Defining a Construct

Prerequisites

To define a construct, you should have:

  • Template selection algorithm defined in the application (in case you want to use it)

Note:

We have not shipped any algorithm type for the Construct Template Codes algorithm entity. You can create a custom template selection algorithm type for the Construct Template Codes algorithm entity, if required.

You need to create a template selection algorithm type, in such a way, that it accepts the following inputs parameters - Usage Account ID, Construct ID, and Effective Start Date, and returns a list of eligible billable charge selection templates.

Procedure

To define a construct:

  1. Click the Menu link in the Application toolbar.
    A list appears.
  2. From the Main menu, select Billing Management and then click Construct.
    A sub-menu appears.
  3. Click the Add option from the Construct sub-menu.

    The Construct screen appears. It contains the following sections:

    • Main - Used to specify the basic details for the construct.

    • Characteristics - Used to define the characteristics for the construct.

    The Main section contains the following fields:

    Field Name Field Description Mandatory (Yes or No)
    Construct Description Used to specify the description for the construct. Yes
    Construct Type Used to indicate the type of construct. The valid values are:

    • Invoice - Used when you want to create the construct for billing.

    • Invoice and Settlement - Used when you want to create the construct for billing.

    • Settlement - Used when you want to create the construct for settlement.

    Note: At present, you can use the Invoice and Settlementconstruct type only for billing and not for settlement. Therefore, you can create an invoice construct either using the Invoice or Invoice and Settlement construct type.
    		 Yes
    Status Indicates the status of the construct. The valid value is:

    • Draft

    Note: By default, the Draft option is selected from the list. This is because you can only create a construct in the Draft status.
    		 Not applicable
    Effective Start Date Used to specify the date from when the construct is effective.
    Note:

    The effective start date cannot be later than the effective end date.

    You can either manually specify the date or select it using the Date Picker (The Date Picker Icon) icon corresponding to the field.

    		 Yes
    Effective End Date Used to specify the date till when the construct is effective.
    Note:

    The effective end date cannot be earlier than the effective start date.

    You can either manually specify the date or select it using the Date Picker (The Date Picker Icon) icon corresponding to the field.

    		 No
    Template Selection Algorithm Used to specify an algorithm using which the system can determine the eligible billable charge selection templates.
    Note:

    The Search (The Search Icon) icon appears corresponding to the Template Selection Algorithm field. On clicking the Search icon, the Algorithm Search window appears.

    Note that you can only specify an algorithm which is created for the Construct Template Codes algorithm entity.

    A template selection algorithm is invoked when you execute the BILLOPEN batch. If an algorithm is attached to the Template Selection Algorithm field, the system only executes the criteria defined using the eligible billable charge selection templates while fetching the billable charges for each usage account linked to the construct. However, if an algorithm is not attached to the Template Selection Algorithm field, the system executes all the billable charge selection criteria while fetching the billable charges for each usage account linked to the construct.

    		 No
    Tip: Alternatively, you can access the Construct screen by clicking the Add button in the Page Title area of the Construct screen.
  4. Enter the required details in the Main section.
  5. Define characteristics for the construct, if required.
  6. Click Save and Next.

    The construct is created in the Draft status. You can now do the following:

    • Add the usage account selection criteria in the invoice or invoice and settlement construct.

    • Add the billable charge selection criteria in the invoice or invoice and settlement construct.

    • Add the usage and invoice accounts selection criteria in the settlement construct.

    • Add the bill segment selection criteria in the settlement construct.

    • Add the adjustment selection criteria in the construct, if required.

    • Exclude the usage accounts from the invoice or invoice and settlement construct, if required.

    • Exclude the usage and invoice accounts from the settlement construct, if required.

Related Topics

For more information on... See...
Construct (Used for Searching) screen Construct (Used for Searching)
How to define a characteristic for a construct Defining a Characteristic for a Construct
How to add a usage account selection criteria in an invoice or invoice and settlement construct Adding a Usage Account Selection Criteria in an Invoice or Invoice and Settlement Construct
How to add a usage and invoice accounts selection criteria in a settlement construct Adding a Usage and Invoice Accounts Selection Criteria in a Settlement Construct
How to add a billable charge selection criteria in an invoice or invoice and settlement construct Adding a Billable Charge Selection Criteria in an Invoice or Invoice and Settlement Construct
How to add a bill segment selection criteria in a settlement construct Adding a Bill Segment Selection Criteria in a Settlement Construct
How to add an adjustment selection criteria in a construct Adding an Adjustment Selection Criteria in a Construct
How to exclude a usage account from the invoice or invoice and settlement construct Excluding a Usage Account from the Invoice or Invoice and Settlement Construct
How to exclude a usage or invoice account from a settlement construct Excluding a Usage or Invoice Account from a Settlement Construct