In addition to Sales Orders, companion items are now available in the Purchase Orders module. The current companion item processing was expanded to be SO or PO module specific.
These enhancements were made in Sales Orders.
SO Entry programs Side Bar area for companions
The SO Side Bar area now displays companion items’ with the parent item and description.
Companion Item entry (SOE150)
Effective and expiration dates, Persistent and active fields were added to the SO Companion item file.
Effective and expiration dates, and persistent and active settings were added to the SO Companion item files. The Active and Persistent check boxes and Effective and Expiration date fields were added to Companion Item Entry (SOE150). Persistent companion line items remain in the system.
In System Clean Up F/M (SMF993), you can delete companion line items that are inactive for a specified number of months. If you check the Persistent check box, the parent or line companion item cannot be removed by System Clean Up F/M. Effective Date and Expires Date fields determine the date the companion line item is available for import to orders and the date the companion line item is no longer available for import. If you uncheck the Active check box, the date the parent companion item became inactive is displayed. When set as inactive in Companion Item Entry, the parent companion item or lines are not available/shown for import in Companion Import interface (SOE151).
When adding an item, a new Alert icon is displayed above the Item field to indicate if the Item F/M (ICF910) Active check box is not checked or if the Item Type setting is ‘not stocked”, or, if the item is itself already a parent or line companion item.
Existing item notes buttons were added to the parent companion item and companion line item so that an item’s notes are now available.
When deleting a parent companion item, a new message is displayed asking whether to delete the companion item in SO only or across all modules, within all Companion files
New Companion Usage Display - Optionally click Companion Usage Display or Companion Line Usage Display to see overview information about companion items. Indicate what to display - the modules that use the companion item: SO, PO or all, and how the companion item is used: as a Parent item or companion line item. Click OK to display the Companion Items File Overview screen with the item usage. You can view companion usage for parent companion items by clicking the button in the header or for companion line items by clicking the button in line entry section.
Companion Import interface (SOE151)
When importing document lines or companion line items, if a line item is a parent companion item, click the new Show Companions button to display a grid with the complete chain of ‘companions of companions’. Check the boxes in the grid to pull selected chained companions into the Companion Import Interface for toggling/editing before importing. Click Import. Check the new Print on Forms or Export to PO check boxes to print the selling note or memo on the invoice or export the memo to a purchase order. You can also modify the Sell quantity of the companion/import item. The available quantity is displayed.
These companion item enhancements were made in Inventory Control
Item F/M (ICF910)
For companion items, the Companion Items button was replaced with a new SO Companion tab. An additional tab, PO Companion, was added for PO companion item processing. The PO and SO Companion tabs display information from SO Companion Item Entry (SOE150) and PO Companion Item Entry (POE150). Access to SOE150 and comparison usage information is also available. In the upper portion of each tab, the parent companion item is displayed. In the browser, the companion line items are displayed.
New functionality is available.
Click:
Deleting an item is not allowed if the item is a parent companion item or companion line item.
Item Inquiry (ICI610) - Companions View
The Companions view was enhanced to display the SO and PO companion items and memos defined for the item being inquired upon. The tab for each type of companion item includes the parent companion item UM and Active settings.
For SO Companions, the grid contains companion line items with the Companion Item number, description or memo text, default companion quantity and UM, the flags for each of the entry programs-QUO (Quote Entry), OE (Order Entry), CoN (Order Confirmation), Inv (Invoice Entry), CS (Counter Sales Entry), the print and export memo flags, and the selling note.
For PO Companions, the document source settings for each of the entry programs-PE add(PO Entry), PR add (PO Receipt Entry), and BC Add (Buyers Control Center), the print and export memo flags, and the purchasing note.
Companion Item Listing (ICR730)
A new program, Companion Item Listing, was created to obtain a listing of all parent companion items with associated companion line items. Companion items are maintained through SO Companion Item entry (SOE150) and PO Companion Item entry (POE150). Companion items may be used in sales orders and purchase orders.
For each item, the report provides item and description; substitute item(s) and description(s); total number of items listed.
The Report Formatter is also available for the new report.
These changes were implemented in the Purchase Orders module.
PO Document Import Control F/M (POF972)
A new program, PO Document Import Control F/M, was added to set up and maintain a record for each importable document type, including open purchase orders, non-po receipts, purchase order receipts, updated purchase orders, updated non-purchase orders, past purchase orders and past non-pos.
PO Companion Item Entry (POE150)
A new program, PO Companion Item Entry, was added to designate items or memos to import when a specified item is entered in Purchase Order Entry, PO Receipt Entry, Non PO Receipt or Buyers Control Center. You can indicate whether the import of items/memos is automatic or prompted for each PO Entry program type.
Import Items (POE151)
A new dialog box, Import Items, is displayed for selecting companions or importing items from other documents.
The system displays the Import Items dialog box during line-item entry when you add an item that has companion items associated with it (via PO Companion Item Entry (POE150). The PO Companion Item Selection dialog box displays from the PO Order Entry Programs: Purchase Order Entry, PO Receipt Entry, Non-PO Receipt Entry and, when selected, the Buyers Control Center.
The system displays the PO Import Item Selection dialog box during line-item entry when you import items via the policy flags established in PO Document Import Control F/M. The Import Item Selection dialog box displays from Purchase Order Entry, PO Receipt Entry, Non-PO Receipt Entry and Buyers Control Center, click Options>Import Items from the menu, or, for Buyers Control Center, click Parent Items.
PO Order Entry Suite: Purchase Order Entry, PO Receipt Entry, Non PO Receipt and Buyers Control Center
The Options menu was updated to include Import Item. This new option you to import items from existing documents (open purchase orders, non-po receipts, purchase order receipts, updated purchase orders, updated non-purchase orders, past purchase orders and past non-pos). This feature allows you to easily import on one document the line items on another document. Policy flags set in the PO Document Import Control F/M (POF972) indicate whether or not you can duplicate lines from a document for a different customer and how the pricing gets updated when the import occurs. The system allows you to select the document type, reference number and default pricing option (if applicable) and then displays the Import Item Selection dialog box so you can select the items to import to the new document. Special Order lines on those documents are not import-able and are not shown to select.
SO Entry Suite Side Bar
A new view, B-PO companion items, was added to the SO Entry Suite side bar drop down.
| B-PO companion items | Displays all top-level PO companion items for all items currently on the order. The parent item name is number is also displayed. This is item-specific and contents change with items ordered. | drag and drop enabled |
Double click a line to launch the Item Inquiry (ICI610) Warehouse view for the item selected. |
Buyers Control Center Detail (POE405)
A new Parent Items button was added to the Buyers Control Center purchasing Detail screen. Companions items can be imported into BCC, based on settings in PO Document Import Control (POF972). Click Parent Items to display the Import Items (POE151) dialog box. When parent items have companions available, they are displayed in the Import Items (POE151) screen. Those displayed parent items can be used to select, via the Show Companions button, any appropriate companion line items for that parent item. When companion line items of a parent are shown, check any boxes in the grid to pull those selected chained companions into Import Items (POE151). Toggle/edit the lines in the Import Items Screen (POE151) to import as new lines in the Buyers Control Center detail screen. Only those lines not already in the Buyers Control Center detail screen can be toggled. All currently existing lines have a toggle-column value of “B” instead of “Y” or “N” options. Click Import.
These changes were implemented in the System Management module.
System Cleanup (SMF993)
In System Cleanup F/M, the SO and PO tabs were updated to include the number of months to retain inactive parent companion items or expired companion items. Any companion line item set as Persistent in SO Companion Item Entry (SOE150) or PO Companion Item Entry (POE150) cannot be removed, regardless of parent companion item active setting or companion line item expired value. Any companion line item set as Persistent also prohibits removal of the parent companion item.
Item standard buys are available for vendors. In Purchase Order Entry (POE210) and the Buyer’s Control Center Detail (POE405) screen, you can create standard buys on-the-fly or import them. When you import a standard buy, it is added the end of the current purchase order. When you make a standard buy, the current PO becomes the vendor’s standard buy. If a standard buy already exists it will be replaced. Temporary items and special orders are not added to standard buys. Negative quantities are converted to positive amounts. Only the item and the quantity and the buying um are transferred to the standard buy. Prices and costs are factored when standard buy items are added to purchase orders. When you edit a standard buy, the buy is displayed in a new program, Standard Buy Entry (POE250).
You can perform these tasks for standard buys:
• View, edit, delete, or create item standard buys
• Add standard buys memos for items
• Manage standard buys
These changes were implemented in the Purchase Orders module.
Purchase Order Entry (POE210)
New buttons, Import Std Buy and Make Std Buy, and a new Options menu, Standard Buy, were added to PO Entry. If a vendor and ship-from location already has an existing standard buy, from the items grid, click Import Std Buy and confirm to import the standard buy items to this PO. After you have added items to the items grid in PO Entry, click Make Std Buy to make the items listed become the standard buy for this vendor and ship-from location. If this vendor and ship-from location already has a standard buy, clicking Make Std Buy will display a message asking if you want to replace the current standard buy. Click OK to replace. The Standard Buy menu option allows you to import, edit or make a standard buy for the specified vendor and ship from location. In PO Entry, standard buys are also available from the Side Bar feature for drag and drop into the PO.
Vendor Standard Buy Listing (POR765)
A new program, Vendor Standard Buy Listing (POR765), was added to print a report of standard buys for the specified vendor. Information in this report is originally entered through the Standard Buy Entry (POE250) program. The report can be printed in vendor, alpha, or vendor class order. The report can optionally include the address, phone and contact information as well as item descriptions.
PO Vendor Inquiry (POI610)
Ship-From view
The Ship-From view of PO Vendor Inquiry was updated to display a new prompt indicating whether a standard buy exists for the ship-from locations for the vendor.
Standard Buy view
A new view, Standard Buy, displays standard buys for the for each ship-from location for the specified vendor. Highlight a line and click Line Detail to access standard buy lines for the specified ship-from/vendor combination.
Buyers Control Center Detail (POE405)
Standard buys can be imported into BCC, based on settings in Vendor FM (APF910) and Ship-From FM (POF930). When set, click Standard Buy to display the Import Items (POE151) dialog box when standard buys are available. Use Import Items to toggle selected buy line items and import into BCC. When importing document lines or standard buy line items, if a line item is a parent companion item, click Show Companions to display a grid with the complete chain of ‘companions of companions. Check the boxes in the grid to import selected chained companions to the Import Items screen. Lines with red check boxes already exist and cannot be imported again. Lines with a toggle value of “B” already exist in the BCC detail screen and cannot be pulled in again. Click Import.
Standard Buy Entry (POE250)
A new program, Standard Buy Entry (POE250), was added to manage item standard buys for a vendor. You can also create vendor standard buys based on ship-from location.
Ship-From F/M (POF930)
A new tab, Working Std Buy, was added to maintain standard buys for the specified vendor and ship-from combination.
These changes were implemented in the Accounts Payable module.
Vendor F/M (APF910)
The Working Standard Buy tab was added to enter add standard buys for the specified vendor and ship-from locations. Existing standard buys are displayed in the grid. Click Manage Standard Buys to display Standard Buy Entry (POE250) where you can manage standard buy lines for the specified vendor.
Return surplus management is now available in the Purchase Orders module for stocked, active, warehouse/items that are replenished. These existing purchasing screens were used: Buyers Control Center Detail (POE405), (POE120), PO Receipt Entry (POE210), and Non-PO Receipt Entry (POE220). Reporting and inquiry options were also added. Long-term and short-term surplus alerts when warehouse/item quantities enter a surplus condition were included in this enhancement.
A vendor returns file has been added for tracking negative-quantity purchase orders that process through the PO Receipt Register. Records are stored only if the Returns Tracking check box is selected on the Returns view of PO Static Control (POF980).
These changes were implemented in the Purchase Orders module.
Buyers Control Center (POE400) and BCC Detail Screen (POE405)
In the BCC, auto-creation of surplus return records via background processing occurs if the Auto Calculate Nightly for Returns check boxes are checked in PO Static Control F/M. Otherwise, auto creation of any return surplus records in the BCC can only be initiated by clicking “Recalculate” in the Returns selection.
When any negative quantity Vendor Return line is created/entered within the BCC, if a free “V” type SOCRSH document exists and is not tied to an existing customer return document already, then, that existing vendor return document is “added-to” rather than creating a new vendor return document for each vendor return line entry.
To return surplus on the BCC Returns Detail (POE405) screen, click Return Surplus to import items from 1 of 6 options:
1 buyer long term surplus (buyer specific -always uses displayed buyer/whse/vendor specific)
2 buyer short term surplus (buyer specific -always uses displayed buyer/whse/vendor specific)
3 vendor long term surplus (not buyer specific -always uses displayed whse/vendor specific)
4 vendor short term surplus (not buyer specific -always uses displayed whse/vendor specific)
5 whse long term surplus (not buyer nor vendor specific -always uses displayed whse specific)
6 whse short term surplus (not buyer nor vendor specific -always uses displayed whse specific)
Click OK to display the Import Program POE151 with the surplus (per the number 1-6 selected) displayed.
Surplus stock is not “tagged” as either short- or long-term surplus in FACTS. Only a calculation determines if some stock, as a whole, is identifiable as either short- or long-term surplus. If you have stock in both situations and choose to return only some of it, then surplus stock as a whole is reduced. Long term surplus is reduced before short term surplus.
PO Entry (POE120), PO Receipt Entry (POE210), Non-PO Receipt Entry (POE220)
A new menu option for Return Surplus was added to the Options menu. When selected, the selection dialog to import items from 1 of 6 options is displayed. After selected an option, click OK to display the Import Program POE151 with the surplus (per the number 1-6 selected) displayed.
PO Static Control F/M (POF980)
A new setting, Returns Tracking, was added to the Vender Returns tab to indicate whether to track vendor returns from the Purchase Orders system. If selected the PO Register writes information to the Returns File. This information (item, description, warehouse, returns code, purchase order number, etc.) can be printed by the PO Returns Report.
PO Vendor Inquiry (POI610)
A new Vendor Returns view was added to display information on returns documents for the selected vendor. The return status, item number and description, return quantity and buying UM for the specified vendor are displayed. If storing past purchase orders was selected at the time of the register, highlight a line and click Line Detail to access the return document in PO Document Inquiry (POI620) for the specified vendor combination.
Vendor Inquiry (POI610)
A new Vendor Returns view was added to display information to display the return status, item number and description, return quantity and buying UM for the specified vendor.
PO Returns Report (POR715)
The new PO Returns Report program allows you to print a report of all items returned, as well as the returns code for the item. This report is designed to show returns as stored in the Returns file. It provides the document information from the return, the item information and the return type. It also provides an optional removal.
Receipt Register (POR230)
Return Surplus Management: If the Returns Tracking setting on the Vendor Returns tab of PO Static Control (POF980) is selected the PO Receipt Register Update writes information to the Returns File. This information (item, description, warehouse, returns code, purchase order number, etc.) can be printed by the PO Returns Report.
These changes were implemented in the Inventory Control module.
Warehouse/Item FM ICF920
These two new fields were added to the Vendor Returns tab:
Specify the short- and long-term return surplus quantities to use to create a return in the Buyers Control Center (POE400) if surplus exceeds the quantities specified. The quantity must be expressed in the buying UM indicated. Returns recalculations now check ICWHSE for the new fields to determine if surplus is greater than quantity listed. If so, a BCC return record is created if one does not already exist, for the surplus exceeding the quantity listed.
These changes were implemented in the System Management module.
System Clean Up F/M (SMF993)
On the Purchase Orders tab, a new setting, Keep VRS Documents, was added to specify how long to retain completed vender return documents, “V” type SOCRSH/SOCRSL records. A new setting, Keep PO Returns Tracking, was added to specify how long to retain PO Return Tracking file records.
On the Sales Orders tab, a new setting, Keep SO Returns Tracking, was added to specify how long to retain SO Return Tracking file records.
In Manufacturing Control, production tickets for Bill of Materials (BOM) and Formulas/Formulations (FML) can be generated from the Buyers Control Center (POE400). Launching the BCC has been improved by added menu locations and security. The BCC summary screen is launched from the Purchase Orders, Inventory Control, and Manufacturing Control modules with the appropriate activity code selected. The columns and options differ slightly based on the Activity selected, but the process is very similar.
These five BCC menu options are available in FACTS.
| Path | Menu option | Default activity code |
| Purchase Orders>Entry | Buyers Control Center Purchase | Procurement |
| Purchase Orders>Entry | Buyers Control Center Return | Returns |
| Inventory Control>Warehouse Transfers | Buyers Control Center Transfer | Transfers |
| Manufacturing Control>Bill of Materials | Buyers Control Center BOM | Build Bill of Materials |
| Manufacturing Control>Formulation | Buyers Control Center FML | Build Formulation |
Upon entering the BCC, buyers can specify a buyer code and warehouse to review the current actions. The activity code is selected by default, based on the menu option you access.
With proper program security, you can choose Procurement, Transfers, Returns, Build Bill of Materials, or Build Formulation from the Activity pull down. Program security must be set in Program Security Maintenance (SMF420) for each activity code.
These activities are available in the BCC:
These changes were implemented in the Purchase Orders module.
BCC Detail Build Bill of Materials (POE407) / BCC Detail Build Formulation (POE408)
New BCC detail screens, Buyers Control Center Build Bill of Materials Detail (POE407) and BCC Detail Build Formulation (POE408) were added. Use these screens to view detailed information about BOM or formulation planning records and modify or create production tickets for BOMs and formulas. Double click a line in the Buyers Control Center to access these screens. The BCC Build Bill of Materials or Formula Detail screens are essentially a working production ticket. Each time a recalculate is run for this buyer and warehouse, the detail screen is updated with the new information. Quantities can change. New items can be displayed, and items can be dropped, all based on the current BOM or formulation planning records and quantities in the warehouse.
After all selected detail lines are processed, the build completion screen is displayed with any created BOM ticket numbers and/or messages. Click to the ticket number in the completion screen grid to view it in Production Entry (MCE130) or Finished Item Entry (MCE220), where you can edit or delete the ticket.
If a created ticket has a quantity for a component that cannot be fully allocated, the quantity is set to zero or the max available by default. This default action is based on updating inventory value for that component and whether overcommits are allowed. You must check a created ticket’s component quantities manually either through editing or during confirmation.
If ticket numbers are not displayed in the build completion screen the process was unsuccessful. The Build check box on the detail screen is automatically unchecked for unsuccessful builds.
When no more detail lines exist, the summary BCC screen is re-displayed and refreshed. If some detail lines remain, the BOM or FML BCC Detail screen is refreshed for any further action.
These changes were implemented in the Inventory Control module.
Warehouse F/M (ICF970)
On the Options tab a new check box, Valid for MC, was added to indicate whether Manufacturing production tickets for Bill of Materials and Formulas/Formulations can be created from the warehouse.
These changes were implemented in the Manufacturing Control module.
MC Static Control F/M (MCF980)
On the General tab if you checked the Use Bill of Materials or the Use Formulation check box, new check boxes are available to indicate whether to:
Bill of Materials Entry (MCE110) / Formulation Finished Item Entry (MCE220)
A new Procurable check box was added to indicate whether this BOM or formulation finished item is purchase-able from a vendor. If not checked, this BOM or formulation finished item is not included during BCC Procurements calculations for order-as-needed for a warehouse. This switch does not apply to special orders and CRS items. Manual entry within the BCC procurement activity for BOM or FML finished items is allowed.
BOM Production Planning Entry (MCE120) / Production Planning (MCE230)
A Status new drop down was added to select or review the status of the planning record.
These options are available:
Lines with B or E status cannot be edited or deleted in this program. Lines cannot be manually changed to B or E status.
The only user-interactable/changeable options are:
BOM Production Entry (MCE130) / FML Production Entry (MCE240)
The Units look up now displays only those planning records for the selected BOM or formulation finished item with the status of N - Normal/Active.
Bill of Materials Inquiry (MCI610) / Formulation Inquiry (MCI620)
On the General and Finished Item views, the finished items Procurable check box setting was added. On the Planned views, the Status column was added.
Bill of Materials listing (MCR710) / Formula listing (MCR750)
The Procurable setting was added to the report outputs.
The concept of suggested purchase orders and suggested transfers is outdated for FACTS advanced inventory replenishment. With the introduction of advanced replenishment in FACTS 9.0, suggested files have been used solely for special order circumstances. In FACTS 9.3.0, the term, suggested, was changed to planned special order. This change does not affect code or file and contents names. Only the text display to users was changed. All files, variables, and message codes are the same.
These changes from Suggested to Planned Special Order were implemented.
In Inventory control>Warehouse transfers and Purchase Orders> Entry, program names, displays, and report output was updated to refer to Planned Special Order. The Type drop box was removed.
These specific screens and fields were updated:
As indicated by SO Entry Options F/M, when a back-order situation is presented, suggested text has been changed to planned special order. Prompting and changing special orders, or alerting a special order already exists in PO or transfer files now refer to planned special orders.
A new workflow, Turbo Tokens, is available faster use of CenPOS tokens credit card processing for deposits or payments on sales order documents.
Order Entry (SOE210), Order Confirmation (SOE310), Direct Invoice Entry (SOE320), Counter Sale Entry (SOE510) and Credit Memo Entry (SOE330)
A new Turbo Tokens drop-down list is available in Order Entry, Order Confirmation, Direct Invoice Entry, Counter Sale Entry and Credit Memo Entry.
The Turbo Token drop-down list is only available when these conditions are met:
The Turbo Token drop down list is automatically populated with all available tokens for:
The Turbo Token drop down list is disabled if CCToken Usage in Customer F/M (ARF910) is set to “N – Not Used”.
Initially the Turbo Token drop down list is populated with nothing (blank line showing). Clicking on the Turbo Token drop down list button then displays all available tokens. Selecting a token then sets the Turbo Token field to that token. In the sales order header file, SORSOH, a new field was added to allow for use of this token in Deposit/Payment Entry (SOC718). The Turbo Token value is always encrypted and decrypted for display purposes and for transmission to CenPOS.
If a Turbo Token was selected in Order Entry, the token is displayed in Order Confirmation. If the Turbo Token field is available in Order Confirmation, the selected token can be changed or removed at this time. Once the Deposit/Payment Entry (SOC718) screen is accessed, normal payment mechanics continue.
In Direct Invoice Entry and Counter Sale Entry only payment and deposit processing are available.
In Credit Memo Entry, only payment processing is available.
Deposit/Payment Entry (SOC718)
In Deposit/Payment Entry when a Turbo Token has been selected, for “C – CC PreAuth” transaction types with a terms code of Type 1 or for pre-authorizations, Type 2, the entire CenPOS interface is suppressed and a properly formed web request is executed as if the user had selected the token in the normal fashion. If the transaction is approved normal processing such as receipt printing, continues.
If the transaction is not approved, then the Turbo Token field is cleared. The user is returned to the Deposit/Payment Entry program. When a transaction is not approved, a different Turbo Token can be selected. Normal payment mechanics continue. For example, if a PreAuth is selected and a Type 1 or Type 2 terms code is selected, clicking OK displays the CenPOS interface along with the CC TOKENS button at the bottom of the CenPOS interface panel.
SO Document Header Detail screen
The new Turbo Token field is visible on the Header Document Detail screen.
SO Document Inquiry (SOI620)
The new Turbo Token field is also visible on the SO Document Inquiry Header Detail screen for appropriate documents.
Company Control F/M (SMF920)
Turbo Token use also adheres to the Credit Card Processor value on the General view of Company Control F/M (SMF920). If the Credit Card Processor on the General view of Company Control F/M (SMF920) is changed from “C” (CenPOS processing) to “D” (Do Not Collect), the Turbo Token field is cleared for subsequent documents pulled up for editing that had a Turbo Token selected. No warning is issued.
User Code F/M (SMF410)
In User Code F/M, a new Turbo Token Access user security check box was added to control Turbo Token access for users entering sales order documents.
Customer F/M (ARF910)
Order Entry, Order Confirmation, Direct Invoice Entry, Credit Memo Entry and Counter Sales Entry adhere to the new CC Token Usage setting on the Invoicing view of Customer F/M for the specified customer.
If the CC Token Usage is set to:
Modifying the ship-to on a document that already has a Turbo Token selected displays a warning notifying the user that the Turbo Token will be cleared due to changing the ship-to location.
If the Turbo Token Access setting on the Security view of User Code F/M (SMF410) is changed from yes to no, subsequent documents pulled up for editing will still display the Turbo Token if one was previously selected. The field is disabled and no adding, editing, or deleting of the Turbo Token is allowed.