Business processes can be designed to accommodate line item consolidation: the ability to select individual line items from one or more BP records (the source BPs) and copy them into a new record (the destination BP). The selected line items can be from the same BP type, or they can be from different types, as long as they are compatible. The source and destination BPs must be at the same level (both company level or both project or shell level). File attachments can also be copied. For example, this functionality can be used to consolidate specific line items from multiple change order requests submitted over a period of time into a single change commit.
This functionality is built into business processes through the uDesigner design, which includes specifying which BPs can be used for the source and destination. Also, the ability to filter the business process records that can be consolidated (by status) can be added in uDesigner. This enables you to filter the records you see in the list to consolidate by the record status, allowing you, for example, to exclude records that have the status of Pending or Rejected.
Note: Line Items can be edited after consolidation, if your administrator has enabled it by un-checking the “Prevent consolidating the same line item across multiple records” checkbox.
There are some restrictions when consolidating line items from different BP types.
The top pane of the Line Item Consolidation page is used to select BPs and records, and the bottom pane is used to select the line items. Pagination in the top and bottom panes is seen only if the number of records and line items (in both available and selected panes) exceeds 1000 and 200 respectively. You can expand and collapse the top and bottom panes.
Top Pane Toolbar Options
Toolbar Options | Description |
|---|---|
Select Business Process | This drop-down menu lists all BPs that allow consolidations. |
View | This drop-down menu is context-sensitive based on the selected BP. |
Consolidate from other locations | The Shell Picker window is displayed. Select shell. |
Search | Enables users to search for specific line items. Search parameters seen here are based on the Find parameters set for the line item list. Search is performed on the database and works across all pages. |
Find on Page | Enables users to type in parameters to quickly search line items matching the criteria. |
Bottom Pane Toolbar Options
Toolbar Options | Description |
|---|---|
Available Line Items |
|
Select Tab | Displays the line item tabs visible in the form. Select a tab. |
Group By | Group line items by column header. This drop-down menu lists all log columns for the selected log view of the BP. By default the <record_no label>is selected. |
Search | Enables users to do search for specific line items. Search parameters seen here will be based on the Find parameters set for the line item list. Search criteria defined in uDesigner for each tab's log layout will appear as search parameters. Search will be a database search and will work across all the pages. |
Find on Page | Enables users to type in find parameters to quickly search line items matching the criteria. |
Include Attachments | This option will be checked by default. When this option is checked, attachments if any existing in the line items will get copied over. |
To consolidate line items:
- Select a line item tab.
- From the Actions menu, select Consolidate Line Items.
- From the Select Business Process drop-down top menu, select a BP.
- Select a BP record.
- From the Available Line Item List pane, select the line item tab.
- Select the line items and click the arrows to move it to the Selected line Items pane.
- Click Done.
Additional Information:
- If you open a record from the shell and try to consolidate line items, you will see the shell picker (BP location picker).
- If you open a record from a project, when you try to consolidate line items, you will not be able to see the BP location picker.
- If you are opening the record at the company level, when you try to consolidate line items, you will not be able to see the BP location picker.
- If data picker is configured for a BP in uDesigner, line item consolidation displays records across all shells or projects. This is applicable for source BP, either associated with a standard project or a shell.
- If there is a source BP that is associated with a data picker, then Unifier hides the shell location picker.
- If the records are displayed based on data picker configuration for a shell, then the “Records from <Shell Name>” label changes to “Records from All Locations” label.
You can consolidate lineitems that have Line Item Data Pickers. While copying, the system runs the query condition defined for the Line Item Data Picker, under the destination business process configuration.
- If the query condition does not return the value that is getting copied, then the Line Item Data Picker value will not be copied over.
- If the query conditions are met. then only teh Line Item Data Picker value will be copied in to destination line item and any other auto-population based on this picker will be populated.
If in the destination BP Line Item Data Picker the tab is hidden, and you are copying line items from another BP record where the Line Item Data Picker has that tab lineitem selected, then the line item will be copied with out the picker value.
The Line Item Data Picker value from the source line items cannot be copied in to destination if in destination teh record BP Data Picker has different record or no record selected.