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Writing Unique Data Into Recipient Batch Records

The GenData program lets you add unique data to recipient batch records before they are written to the recipient batch files. The recipient batch record data and format is defined by the GVM variable definitions in the RCBDFDFL.DAT file.

You can use this capability if you need to add...

Address information or other field level information to the batch record, which is typically unique for each recipient.
Recipient information that is not handled by normal field mapping from the transaction DFD to the recipient batch DFD.
Cumulative or calculated information not available until the document is nearly completed.

Note

Before the ability to add data to recipient batch records was added in version 10.2, the recipient batch records were identical except for the recipient code field which contains a unique identifier assigned to a given recipient. If additional recipient data was required, you had to write a custom rule.

Use the options in the RecipMap2GVM control group to set up this capability. Data that can be added to the recipient batch record can be:

Contents of a variable field on the specified section or form/section
Constant value
Data from an existing INI built-in functions, such as ~DALRun
Data from a custom written INI function

Here is an example of the RecipMap2GVM control group:

< RecipMap2GVM >

Form =

Image =

Req =

Opt =

Option	Description
Form	(Optional) Enter the name of the form.
Image	Enter the name of the section. You can also enter a section name root. A section name root is the first part of a name. For instance, MAILER is the root name for sections with names such as MAILER A, MAILER_B, or MAILERS.
Req *	A semicolon delimited string that contains one of the following: - GVM variable name; variable field name; optional formatting information - GVM variable name; blank character (space); constant value - GVM variable name; INI built-in function
Opt *	A semicolon delimited string that contains one of the following: - GVM variable name; variable field name; optional formatting information - GVM variable name; blank character (space); constant value - GVM variable name; INI built-in function
* = Repeat for each GVM variable you are setting up.

Suppressing RCBMapFromINI function warning messages

Use the WarnOnLocate option to suppress the following warning message from the RCBMapFromINI function:

Cannot locate image root named/image

Here is an example:

< RecipMap2GVM >

WarnOnLocate = No

Option	Description
WarnOnLocate	Enter No if you want to suppress this warning message from the RCBMapFromINI function: Cannot locate image root named/image The default is Yes.

Option

Description

WarnOnLocate

Enter No if you want to suppress this warning message from the RCBMapFromINI function:

Cannot locate image root named/image

The default is Yes.

Optional formatting information

You can add optional formatting information as a parameter of the Opt INI option. This formatting information is comprised of four items separated by commas.

Item	Description
Input fetypes	D or d = date N or n = number
Input format mask	Date - see the FmtDate rule in the Rules Reference. Number – see the FmtNum rule in the Rules Reference.
Output fetypes	D or d = date N or n = number
Output format mask	Date - see the FmtDate rule in the Rules Reference. Number – see the FmtNum rule in the Rules Reference.

Here are some formatting examples:

d,”1/4”, d, “4/4”

This converts an input date, mmddyyyy, into month name dd, yyyy, such as February 17, 2009.

n, nCAD, nUSD, “$zzz,zz9.99”

This converts an input numeric value in Canadian French format into a value in United States format.

Keep in mind...

For the Req option, if the data is missing an error occurs and the transaction is send to the error batch.
For the Opt option, if the data is missing the system stores an empty string in the GVM variable.
A RCB GVM variable cannot be restored to its original or default value after it has been changed using this method.
Any RCB GVM variable not assigned using this method retains the value originally set during the transaction processing.
Some RCB GVM variables should never be changed using this mapping technique. These include:
- TRN_Offset
- NA_Offset
- POL_Offset
If the section defined in the Image option in the RecipMap2GVM control group does not name a section, the feature is disabled for all transactions.
If the section defined in the Image option is missing from the form set being processed, the GVM data is not changed. Depending on where the GVM data is mapped, this could mean data from the prior transaction will still be in the GVM variables.
If there are multiple sections with the same name in the form set, the form specified in the Form option is used to identify the section to use. If the Form option is omitted, the first section found in the current form set is used.
The system assumes the specified section contains all of the unique data except for a constant value or data gathered from an INI built-in function.
If more than one recipient is assigned to the section, all recipient batch records receive the same added data.

Example

This example creates a mailer cover page for each insured, agent, and/or company recipient per transaction. The cover page is created using banner page processing which occurs during GenPrint processing. Examples of the three different mailer cover pages are as follows.

This example assumes that the:

Agent and company recipient batch files are sorted (agent number and company name, respectively) before the GenPrint program runs. This sorting allows for the creation of only one mailer cover page per unique agent and company.
Unique information is contained on the form/image, Dec Page/Q1MDC1.
The FSIUSER.INI file includes these control groups and options:

< RecipMap2GVM >

Form = Dec Page

Image = Q1MDC1

Opt = Name1;Insured Name;

Opt = Name2;Insured Name2;

Opt = Address1;Address Line1;

Opt = Address2;Address Line2;

Opt = CityCounty;prtvalue;

Opt = AgentName;Agent Name;

Opt = AgentID; Agent ID;

Opt = OfficeAddress;Office Address;

Opt = TownandState;Town And State;

< Printer >

PrtType = PCL

EnableTransBanner = True

EnableBatchBanner = False

TransBannerBeginScript = PreTrans

TransBannerEndScript = PstTrans

TransBannerBeginForm = ;BANNER;TRANSACTION;TRANS HEADER;

TransBannerEndForm = ;BANNER;TRANSACTION;TRANS TRAILER;

< DALLibraries >

LIB = Banner

BANNER.DAL

The DefLib directory contains this DAL script:

* This script obtains the required unique data from the recipient

* batch record and stores it on the mailer form.

BeginSub PreTrans

blank_gvm = Pad(" ",41," ")

SetGVM("NameA" ,blank_gvm,,"C",41)

SetGVM("NameB" ,blank_gvm,,"C",41)

SetGVM("AddressA" ,blank_gvm,,"C",41)

SetGVM("AddressB" ,blank_gvm,,"C",41)

SetGVM("CityCounty1" ,blank_gvm,,"C",41)

If Trim(RecipName()) = "INSURED" Then

SetGVM("NameA" ,GVM("Name1") ,,"C",41)

SetGVM("NameB" ,GVM("Name2") ,,"C",41)

SetGVM("AddressA" ,GVM("Address1") ,,"C",41)

SetGVM("AddressB" ,GVM("Address2") ,,"C",41)

SetGVM("CityCounty1" ,GVM("CityCounty"),,"C",41)

GoTo exit:

End

last_agent_id = last_agent_id

If Trim(RecipName()) = "AGENT" Then

If last_agent_id != Trim(GVM("AgentID")) Then

last_agent_id = Trim(GVM("AgentID"))

SetGVM("NameA" ,GVM("AgentName") ,,"C",41)

SetGVM("NameB" ,GVM("OfficeAddress") ,,"C",41)

SetGVM("AddressA" ,GVM("TownandState") ,,"C",41)

GoTo exit:

Else

SuppressBanner()

GoTo exit :

End

last_company_name = last_company_name

If Trim(RecipName()) = "COMPANY" Then

If Trim(GVM("Company")) != last_company_name Then

last_company_name = Trim(GVM("Company"))

If Trim(GVM("Company")) = "SAMPCO" Then;

SetGVM("NameA" ,"Sampco, Inc." ,,"C",41)

SetGVM("NameB" ,"316 N.E. 3rd Avenue" ,,"C",41)

SetGVM("AddressA" ,"Pompano Beach, FL 33333" ,,"C",41)

GoTo exit:

ElseIf Trim(GVM("Company")) = "FSI"

SetGVM("NameA" ,"FSI Inc." ,,"C",41)

SetGVM("NameB" ,"222 Newbury St." ,,"C",41)

SetGVM("AddressA" ,"Northwest City, FL 99999" ,,"C",41)

GoTo exit:

End

Else

SuppressBanner()

GoTo exit:

End

exit:

EndSub

BeginSub PstTrans

EndSub

The RCBDFDFL.DAT file contains the following GVM variable definitions which are defined in the RecipMap2GVM control group:

Name1
Name2
Address1
Address2
CityCounty
AgentName
AgentID
OfficeAddress
TownAndState

Here are two recipient batch records from this example:

SAMPCOLB12234567SCOM1FLT1 B2199802232234567890 0 22560 ******001 3724 452Jill Smith Morris 11111 Oak Circle Suite 999 Smyrna, FL 12345 Martin Short Agent 963 Main Street, Suite 1250 Miami, FL 30202

FSI CPP4234567FSIM1WIT1 B3199802234234567890 0 30360 ******001 4667 565Suzy Smith Morris 99934 Oak Circle Suite 999 SmartBurg, WI 99999 David Miller Agent 999 Main Street, Suite 1200 Miami, FL 30202