Working with the EBO_ASYNC Job

Purpose: The Evaluate Backorders ASYNC function updates the system tables with reservation and backorder information whenever the inventory level for a backordered item increases. Inventory levels for an item increase when you process inventory transactions, receive purchase orders, or transfer merchandise from suspense.

When the inventory transactions program runs, it sends records to the Evaluate Backorders data queue for processing if the inventory level for a backordered item is increased.

• If the Evaluate Backorders ASYNC (EBO_ASYNC) function is active, it processes the records immediately.

• If the EBO_ASYNC is not active when it receives the records, it processes them as soon as it becomes active again.

All records are processed in the sequence in which they arrive in the data queue.

Pick slip preparation: During the Evaluate Backorders process, the system performs pick slip preparation for each order updated:

1. The system REMOVES any pick slip preparation from the order.

2. Once the Evaluate Backorders async reserves stock for an order, the system EVALUATES the order to determine if it is eligible for pick slip preparation.

3. If the order is eligible for pick slip preparation after the changes to the order have been made, the system RE-APPLIES pick slip preparation to the order.

See Preparing Orders for Pick Slip Generation for processing details.

Errors: If any errors occur in processing a data queue record, the function stops processing at the error point and starts the next record in sequence. The records in error are listed on the Evaluate Backorders ASYNC Error Report, which prints when the ASYNC jobs end. EBO_ASYNC continues processing any record in error once the error is corrected.

You can view the status of each record in the data queue at the Display Evaluate B/O Data Queue Screen.

In this chapter:

• Display Asynchronous Job Screen (Displaying the Evaluate Backorders ASYNC Job)

• Display Evaluate B/O Data Queue Screen

• Changing the Status of EBO_ASYNC

• Evaluate B/O Background Job Error Listing

• Updates During Background Processing.

Display Asynchronous Job Screen (Displaying the Evaluate Backorders ASYNC Job)

Purpose: Use this screen to display the job attributes for each background ASYNC job. This screen displays descriptive information about the ASYNC job.

How to display this screen: Select Display for the EBO_ ASYNC job at the Work with Background Jobs Screen.

Field	Description
Process name	The name of the process for this ASYNC job. The name of the evaluate backorders data queue is EVLBODATAQ. Alphanumeric, 10 positions; display-only.
Job name	The name of the ASYNC job. Alphanumeric, 10 positions; display-only.
Description	The description of the ASYNC job. Alphanumeric, 40 positions; display-only.
Start	The date and time the ASYNC job was last started and the User ID of the person who started it. (Date): Numeric, 6 positions; display-only. (Time): Numeric, 6 positions; display-only. User ID): Alphanumeric, 10 positions; display-only.
End	The date and time the ASYNC job was last ended and the User ID of the person who ended it. (Date): Numeric, 6 positions; display-only. (Time): Numeric, 6 positions; display-only. (User ID): Alphanumeric, 10 positions; display-only.
Controlling job?	A flag indicating whether this function controls other ASYNC functions. The controlling ASYNC function starts and ends other ASYNC functions. Valid values are: Selected - This is a controlling ASYNC function. Unselected - This is not a controlling ASYNC function. The CNTL_ASYNC job is the only controlling ASYNC job.
System Option?	A flag indicating whether this function is a system function that cannot be deleted by the user. Valid values are: Selected - This function cannot be deleted by the user. Unselected - This function can be deleted by the user.
Status	The current status of the job. Valid status codes are: • *ACTIVE • *INACTIVE • *ENDPEND • *JOBQ • *REORG Display-only.

Display Evaluate B/O Data Queue Screen

Purpose: This screen displays the records that have been sent to the data queue for processing since the last time the ASYNC function was ended. Records are sent to the data queue when the inventory level for an item is increased.

The status of each record indicates if the record has been processed or if any errors exist.

Note: If the Use Inventory Sharing Backorder Evaluation (I80) system control value is selected, there is a data queue record only for the shared company (the company where you actually track the inventory). See Inventory Sharing (A69) for an overview.

How to display this screen: Select Display Data Queue for the EBO_ASYNC job on the Work with Background Jobs Screen.

Field	Description
Cmp (Company)	The number of the company for which the transaction was processed. If you are running operations for more than one company, transactions for all companies are submitted to the same data queue. Note: If the Use Inventory Sharing Backorder Evaluation (I80) system control value is selected, there is a data queue record only for the shared company (the company where you actually track the inventory). See Inventory Sharing (A69) for an overview. Numeric, 3 positions; display-only.
Date	The date when the transaction was submitted to the data queue for processing. Numeric, 6 positions (in user date format); display-only.
Time	The time at which the transaction was submitted to the data queue for processing. Note: The number of seconds might exceed 59 if the ASYNC job processed 60 or more records in a minute. Numeric, 6 position (HH:MM:SS format); display-only.
Job #	The job number assigned to the transaction when it was submitted to the data queue. Numeric, 6 positions; display-only.
Processed	The status of the record. The record is either not processed, in process, in error, or processed. A status message displays for each step. Alphanumeric, 30 positions; display-only.
Item	The item number/SKU of the backordered item that can now be reserved. (Item#): Alphanumeric, 12 positions; display-only. (SKU): Alphanumeric, three 4-position fields; display-only.
Whs	The code of the warehouse where the backordered item can be reserved. Numeric, 3 positions; display-only.

Changing the Status of EBO_ASYNC

Purpose: Select Change Status for the EBO_ASYNC job at the Work with Background Jobs Screen to change its status.

Note: You cannot use the Change Status option to start or stop an individual ASYNC job. You must use the CNTL_ASYNC job to start or stop all the asynchronous jobs simultaneously.

Before you change the status of the async job: Before you change the status of the EBO_ASYNC job, you should first determine if the async job is actively running; see Determining the Status of the Async Jobs.

How to change the job status: Select Change Status for the job at the Work with Background Jobs Screen.

A pop-up window displays from which you can select the status you want to assign to the async job. Select a status.

• If the async job is running: Select *ACTIVE if the async job is running and the status is currently *INACTIVE.

• If the async job is not running: Select *INACTIVE if the async job is not running and the status is currently *ACTIVE. This situation occurs if the ASYNC subsystem is brought down while the background ASYNC jobs are still active; the background ASYNC jobs have really ended, but the status indicates that they are still *ACTIVE.

See Troubleshooting the Async Jobs for more information on the steps you should take if you suspect the async jobs are not running correctly.

Evaluate B/O Background Job Error Listing

Purpose: This listing prints when the background ASYNC jobs are ended. The report lists the records that could not be processed and the reason for the error. The record will be processed when the error is corrected.

• Order #: The order number for which the error occurred.

• Ship to: The ship-to suffix of the order for which the error occurred.

• Order date: The date when the order was entered.

• User: The User ID of the operator who entered the order.

• Update area: The message describing the reason for the error.

• Error ID: The ID number assigned to the error.

Updates During Background Processing

Updates: Evaluate Backorders:

• Updates backorder quantity, reserved quantity, and available quantity in item warehouse

• Creates reserved order lines

Pick slip preparation: During the Evaluate Backorders process, the system performs pick slip preparation for each order updated:

1. The system REMOVES any pick slip preparation from the order.

2. Once the Evaluate Backorders async reserves stock for an order, the system EVALUATES the order to determine if it is eligible for pick slip preparation.

3. If the order is eligible for pick slip preparation after the changes to the order have been made, the system RE-APPLIES pick slip preparation to the order.

See Preparing Orders for Pick Slip Generation for processing details.