3 Understanding the Allocation User Interface

This chapter describes the Allocation user interface. This chapter contains the following topics:

• Understanding the Allocation Workspace

• Understanding Elements of the Allocation Workspace

Understanding the Allocation Workspace

The Allocation workspace is divided into three sections that allow you to navigate through the Allocation system.

Figure 3-1 Allocation Workspace

The sections that make up the Allocation Home window are:

• The header area, which contains the Preferences link and the Logout link.

• The left panel, which contains the Tasks menu, My Worksheets container, and the Create Allocation container.

• The tabbed display area, where all the windows are displayed in a tabbed format.

Understanding Elements of the Allocation Workspace

The elements available in the Allocation workspace are described here.

Header area

You can use the Preferences option available on the menu in the header area to access the settings that control the display elements of the Allocation workspace. Each user can configure the system to reflect their preferences. Oracle Retail Allocation retains the preference settings made by each user and makes them available each time the user logs in to the system. You may select values for display elements such as font sizes and colors for buttons. Additionally, you can determine the layout of the Allocation workspace.

The Logout link allows you to log out from the Allocation system.

Tasks Menu

The Tasks menu displays the links to the Allocation task flow. You can manage the foundation data, create allocations, and manage allocations using the options in the Tasks menu. More detailed information on performing these tasks is contained in the chapters to follow.

My Worksheets

Worksheets allow you to select items that you want to use while creating an allocation. After you search and select the items you want to allocate and create a worksheet, each worksheet is assigned a unique ID. The newly created worksheet is available in the My Worksheets container and you can provide a description here to better identify the items in the worksheet. At any point of time, while creating an allocation, you can access a worksheet created earlier to allocate items you had already searched for. The worksheets are unique to each Allocation user.

Items are sent to worksheets from multiple sources including the create allocation windows and the quick create allocation container. The My Worksheet container allows you to select an existing worksheet and open it in maintenance mode. In the maintenance mode, you can add more items to the worksheet or select items to allocate. You can also delete worksheets which are no longer required from the My Worksheets container.

Figure 3-2 My Worksheets in the Left Panel

Opening a Worksheet

To open a worksheet from the My Worksheet container:

1. From the left panel, select My Worksheets. The expanded view of the My Worksheets section appears in the left panel.

2. Select the worksheet you want to open.

3. Click the edit icon. The Worksheet window appears.

Deleting a Worksheet

To delete a worksheet from the My Worksheets container:

1. From the left panel, select My Worksheets. The expanded view of the My Worksheets section appears in the left panel.

2. Select the worksheet you want to delete.

3. Click the delete icon. The Worksheet is deleted.

Create Allocation (Quick Create Allocation)

The Create Allocation container is a quick way to create an allocation. Select a Source and optionally a Source ID along with an Item ID. You can specify that the items should be sourced from a particular warehouse. You can decide to go to the Worksheet for additional processing or to directly skip to the Allocation Maintenance window.

Note: Navigation to the Allocation Maintenance UI for a Style Item is not allowed. You need to select the Worksheet option in such case.

Creating an Allocation

To create an allocation using the Create Allocation container:

1. From the left panel, select Create Allocation. The expanded view of the Create Allocation section appears in the left panel.

   Figure 3-3 Create Allocation in the Left Panel

   
   

2. Select a source in the Source field. You can select one or more sources to indicate the available quantity to allocate. The following are available physical sources:

   • Advanced Shipping Notification – Items from a purchase order that are in transit from a supplier.

   • Allocation – An existing approved Warehouse-to-Warehouse Allocation can be selected as the source.

   • Bill of Lading – Items from a stock order that are in transit from a location.

   • Purchase Order – Items ordered from a supplier.

   • Transfer – Items being transferred from one warehouse to another.

   • Warehouse – Items residing in a physical warehouse.

   • What-If – A what if source allows you to create hypothetical allocations.

3. Enter a source ID in the ID field.

4. Select the warehouses from which the items are to be sourced in the Warehouse field.

5. Enter the item IDs of the items you want to allocate in the Item field.

6. Select the Scheduled check box if you are scheduling an allocation.

7. In the Next field, select the window you want to proceed to. The Worksheet option takes you to the Worksheet window for further processing and the Allocation Maintenance option take you directly to the Allocation Maintenance window for the allocation.