Chapter 121: Generating and Deleting Coupons (MCPN)

Purpose: You can quickly generate and print a batch of coupons to insert in customers' mailings by using the Generate Coupons function. Coupons that you generate in this manner are not associated with any existing order, but may be applied to an order as a payment method.

The system assigns a number to each coupon that is generated. This number is validated when the coupon is used as a form of payment in Order Entry. The Create Random Gift Certificate/Coupon Numbers (H09) system control value controls whether the system assigns gift certificate and coupon numbers in sequential or "random" (non-sequential) order. You might want to assign numbers non-sequentially to reduce the possibility of fraud; for example, if a customer redeems gift certificate # 2234, it does not necessarily mean that 2235 is also a valid gift certificate number.

Note: If you assign coupon numbers non-sequentially, it will not be practical to use the Delete Coupons (MDCP) Screen, because each this screen requires that you enter the beginning and ending coupon number to reprint or delete.

See System Operations Chapter 59: Purging Coupon Redemption Records (MPCP) for information on purging redeemed and expired coupon records from the Coupon Redemption file.

In this chapter:

• Coupon Generation Screen

• Delete Coupons (MDCP) Screen

Coupon Generation Screen

Purpose: Use this screen to define the number, value, and time frame for a batch of coupons you want to send to customers, and to record a special message on these coupons.

How to display this screen: Enter MCPN in the Fast Path field on any menu or select this option from a menu.

OER0196 ENTER Coupon Generation 3/16/94 13:54:05 CommercialWare Number of coupons to generate . . . . . . Value of coupon . . . . . . . . . . . Print amount on coupons . . . . . . . . . . . . N (Y/N) Issue date of coupons . . . . . . . . . . Expiration Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coupon Message . . F3=Exit F12=Cancel

Field	Description
Number of coupons	The quantity of coupons you want to generate in this batch. You can produce up to 9,999,999 coupons in a batch. Numeric, 7 positions; required.
Value of coupon	The dollar value that the coupons from this batch represent. Numeric, 9 positions with a 2-place decimal; required.
Print amount on coupons	A flag that directs the system to print the coupon's dollar value on each coupon produced in this batch. Values are: Y = Print the amount on the coupons. N (default) = Do not print the amount on the coupons. Alphanumeric, 1 position; required.
Issue date of coupons	The month, day, and year the coupon was issued. Issue dates may be prior to, after, or the same day you generate the coupons. You may also leave this field blank. Numeric, 6 positions (MMDDYY format); optional.
Expiration date	The month, day, and year the coupon will expire. The expiration date must be equal to or greater than today's date. You may also leave this field blank if you do not want to specify an expiration date. Numeric, 6 positions (MMDDYY format); optional.
Coupon message	Three open lines that you can use to enter a message that will print on the coupons in this batch. Alphanumeric, 90 positions; optional.

If you accept your entries at this screen, the system submits the COUPONGEN job. Coupons that you generate here will appear on the Work with Coupon Redemption Screen.

Delete Coupons (MDCP) Screen

Purpose: Use this screen to delete coupons before they are redeemed. You can delete a single coupon or a range of coupons. You cannot delete a redeemed coupon, even if the coupon number falls within the range of coupons that you define for deletion.

Note: If the Create Random Gift Certificate/Coupon Numbers (H09) system control value is selected, it will not be practical to use this screen, because it requires that you enter the beginning and ending coupon number to reprint.

How to display this screen: Enter MDCP in the Fast Path field on any menu tor select this option from a menu.

OER0651 ENTER Delete Coupons 3/16/94 14:10:35 CommercialWare Enter a range of Coupon #s to Delete. Starting Coupon # . . . 1 Ending Coupon # . . . . 20 F3=Exit F12=Cancel CONFIRM: N (Y/N)

:

Field	Description
Starting coupon #	The first coupon number that you want to delete. Numeric, 7 positions; required.
Ending coupon #	The last coupon number that you want to delete. The ending coupon number can be the same as or greater than the starting coupon number. Repeat the starting coupon number in this field if you only want to delete one coupon. The system deletes the first and last coupons, and every unredeemed coupon whose number falls within the start and end range that you specify. Numeric, 7 positions; required.

When you complete this screen, the system submits the DLTCOUPONS job to delete the selected coupons. Once the coupons have been deleted, the batch job disappears from the job queue. No report is generated. The deleted coupons are removed from the Work with Coupon Redemption Screen, as though they were never printed.