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Configuring Assignment Objects for Availability-Based Assignment

Configuring assignment objects for availability-based assignment allows Assignment Manager to review an employee's calendar as a criterion for assignment. If the employee's calendar has no activities booked at the time required by the object, and has a sufficient time period available for the object's duration, the employee qualifies for assignment. For more information on availability-based assignment, see Availability-Based Assignment and Assigning Employees to Assignment Rules Based on Availability.

Before configuring the assignment object, make sure the following information is satisfied:

By default, the Activity assignment object has the required columns in its database table for Start Time and Duration; however, one column must be extended if the Early Start Time field is desired. All other assignment objects must have their base tables extended. To extend an object's base table for availability-based assignment, use the following procedure. As an example, the Service Request Assignment object is considered.

CAUTION:  You must review the sections on extension tables and columns in Siebel Tools Reference before completing this procedure.

To extend the Service Request's base table for availability-based assignment

  1. Start Siebel Tools.
  2. In the Object Explorer, expand the Table object, and then select Column.
  3. In the Tables window, query for the S_SRV_REQ table.
  4. With the S_SRV_REQ table selected, choose Tools > Lock Project to lock the project.

    5. The project associated with the S_SRV_REQ table is newtable.

  5. In the Columns list, choose Edit > Add New Record to add the records in the following table (only Record 1 and 2 are required):

    6.  
    Record 1
    Record 2
    Record 3 (Optional)
    Name
    X_DURN_MIN
    X_START_TIME
    X_EARLY_START_TIME
    Physical Type
    Number
    UTC Date Time
    UTC Date Time
    Length
    22
    7
    7
    Precision
    22
     
     
    Scale
    7
     
     
    LOV Type
    APPOINTMENT_
    DURATION
     
     
    Cascade Mode
    Ignore
    Ignore
    Ignore
    TxnLog Code
    TRUE
    TRUE
    TRUE

  6. In the Table column window and after you have created the new records you need, click Apply.

    7. This sends the new columns to the appropriate tables in the database.

  7. Complete the fields in the Apply Schema dialog box.
    1. In the Tables field, click the select button, and choose one of the following:
      • All
      • Current Query
      • Current Row
    2. In the Table owner password field, enter the appropriate value.
    3. Click Apply.

      4. The S_SRV_REQ table is now extended with the following three columns: X_DURN_MIN, X_EARLY_START_TIME, and X_START_TIME.

With the appropriate columns in place, use the following procedure to configure availability criteria for the assignment object.

To configure Availability-based Assignment for an assignment object

  1. Start Siebel Tools.
  2. Lock the assignment object's project.
    1. In the Object Explorer, click the Types tab, and select Project.
    2. In the Projects window, select the appropriate project.
    3. Check the Locked field.
  3. In the Object Explorer, expand Workflow Policy Object and select the assignment object.
  4. In the Assignment Objects list, select the object you want to configure, and set the column values, as shown in the following table:

    5. Column
    Required
    Value
    Calendar Start Time Column
    Yes
    The table column that references the start time of the object. For example, X_START_TIME.
    Calendar Duration Column
    Yes
    The table column that references the duration of the object. For example, X_DURATION.
    Calendar Early Start Time Column
    No
    The table column that references the early start time of the object. For example, X_EARLY_START_TIME.
    Calendar Create Activity
    No
    Check this column if you want an activity created for the assigned employee.
    TRUE = Activity is created in employee's calendar
    FALSE =Activity is not created in employee's calendar
    Note: You must check this field if you plan to use the Appointment Booking System to detect conflicts. For more information about the Appointment Booking System, see Availability-Based Assignment in this guide and Siebel Field Service Guide.
    Calendar Activity Additional Fields
    No
    When this field is specified, Assignment Manager sets the field value to the row ID of the assignment object when it creates the activity. Assignment Manager also sets the additional fields to the specified field values. For example, for the Service Request object, you can specify the following fields: Activity SR Id, Type, To Do.

    NOTE:  The fields in the preceding table are specified as one value string for that property.

If a value is not specified for the field specified in the Calendar Start Time Column column for an assignment object, Assignment Manager does not check calendars when assigning that object, even if the assignment rule has the Check Calendar flag checked. Instead, Assignment Manager assigns all candidates who meet the criteria for the rule. For example, if you don't specify the Start Date or Due Date for an activity, Assignment Manager does not check calendars when assigning this activity, even if the assignment rule has the Check Calendar flag checked. Instead, Assignment Manager assigns all candidates who meet the criteria for the rule.

After these fields are configured for the assignment object, they must be made visible to the end user by adding them to the appropriate business component and applets. For these procedures, see Siebel Tools Reference.


 Siebel Assignment Manager Administration Guide 
 Published: 18 June 2003