Create Batch Control Records

Next, create Batch Control Records.

If printing at the host site, start the Batch Controller, click on File, then Batch Control Maintenance.

If printing at a remote site, start the File Manager, click on the Sites tab, select the site, then click on the Batch Control button.

SG01_Batch Control Maint Lookup

Batch Control File - Lookup screen

1.	Click on New to create a new batch controller record

2.	The Batch Control Main screen will display

SG01_Batch Control Maint Main

Batch Control File - Main screen

1.	ID - Enter an ID for the batch. It is recommended to use the site code, followed by a dash, followed by a sequential number, so that all batches for a given site will appear together in the main Batch Controller table.

2.	Site code - Select a site code from the drop-down list.

3.	Description - Enter a description for the batch

4.	Input path - Enter the directory that contains the batch queue header files. This is going to be the same as the Output path that you entered for the Device.

5.	Log report - If you want a log report printed, then indicate which log format to use. Possible choices are: DBATCH, DBATCH2, DBATCH3, and [LOG FILE]. Use [LOG FILE] to create your own logs that contain just the fields and columns you want.

6.	Keep Days - Enter the number of days to keep backup files.

7.	Log Printer - Enter the device that represents the printer to print the log on.

8.	Click on the Sort tab.

SG01_Batch Control Maint Sort

Batch Control File - Sort screen

1.	Specify how the batch and the log will be sorted. The log report will always use this sort sequence.

2.	Click on the Flags tab.

SG01_Batch Control Maint Flags

Batch Control File - Flags screen

1.	Clear the distribution file after distribution is finished - check if you want to automatically clear the batch after distribution is done. If not checked, then you must manually click on the Clear button to clear the batch.

2.	Backup distribution file before clearing it - check if you want to create a backup of the batch for later reprinting. Highly recommended !!

3.	Automatically print the log report after distribution is finished - check if you want the log to print automatically after distribution is done.

4.	Automatically import reports when selecting the batch detail view - check if you want to automatically import reports from the batch queue when the detail view is selected. If not checked, then you must manually click on the Import button to import new reports into the batch.

5.	Create user-defined log file - If checked, the Batch Controller will create an ASCII text file that contains a log of what was distributed.

Export the distribution queue file back to host for batch billing - If checked, the distribution queue file will be exported back to the host site and used by the Stats Update program to update the Stats file with the batch print date and time. This allows billing reports to be run by batch date, which will reconcile to the batch logs that the customer has printed.

SG01_Batch Control Maint Log File

Batch Control File - Log File

1.	Log file name - Enter the name to be assigned the log file. If the filename is to be a date, then drop down the list and select one of the pre-defined date formats.

2.	Extension - Enter the extension to be added to the filename.

3.	Log fields (columns) - Enter the list of fields that you want to print on the log. Each field must consist of a legal database field name, the length of the field, and a column heading. The three parts of the field must be separated by commas.

4.	Heading line 1 - Optional heading line to be printed at the top of the log.

5.	Heading line 2 - Optional heading line to be printed at the top of the log.