Understanding ASN Hierarchies

You can set up the hierarchical levels that the system uses for extracting ASN data to update the EDI ASN tables and the Advanced Ship Notice. You configure the hierarchical structure to match EDI guidelines, such as SOIT and SOTI. For example, you may need information that is displayed on the ASN to have a hierarchical structure that is based on the customer's requirements. In this case, you specify the hierarchical configuration and set up fields to level by on the Hierarchical Configuration Definition form. The system creates the hierarchical structure and uses it throughout the ASN maintenance process.

For example, to create a hierarchical structure with level breaks at Shipment, Order, and Item values, you set up the structure by defining the sequencing and level break fields for the shipment, order, and item. Next, run the EDI Advance Ship Notice Extraction program (R47032). The system extracts information for the ASN. As this program retrieves the information, the system considers the hierarchical configuration and makes a level break at each specified record. This break creates a parent/child relationship between each level break and provides totals at each break for quantity, price, weight, and so forth. The break also enables you to view how each level break is grouped.

For example, the orders on a shipment can contain a parent/child relationship with items. The shipment is the parent record and it contains shipment information and totals, such as quantity, price, and weight, for all of its child records. The order records are the shipment's child records and they contain order information and totals for the order. The parent/child relationship continues down the hierarchical structure.