business rules enforcement? Automation? There are many tools available inside and outside VISUAL that can assist you with these activities.

VISUAL Macros

Macros are now available in almost every area of VISUAL. They can be used to simplify data entry, provide error checking, enforce business rules, provide feedback to users, activate external applications, etc.

These macros can be run automatically based on system events or manually from the Macros menu. Some of the automatic macro types include:

OnSave – Executes when the user saves the document. This type of macro can stop the save from occurring if needed. This is especially useful for error checking and business rule enforcement.
OnAfterSave – Executes on the currently loaded document after a successful save.
OnNew – Executes when the user starts a new document by clicking the New icon. This does not execute when the user first opens the window.
OnLoad – Executes when the user loads a document into the existing window. This does not execute when the user first opens the window.

Macro naming is very important. While VISUAL can run a macro named almost anything, it will only automatically run macros with specific names. These names are case sensitive.

VISUAL utilizes the VBScript scripting language in macros, much like Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, etc. Many of the standard commands and procedures available in VBScript are available inside VISUAL Macros. Visual also makes available to the macro, most of the items the user sees on the screen, and some they do not. In the case of Customer Order Entry the macro can access over 100 data items for the header and over 100 more for each line item.

While it may seem daunting to the beginner, with a little help and practice, macros can quickly become an invaluable tool that saves you hours in repetitive tasks, reporting for and fixing data errors and omissions, company policy and procedure enforcement, etc.

Some examples of macros we have created include:

Ensuring that specific fields have been used and the data is valid.
Send an email with inventory availability information when you save a sales order.
Send an email to a customer when a shipment is created.
Notify the purchasing manager that a PO was entered with a value over a certain limit.
Calculate and fill in scrap/yield information based on how many blanks fit on a sheet of steel when adding raw materials in the Manufacturing Window.
Open a specific Excel workbook based upon information on the sales order.
Copy markup/margin information from one line of a quote to all others.
Test for proper patterns in smart part ids or syntax in descriptions.
Hundreds of other customer specific tasks.

Visual Workflows

Need to create and validate a business process flow? Workflow is the tool for this.

With VISUAL Workflow not only can you validate information in a specific area of VISUAL, you can also document and enforce business processes. Workflows are especially useful for assigning tasks and signoffs.

With workflows you can have the system assign VISUAL Tasks to individuals or groups and require that specific actions be taken by these individuals or groups before the processes can proceed.

For example, suppose you entered a Sales Order for the ABC Company. A workflow could check the value of the sales order. If the order was below a certain limit, say $10,000, it would allow you to release it. If the order was between $10,000 and $50,000 it could send an email to the Sales Manager and add a task for approval and release of the order. If the order was above $50,000 then an email to and approval by the VP of Sales may be required.

The point is that Workflows can be as simple or complicated as necessary and may contain one or hundreds of checks processes, and electronic sign offs.

External Tools

Do you need to run the Global Scheduler, Costing Utilities, or the EIS Build during off hours? Does you Shop Foreman need the Dispatch Report printed and delivered to their email inbox before they arrive first thing in the morning? There are several external applications that can assist with these types of chores.

Automate, Macro Scheduler, and AutoIt3 are some examples. Each of these is a program that creates and executes scripts. These scripts can open a VISUAL module, fill in the required fields, check the appropriate boxes and execute actions. Add in a PDF writer like Adobe or Primo PDF and you can print any resulting report to a file and then send to email. (AutoIt3 and Primo PDF come in fully capable free versions.)

Does your estimating team need to insert specific verbiage into the line specs on a quote but hates typing it every time? Using a free program like AutoHotkey, E&A can create keyboard shortcuts that can perform one or hundreds of actions to make their jobs easier and less error prone.

Database Tools

Let the database do what the database does! All VISUAL database platforms (SQLBase, SQL Server, and Oracle) use triggers and stored procedures. Taking advantage of these we can perform many behind the scenes data operations including passing information to other reporting databases, etc. The more advanced databases (SQL Server and Oracle) can schedule specific jobs to run at specific times, create reports, send emails, etc.

These are just some examples of ways we have assisted customers in making themselves more productive.

Gary Ussery is a business consultant specializing in Infor ERP VISUAL. He can be reached at 864.848.1172.