External References

Membership programs can each have their own codes for identifying a property, a chain, a location, or an IATA city. For this reason, it is necessary for you to specify conversion values that will be used during the export process for each membership type. Select the Reference button from the Membership Types screen (System Configuration> Profiles>Memberships>Types) to display the External References screen. This screen enables you to configure "mapping" values so that export files will be created with external codes.

The particular membership type for which you are configuring external references is shown in the view-only Membership Type field at the top of the screen. You can use the search fields to locate specific reference type records. You can also view the inactive external references by selecting the Show Inactive check box. To display all active membership types again, unselect the Show Inactive check box. Select Clear to clear all the search criteria that have been entered, so all records display again.

The screen shows the following information.

External Reference Type. The data element that is being cross-referenced.

Internal Value. The ORS/OCIS internal value for this element.

External Value. The external (membership program) value for the data element. The label for this column changes depending on the reference type that is highlighted.

Creating and Editing External References

To create a new external reference for the current membership type, select the New button. To edit an existing external reference, highlight your choice on the External References screen and select the Edit button. The External References screen opens.

Provide the following information and select OK.

External Reference. Select the down arrow to choose the external reference data element you wish to configure. Options include HOTEL, CHAIN, LOCATION ID, IATA CITY CODE, or ERROR CODE. If you are editing an existing external reference record, this field is view only.

Chain/Property/Error Code. Depending on the type of external data element for which you are creating a cross-reference, the label and data available for this field will change. Select the down arrow to choose the internal code of the ORS/OCIS data element you are configuring.

External Hotel ID/Location ID/Chain ID, IATA City Code, Error Code. Depending on the type of external data element for which you are creating a cross-reference, the label and data available for this field will change. Enter the external (membership program) code for the data element you are configuring.

Inactive Record. If this box is checked, the external reference will be inactive and will not be utilized. You may want to check this if you are setting up a new external reference that you do not wish to activate yet.