Adding a new outbound map
flow entry
Perform one of the following:
If this is the first map flow entry, Choose File>New>Add Master Level
For subsequent entries, choose File>New>Add Sibling Level or File>New>Add Child Level.
The Outbound Record Flow window displays, with two tabs - Required and Advanced. The Required tab is active initially.
Under Levels on the Required tab, enter:
Current level – the level assigned to the current record. Select the up arrow and the Levels window displays. Double-click an existing level entry to enter it in the Current level text box, or if you have not defined your levels, define a new level on the Levels window and then select it. The program automatically enters the level number in the first text box and the description of the level in the second text box.
Parent level – the level attached to the parent record. Select the up arrow and the Levels window displays. Double-click an existing level entry or define a new level and then select it. The program automatically enters the level number in the first Parent level text box and the description of the level in the second text box.
Under Record Type on the Required tab, the current record and level can be designated as having one of the following attributes:
Mandatory – record is required at this level. If it is not found, the transaction is rejected.
Optional (Error Message) – record may or may not be found in the application data file. If it does not exist, a warning message appears indicating that it is missing.
Optional (No Message) – record may or may not be found in the application data file. No message appears if it is missing.
Link Only – indicates that this level is linked to the Master level or a repeating parent level. The link level can only be reached after a break occurs (the key value changes or the end-of-file is reached). When a break occurs, the flow returns to the Master (or repeating parent) level, and proceeds to the link level. If the break was an end of file the processing ends, otherwise the flow returns to the link level parent.
Repeating – there are multiple records of this record type (children/siblings) for each instance of its parent record (i.e., multiple details to one header). Processing at this level ends when the break field (such as a Purchase Order Number) changes. If a repeating record has children, the system reads the repeating record and then the child records before reading another repeating record. The repeating record may be either mandatory or optional.
Under Records on the Required tab, enter the following information:
Current record – the record that is read in the I/O Rule. Select the up arrow and the Records/Tables window displays. Double-click a record, and the program automatically enters it in the Current record text box.
Parent record – the parent record for the current flow entry. It has no parent. Select the up arrow and the Records/ Tables window displays. Double-click a record, and the program automatically enters it in the Parent record text box.
Key Field – used to match on a field in the parent record. Select the up arrow and the Records/Tables window displays. Double-click a field to enter it in the Key Field text box. This field is required if the Multiple Files option is checked.
Match Field – a field in the parent record that matches the key field in the current record. Select the up arrow and the Records/Tables window displays. Double-click a field to enter it in the Key Field text box. This field is required if the Multiple Files option is checked.
When the key field and match field no longer match, you are reading a new record.
Under Rules on the Required tab, enter the following information:
I/O rule – generally contains commands that include reading (or fetching) the current application record. It is always performed. If the commands in the I/O rule are successfully executed, the associated segments are generated (mapped). Select the up arrow and the Rules window displays. Double-click a rule, and the program automatically enters the rule number in the first I/O rule text box and the rule description in the second text box.
Before rule – contains commands that are performed before segments are generated (mapped). These commands might include actions such as initializing a counter. The Before rule is performed only if the commands in the I/O rule were successful. Select the up arrow and the Rules window displays. Double-click a rule, and the program automatically enters the rule number in the first Before rule text box and the rule description in the second text box.
After rule – contains commands that are performed after completion of the I/O rule and the Before rule and after the segments (if any) are generated (mapped). The After rule is performed only if the commands in the I/O rule were successful. Select the up arrow and the Rules window displays. Double-click a rule, and the program automatically enters the rule number in the first After rule text box and the rule description in the second text box.
As you create flow (by adding entries in the flow table), ECMap automatically sets the levels entered on the Advanced tab of the Outbound Record Flow window – Next Level and Break Level – based on the parent-child relationships you create between your flow entries. ECMap adjusts these values automatically as the flow is built. When you have finished creating the flow, you can review the levels, but you rarely have to change them.
The Advanced tab of the Outbound Record Flow window contains information about the levels to which you switch based on certain conditions. If the I/O is successful (you have read the record), the Before rule is executed, the mapping occurs, the After rule is executed, and the flow goes to the Next level. If the I/O is not successful (you did not read the record), you go to the Break level.
Next Level – the level to which the program goes if another record of the same record type is read. The flow goes to the Next Level when the I/O is successful. Select the up arrow and the Levels window displays.
Double-click an existing level entry to enter it in the Next Level text box, or if you have not defined your levels, define a new level on the Levels window and then select it. The program automatically enters the level number in the first text box and the level description in the second text box.
Break Level – the level to which the program goes if no more records of this record type are found. The flow goes to the Break Level when the I/O rule is not successful. Select the up arrow and the Levels window displays. Double-click an existing level entry to enter it in the Break Level text box, or if you have not defined your levels, define a new level on the Levels window and then select it. The program automatically enters the level number in the first text box and the level description in the second text box.
Deleting an outbound map
flow entry
Highlight an entry and choose Edit>Delete.
You are asked to confirm whether you want to delete the current map flow level.
Modifying an outbound map
flow entry
Select an entry and choose Edit>Properties.
The Outbound Record Flow of Level: <level> window displays. It has the same two tabs as the Outbound Record Flow window – Required and Advanced.
Change the information as needed following the steps discussed in “Adding a new outbound map flow entry”.
