Item/Serial Message File Maintenance

Item/Serial Message File Maintenance is found on the Billing File Maintenance File Set Up menu, 3-1-20.  A free flowing message can be assigned to an individual item.  These are item messages.  Item messages are created, modified and deleted in Item File Maintenance and Item/Serial Message File Maintenance.  A free flowing message can be assigned to an individual serial number.  These are serial messages.  Serial messages are created, modified, and deleted in Serial File Maintenance, Machine Placement, and Item/Serial Message File Maintenance.  Both item and serial messages are stored in the same file but are assigned a different type.  The name of the message file is ITMSG.DT.  When accessing serial number records, serial messages are accessible.  When accessing item records, item messages are accessible.

 

Item and Serial File messages are new with LMS Revision 12.  An item message can be assigned to any valid item that is in the Item File.  A serial file message can be assigned to any valid serialized machine or accessory that is in the Serial File.  These can be placed or non-placed records.

 

 

 

Enter Data

 

Enter Procedure Type  A'dd  C'hange  D'elete  E'nd

 

Enter A to add an item or serial message.  Enter C to modify an existing message.  Enter D to delete the entire message.  Enter E to exit the program.

 

 

Adding A Message

 

During the add an up arrow ^ to go back one space or a / slash to cancel may be input.

 

Message Type  I'tem  S'erial :

 

Enter an I to create a free flowing message for an individual Item File record.  Enter an S to create a free flowing message for an individual Serial File record.  When an I to create an Item Message File is input, the following prompt appears.

 

Item Number:

 

 

Enter the item number that the message is to be assigned to.  When an item is input that already has an item message, the prompt Message Already Exists appears.  The cursor returns to the Enter Procedure prompt.  Note:  You can modify the existing message by entering the change mode.  (18 Alphanumeric)

 

 

 

Enter Data  (Cont’d)

 

Adding A Message  (Cont’d)

 

Item Number:

 

When adding an item message, there are four ways to access the desired item number.  They are input the item number, item alpha search, item description search, and item association search.

 

Input The Item Number

 

Enter the item number that is desired.  If the item number that is entered is not found in the Item File, the item alpha search is accessed.

 

Item Alpha Search

 

To access an item number by an item alpha search, input the beginning numbers or letters at the Item Number. prompt.  Item number is an 18 character field.  Any item record that matches exactly what was input appears.  A computer assigned line number corresponds with each selection.  The item number, full item description, and the product class display per selection.  Thirteen selections per page appear.

 

 

 

 

Enter Data  (Cont’d)

 

Adding A Message  (Cont’d)

 

Item Description Search

 

To activate the item description search at the Item Number prompt input a \ left pointing slash followed by the desired description.  It is the \ slash that activates the description search.  Description may be 32 alphanumeric characters.  Any item record with a description exactly matching the input displays.  For each item a computer assigned line number appears.  Also printing is the item number, full item description, and the product class.  Thirteen selections per page appear.

 

Item Association Search

 

If an item record has been converted to another item number through the Item Conversion or Merge program, an input of the old item number automatically displays the new item number.  Entering the model number that is stored in the Model Association File also accesses an item.  After the input of the old item number, a prompt Association Item Number displays.  The new item number appears.

 

When the item alpha or description search is activated at the Item Number prompt, one of the following two prompts appear.

 

Select Item Choice, Or E'nd:

Display N'ext, Select Item Choice, Or E'nd: N

 

The first prompt appears when there is only one screen of item selections.  The second prompt appears when there is more than 13 item selections.  Enter an E to exit the item selections.  The cursor returns to the Item Number prompt.  Enter the computer assigned line number that corresponds with the desired item selection.  To view the next screen of items, enter N for next or carriage return to accept the default of N for next.

 

When entering N for next the next screen of possible items display.  One of the following two prompts appears.

 

 

 

Enter Data  (Cont’d)

 

Adding A Message  (Cont’d)

 

Display N'ext, P'revious, Select Item Choice, Or E'nd: N

Display P'revious, Select Item Choice, Or E'nd:

 

The first prompt appears until the last screen is reached.  The second prompt appears on the last screen of selections.  Enter N for next to view the next screen.  Enter an E to exit the item selections. The cursor returns to the Item Number prompt.  Enter the computer assigned line number that corresponds with the desired item selection.  Enter P to go back one screen of items.  You may go back and forward as many screens as exist.  If a line number is entered that does not exist, the prompt Selection Is Out Of Range appears.  The cursor returns for reinput.  An existing line number from a previous screen can be entered.

 

If an item is entered and the item is being accessed on another task in Item File Maintenance or Item/Serial Message File Maintenance, the prompt Item In Use On Another Task appears.  The cursor returns to the Enter Procedure Type prompt for reinput.  The item cannot be accessed until the other task exits the item.  This is to protect the integrity of the file updating.

 

 

 

Enter Data  (Cont’d)

 

Adding A Message  (Cont’d)

 

Message Type  I'tem  S'erial :

 

When an S to create a Serial File Message File is input, the following prompts appear.

 

Item Number:

Serial Number:

 

 

Enter the item number of the Serial File record that the message is to be assigned to. There are four ways to access the desired item number.  They are input the item number, item alpha search, item description search and item association search.  Operation is the same as described earlier for the item messages.  After input of a valid item, the cursor continues on to the Serial Number prompt.

 

Serial Number:

 

Enter the serial number that the Serial File message is to be assigned to.  Entering a serial number that does not exist in the Serial File produces the prompt Invalid Serial Number.  The cursor returns for reinput.  When an item and serial number is input that already has a serial message, the prompt Message Already Exists appears.  The cursor returns to the Enter Procedure prompt.  Note:  You can modify the existing message by entering the change mode.  (18 Alphanumeric)

 

 

 

Enter Data  (Cont’d)

 

Adding A Message  (Cont’d)

 

Once the type of message and the item or serial file that the message is to be assigned to is input, the following prompt appears.

 

Enter Message - 'CR' To Continue

 

 

 

Enter the desired message.  Each line can be up to 74 alphanumeric characters and there is no limit to the amount of message lines that can be added.  The messages can be modified through the change mode in Item File Maintenance or in the Item/Serial Message File Maintenance program.  A carriage return at the first prompt for each line exits the initial adding of the messages.  Note:  If a carriage return is input at the first prompt on the first line, no message file is created.

 

 

 

 

Enter Data  (Cont’d)

 

Changing A Message

 

Enter Procedure Type  A'dd  C'hange  D'elete  E'nd

 

 

Enter a C to change an existing item or serial file message.  The cursor goes to the Message Type prompt.  Operation is the same as described for the adding of a message file.  Once the type is defined the cursor goes to the appropriate input prompt, either Item Number or Item Number and Serial Number.  Operation is the same as described for the add.  If a record is entered that does not have an existing message the prompt, Message Does Not Exist appears.  The cursor returns to the Enter Procedure Type prompt.

 

Once the type of message and the item or serial file that the message is assigned to and is to be changed is input, one of the two following prompts appear.

 

Enter A'dd - C'hange - D'elete - 'CR' To End Message

Display Next Page (Y’es, N’o)

 

 

 

 

Enter Data  (Cont’d)

 

Changing A Message  (Cont’d)

 

The first prompt appears when there are less than 12 message lines.  The second prompt appears when there are more than 11 message lines.  Entering a Y accesses the next screen.  Entering a N at the Display Next Page prompt or reaching the last screen displays the Enter A'dd - C'hange - D'elete - 'CR' To End Message prompt.

 

Enter an A to add additional messages.  The prompt Enter Message - ‘CR’ To Continue appears.  As many messages as desired may be entered.  Messages are added after the existing messages.  A carriage return redisplays the Display Next Page prompt when there are more than 11 messages or the message entry is exited.  Enter a C to change an existing message.  The following prompt appears.

 

Enter Message Number To Change - E’nd

 

 

Enter the line number that corresponds with the message that is to be changed.  If a number is input that does not exist, the prompt Selection Is Out Of Range, Please Enter # Thru # displays.  The existing line numbers are displayed.  The cursor returns for reinput.  Once a valid line is input, the prompt Enter New Message appears.  Enter the new message.  A carriage return at the first character leaves the message, but it is a blank line.  After input of the new message, the cursor returns to the Enter Message Number To Change prompt.  Enter an E to exit the change mode.  An E redisplays the Display Next Page prompt when there are more than 11 messages or the Enter A’dd -

C’hange - D’elete prompt is redisplayed.

 

 

 

Enter Data  (Cont’d)

 

Changing A Message  (Cont’d)

 

Enter A'dd - C'hange - D'elete - 'CR' To End Message

 

Enter a D to delete a message line.  The following prompt appears.

 

Enter Message Number To Delete - E'nd

 

 

Enter the line number that corresponds with the message line that is to be deleted.  If a number is input that does not exist, the prompt Selection Is Out Of Range, Please Enter # Thru # displays.  The existing line numbers are displayed.  The cursor returns for reinput.  Once a valid line is input, the message line is deleted.  All message lines below the deleted one are automatically renumbered.  Enter an E to exit the delete mode.  After the E is input or a line is deleted the cursor returns to the Display Next Page prompt when there are more than 11 messages or the Enter A’dd - C’hange - D’elete prompt is redisplayed.

 

 

 

Enter Data  (Cont’d)

 

Deleting A Message

 

Enter Procedure Type  A'dd  C'hange  D'elete  E'nd

 

 

Enter a D to delete the entire existing item or serial file message.  The cursor goes to the Message Type prompt.  Operation is the same as described for the adding of a message file.  Once the type is defined the cursor goes to the appropriate input prompt, either Item Number or Item Number and Serial Number.  Operation is the same as described for the add.  If a record is entered that does not have an existing message the prompt Message Does Not Exist appears.  The cursor returns to the Enter Procedure Type prompt.

 

Once the type of message and the item or serial file that the message is assigned to and is to be deleted is input, one of the two following prompts appears.

 

Display Next Page (Y/N)

Please Verify D’elete C’ancel

 

The first prompt appears when there is more than one screen of messages.  Entering a N for no or reaching the last screen accesses the second prompt.  Enter a D to delete the entire message.  The message is deleted.  Enter a C to cancel the delete command.  The message is not deleted.