1 Overview to Electronic Burst and Bind

Electronic Burst and Bind (EBB) eliminates much of the cost and effort generally required to generate, collate and distribute reports and documents. EBB works seamlessly with JD Edwards World software, FASTR and World Writer reports.

This chapter contains these topics:

1.1 Basic Processes of EBB

Electronic Burst and Bind uses the following processes:

  • Bursting

  • Binding

  • Routing

Consider the following example. You run an Income Statement and a Balance Sheet for three companies. The system creates two spools. One includes the income statements and the other includes the balance sheets.

Figure 1-1 Beginnning Spool File 1

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Description of "Figure 1-1 Beginnning Spool File 1"

1.1.1 Bursting

Using the criteria you specify, EBB separates a single spool report into multiple spool files. This prevents you from having to run and then separate Dream Writer reports. The burst criterion in this example is the Company Number.

Figure 1-2 Illustration of Multiple Spool Files

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Description of "Figure 1-2 Illustration of Multiple Spool Files"

1.1.2 Binding

After the system separates a spool file, the binding process selects specific pages and collates them into the print order you designate. Then, the system creates separate spool files that contain the sorted reports.

In the following example, the Balance Sheet and Income Statement for each Company are bound together.

Figure 1-3 Spool Files A, B, and C

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Description of "Figure 1-3 Spool Files A, B, and C"

1.1.3 Routing

The routing process distributes each output spool file to one or more destinations. You can also assign functions, such as printing, to the output spool file, depending on your requirements.

In the following example, the spool file contains the Balance Sheet and Income Statement for Company 003 which the system routes to multiple destinations.

Figure 1-4 Spool File C

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Description of "Figure 1-4 Spool File C"

1.2 Process Flow

Depending on your needs, you can use the basic Electronic Burst and Bind processes of bursting, binding, and routing reports individually or together. The following illustrates the process flow of the EBB.

Figure 1-5 Process Flow of the EBB

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Description of "Figure 1-5 Process Flow of the EBB"

1.3 About This Guide

The Electronic Burst and Bind guide includes various topics in the EBB process. It contains the following information:

  • EBB setup and environment

  • Monitor

  • Versions

  • Reports selection

  • Burst and bind criteria

  • Select keys

  • Routing functions

  • Substitute select keys

1.3.1 Before You Begin

  • To use EBB, you must have a working knowledge of JD Edwards World software and System i operations.