Distribution

Distribution is an EMC function that enables you to copy records between properties and revenue centers. You can configure records once within the EMC and distribute the records throughout the enterprise to multiple properties and revenue centers without having to create a record multiple times.

Remote Distribution

Remote distribution enables you to distribute data between two different Simphony systems. Remote distribution is database independent; therefore, you can distribute from a Microsoft SQL database into an Oracle Database and conversely, from an Oracle Database into a Microsoft SQL database. Remote distribution is specifically designed for the following two scenarios:

• Moving data from a testing system into a production system. This allows testing in a pre-production environment before moving to production.

• Distributing a new revenue center into the production system.

The Importance of Object Numbers

When records are distributed from one location to another, the object number stays the same. Therefore, it is important to configure properties and revenue centers consistently. For example, if object number 11 is Room Charge in one property, it must be Room Charge in all properties. Consider the following sample serving period configuration in revenue center 4:

• Object Number: 1

• Default Transaction Page: 41

When distributing this record to revenue center 8, it is created with the object number 1, and there are two possibilities for the default transaction page:

• If transaction page object number 41 exists in revenue center 8, the serving period's default screen is set to 41.

• If transaction page object number 41 does not exist in revenue center 8, the default screen is set to 0. This is the standard functionality for all types of distributed records. If the referencing object number does not exist, the value is set to 0.